Tomb Raider has a chartered historical past, with Lara Croft delving into ruins and tombs throughout the world. Overcoming any and all obstacles set in her path, Lara has elevated herself into an unique and lauded pantheon of iconic online game protagonists.
With a brand new Tomb Raider presently in improvement at Crystal Dynamics and due to this fact a brand new Lara journey on the horizon, we’ve created a chronological listing of each Tomb Raider recreation so these can begin (or restart) their spelunking adventures from the very starting.
There are a complete of 20 Tomb Raider games which were launched as of 2025. These video games are break up over 3 completely different timelines, every distinct from each other, providing completely different plotlines and a barely completely different spin on Lara and her supporting solid.
14 of those video games have been launched for dwelling consoles, 6 additionally supported handheld moveable consoles, and 6 had been supported on cell units. Tomb Raider: The Prophecy, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Mild, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, Lara Croft Go, Lara Croft: Relic Run, and Tomb Raider Reloaded are all stand-alone titles, and due to this fact won’t be included on these lists.
For those who’re coming to the franchise for the first time in 2025, we advocate beginning with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. The primary entry in the “Survivor” trilogy units the stage for Lara Croft’s most up-to-date sequence of expeditions that runs by the newest mainline recreation, 2018’s Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
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Tomb Raider Games in Chronological Order
For those who’re hoping to take a chronological journey by all of the Tomb Raider video games, it is necessary to notice that there are literally 3 completely different timelines you may play by.
First Timeline – Authentic Saga
1. Tomb Raider (1996)
The primary ever Tomb Raider title centred round Lara being employed by businesswoman Jacquelin Natla to discover a mysterious artefact known as the Scion of Atlantis. After discovering all three fragments of the Scion scattered round the globe, Lara is betrayed by Natla and should face off in opposition to her on a volcanic island full of monsters.
2. Tomb Raider: The Curse of the Sword (2001)
A Sport Boy Coloration unique sequel to the Sport Boy Coloration model of the authentic Tomb Raider, this journey sees Lara monitoring down a mystical sword and trying to destroy it earlier than the long-dead Madame Paveau can resurrect from the underworld and use her darkish magic to subjugate the world.
3. Tomb Raider II (1997)
This time Lara is on the hunt for the Dagger of Xian, a magical weapon as soon as utilized by the Emperors of China. A cult chief by the identify of Marco Bartoli who can also be searching for the dagger for it’s magical capacity to flip the proprietor right into a dragon.
4. Tomb Raider III (1998)
In the third mainline installment of the authentic saga, Lara units out to discover the Infada Stone, certainly one of 4 crystalline artefacts crafted hundreds of years in the past from the remnants of a meteorite. Realising the nefarious Dr. Willard is aiming to use the statues to pace up the evolutionary course of; she units out to discover the remaining three artefacts earlier than the total planet is mutated.
5. Tomb Raider: The Final Revelation (1999)
In The Final Revelation, the Egyptian god of chaos Set is unknowingly launched by Lara as she explores a tomb in Egypt. With Set and his forces wreaking havoc on Cairo, Lara is assisted by Semerkhet and strives to summon the god Horus who’s the final hope of quelling this world-ending menace.
6. Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000)
After the ambiguous ending of The Final Revelation, Winston the butler and different pals of Lara recount tales of her historic adventures to commemorate her. Delving by the catacombs of Rome, preventing by a Russian naval submarine, and exploring an island haunted by demonic forces, the titular Chronicles set in stone how effectively travelled and expert Lara is, however is she actually gone?
7. Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003)
Framed for the homicide of her former mentor, Werner Von Croy, Lara explores Paris and Prague in an try to clear her identify and remedy the homicide. The final survivor of the Lux Veritatis Society, Kurtis Trent, is stalking Lara and is hiding a deep darkish secret about his true nature.
