Tomb Raider: A Guide to Playing Games in Chronological Order

Tomb Raider boasts a storied legacy, with Lara Croft fearlessly navigating ancient ruins and tombs across the globe. Overcoming every challenge in her path, Lara has cemented herself as one of gaming’s most celebrated and iconic protagonists.

With a new Tomb Raider title currently in development at Crystal Dynamics, fans can look forward to another thrilling Lara Croft adventure. To prepare for the next chapter, we’ve compiled a comprehensive chronological list of every Tomb Raider game, allowing both newcomers and longtime fans to begin (or restart) their journey from the very beginning.

Quick Navigation:

• How to play in chronological order
• How to play in release order

Out of these, 14 titles were released for home consoles, 6 supported handheld platforms, and 6 were made available on mobile devices. Standalone spin-offs such as Tomb Raider: The Prophecy, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, Lara Croft Go, Lara Croft: Relic Run, and Tomb Raider Reloaded are not included in our main timeline lists due to their separate narratives.

Which Tomb Raider Should You Play First?

For those stepping into the franchise for the first time in 2025, we recommend starting with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. This entry marks the beginning of the modern "Survivor" trilogy, setting up Lara's most recent adventures that culminate in Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018).

### Tomb Raider

2See it at AmazonTomb Raider Games in Chronological Order
To fully experience Lara Croft’s evolution through different eras and styles, you can explore the series through three primary timelines:

1. Original Saga Timeline
2. Legend of Tomb Raider Timeline
3. Survivor Trilogy Timeline

First Timeline – Original Saga

### 1. Tomb Raider (1996)

This groundbreaking debut follows Lara Croft as she is hired by businesswoman Jacquelin Natla to recover the Scion of Atlantis. After collecting all three fragments, Lara is betrayed and must confront Natla on a volcanic island teeming with monstrous threats.

Available on: PlayStation, iOS, Android, Mac OS | IGN’s Tomb Raider Review

2. Tomb Raider: The Curse of the Sword (2001)

Exclusive to Game Boy Color, this sequel sees Lara tracking down a mystical sword to prevent Madame Paveau from rising from the dead and unleashing dark magic upon the world.

Available on: Game Boy Color | IGN’s Curse of the Sword Review

3. Tomb Raider II (1997)

In this follow-up, Lara hunts the Dagger of Xian—a powerful weapon once wielded by Chinese emperors—while facing off against Marco Bartoli, a cult leader seeking its power to transform himself into a dragon.

Available on: PC, iOS, Android, PlayStation, Mac OS | IGN’s Tomb Raider II Review

4. Tomb Raider III (1998)

The third installment finds Lara in pursuit of the Infada Stone, one of four meteorite-derived artifacts. She races against Dr. Willard, who plans to use them to accelerate evolution and mutate the planet.

Available on: PC, PlayStation, Mac OS | IGN’s Tomb Raider III Review

5. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)

While exploring an Egyptian tomb, Lara accidentally releases Set, the god of chaos. As Set threatens Cairo, Lara teams up with Semerkhet to summon Horus—the only force capable of stopping him.

Available on: PlayStation, Mac OS, PC, Dreamcast | IGN’s The Last Revelation Review

6. Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000)

Set after the ambiguous ending of The Last Revelation, Lara’s allies recount her past exploits—from Roman catacombs to a haunted island—as they question whether she truly perished.

Available on: PlayStation, PC, Mac OS, Dreamcast | IGN’s Tomb Raider: Chronicles Review

7. Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003)

Falsely accused of murdering her mentor, Werner Von Croy, Lara travels to Paris and Prague to clear her name while being stalked by the mysterious Kurtis Trent—who holds secrets about his own identity.

Available on: PC, PlayStation 2, Mac OS X | IGN’s Angel of Darkness Review

Second Timeline – Legend of Tomb Raider

### 1. Tomb Raider Anniversary (2007)

A reimagined version of the original 1996 title, this game revisits Lara’s quest for the Scion of Atlantis with updated puzzles, physics-based gameplay, and enhanced visuals.

Available on: PC, PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii, Mobile, OS X, PS3 | IGN’s Tomb Raider Anniversary Review

2. Tomb Raider: Legend (2006)

Acting as a soft reboot, this entry redefines Lara’s origin as she competes with former friend Amanda Evert to find the mythical sword Excalibur before it falls into the wrong hands.

Available on: GBA, Gamecube, PC, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PS3, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360 | IGN’s Tomb Raider: Legend Review

3. Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008)

The final chapter in the Legend trilogy follows Lara as she searches for Mjolnir, the key to Helheim. Along the way, she once again faces off against the villainous Natla in a race to control its power.

Available on: Nintendo DS, PS3, Wii, PC, Xbox 360, Mobile, PlayStation 2, OS X | IGN’s Tomb Raider: Underworld Review

Third Timeline – Survivor Trilogy

### 1. Tomb Raider (2013)

This gritty reboot introduces a younger, more vulnerable Lara stranded on a hostile island after her expedition to Yamatai goes awry. She must stop the Solarii Brotherhood from completing the Ascension ritual and face the wrath of the Sun Queen.

Available on: PC, PS3, Xbox 360, OS X, PS4, Xbox One, Stadia, Linux | IGN’s Tomb Raider (2013) Review

2. Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015)

In this sequel, Lara ventures into Siberia in search of the legendary city of Kitezh while clashing with Trinity, a paramilitary group intent on uncovering its secrets—and the immortal Deathless Ones.

Available on: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, PS4, macOS, Linux, Stadia | IGN’s Rise of the Tomb Raider Review

3. Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018)

The final chapter of the Survivor Trilogy sends Lara deep into the Americas to find the lost city of Paititi before a Mayan apocalypse destroys the world. With the Yaaxii and Trinity hot on her trail, the stakes have never been higher.

Available on: PS4, PC, Xbox One, Linux, macOS, Stadia | IGN’s Shadow of the Tomb Raider Review

How to Play ALL the Tomb Raider Games By Release Date

1. Tomb Raider (1996)
2. Tomb Raider II (1997)
3. Tomb Raider III (1998)
4. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)
5. Tomb Raider (Game Boy Color, 2000)
6. Tomb Raider Chronicles (2000)
7. Tomb Raider: Curse of the Sword (Game Boy Color, 2001)
8. Tomb Raider: The Prophecy (GBA,