Second Timeline – Legend of Tomb Raider
1. Tomb Raider Anniversary (2007)
A remake of the authentic Tomb Raider title from 1996, this recreation once more sees Lara questing to discover the Scion of Atlantis. With redesigned puzzles and physics, there was a shift from merchandise assortment and pulling switches (each prevalent in the authentic title), to physics-based puzzles and environmental set items.
2. Tomb Raider: Legend (2006)
This title acts as a reboot and reimagining of the origins of Lara, as she races throughout the world in search of the legendary sword Excalibur, determined to discover it earlier than her former pal Amanda Evert can beat her to the punch.
3. Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008)
The third installment in the Legend trilogy, Underworld sees Lara looking for Mjolnir, which acts as an historical key to Helheim, the realm of the useless. Exploring the ruins of varied cultures and mythological underworlds, Lara as soon as once more confronts the villainous Natla who’s looking for Mjolnir herself.
Third Timeline – Survivor Trilogy
1. Tomb Raider (2013)
In a brand new, grittier tackle Lara Croft, her first expedition to discover the misplaced kingdom of Yamatai goes awry and he or she turns into stranded on an remoted and hostile island. Going through off in opposition to the Solarii Brotherhood cult, Lara should cease the Ascension ritual from continuing and likewise stop a successor from being chosen for the bloodthirsty Solar Queen of legend.
2. Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015)
Rise of the Tomb Raider has Lara exploring Siberia for the legendary metropolis of Kitezh while battling Trinity, the paramilitary group that regularly crosses paths and butts heads with Lara. As they each dash to rediscover Kitezh, will the legendary immortal guardians of the kingdom, the Deathless Ones, reveal themselves to be way more than only a fable?
3. Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018)
The third and closing installment in the Survivor Trilogy, Shadow of the Tomb Raider has Lara trekking by the Americas to discover the metropolis of Paititi earlier than a Mayan apocalypse consumes the total planet. With the monstrous Yaaxii and the ever current Trinity on her again, will she succeed earlier than it’s too late?
How to Play ALL the Tomb Raider Games By Launch Date
- Tomb Raider (1996)
- Tomb Raider II (1997)
- Tomb Raider III (1998)
- Tomb Raider: The Final Revelation (1999)
- Tomb Raider (Sport Boy Coloration, 2000)
- Tomb Raider Chronicles (2000)
- Tomb Raider: Curse of the Sword (Sport Boy Coloration, 2001)
- Tomb Raider: The Prophecy (GBA, 2002)
- Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003)
- Tomb Raider: Legend (2006)
- Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007)
- Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008)
- Lara Croft and the Guardian of Mild (2010)
- Tomb Raider (2013)
- Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris (2014)
- Lara Croft: Relic Run (2015)
- Lara Croft Go (2015)
- Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015)
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018)
- Tomb Raider Reloaded (2023)
What’s Subsequent for Tomb Raider?
For these wanting to bask in the nostalgia of the authentic Tomb Raider video games, Aspyr launched remastered collections for current-gen consoles. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered launched in early 2024 and was adopted by Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered this previous February.
Crystal Dynamics has additionally confirmed a model new Tomb Raider recreation is in improvement. While particulars are slim, it’s confirmed to be using Unreal Engine 5 and is ready to be printed by Amazon Games. Crystal Dynamics have additionally expressed on Twitter that this new journey “will proceed Lara Croft’s saga”, which can insinuate this new title is a continuation of the Survivor trilogy that concluded with Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018.
Exterior of gaming, Netflix debuted its animated sequence Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft in October. It is already been renewed for a second season. Whereas Amazon had at one level deliberate a Tomb Raider sequence with Phoebe Waller-Bridge on board as author and govt producter, it appears that evidently one is not making it to the end line.
Samuel (Sam) Heaney is a contract guides author at IGN and Minecraft skilled. He is a typical Brit who loves cups of tea and gin and tonics. Oh, and he is additionally an enormous Marvel nerd. You will discover him on Twitter @SamHeaney.