Unraveling the Tomb Raider Saga - A Chronological Guide

With a new Tomb Raider title in development at Crystal Dynamics, promising another thrilling chapter for Lara Croft, we’ve crafted a chronological guide to every Tomb Raider game. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned explorer, this list will guide you through Lara’s epic journey from her earliest adventures to her latest quests.

# How Many Tomb Raider Games Exist?

As of 2025, the Tomb Raider franchise boasts 20 titles, spanning three distinct timelines. Each timeline offers unique narratives and reimagined versions of Lara Croft and her companions. Of these, 14 games were released for home consoles, 6 supported handheld consoles, and 6 were available on mobile devices. Stand-alone titles like 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 excluded from the chronological timelines below.

# Where to Begin Your Tomb Raider Journey?

For those diving into the Tomb Raider series in 2025, we recommend starting with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot. As the opening chapter of the Survivor trilogy, it introduces a modern, grounded Lara Croft and sets the foundation for her latest adventures, culminating in Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018).

# Tomb Raider Games in Chronological Order

To experience Lara Croft’s adventures chronologically, you’ll navigate three distinct timelines, each offering a unique perspective on her legacy.

# First Timeline - Original Saga

Tomb Raider First Timeline - Original Saga

# 1. Tomb Raider (1996)

The inaugural Tomb Raider introduced Lara Croft, hired by businesswoman Jacqueline Natla to recover the Scion of Atlantis. After scouring the globe for its three fragments, Lara faces betrayal by Natla, leading to a climactic showdown on a monster-infested volcanic island.

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

Exclusive to the Game Boy Color, this sequel to the portable version of the original Tomb Raider follows Lara’s quest to destroy a mystical sword. She must prevent the resurrection of Madame Paveau, a malevolent sorceress intent on wielding dark magic to dominate the world.

# 3. Tomb Raider II (1997)

Lara’s second adventure centers on the Dagger of Xian, a mythical weapon once wielded by Chinese emperors. Pursued by cult leader Marco Bartoli, who seeks the dagger’s power to transform into a dragon, Lara races across exotic locales to secure the artifact first.

# 4. Tomb Raider III (1998)

In this chapter, Lara hunts the Infada Stone, one of four ancient artifacts forged from a meteorite. Discovering Dr. Willard’s plan to use the artifacts to accelerate human evolution, Lara embarks on a global quest to collect the remaining pieces and avert a planetary catastrophe.

# 5. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)

Lara inadvertently unleashes Set, the Egyptian god of chaos, while exploring an Egyptian tomb. With Cairo under siege by Set’s forces, Lara, aided by the priest Semerkhet, summons the god Horus to confront this apocalyptic threat.

# 6. Tomb Raider Chronicles (2000)

Following the ambiguous conclusion of The Last Revelation, Lara’s friends, led by her butler Winston, recount her past exploits. From navigating Rome’s catacombs to infiltrating a Russian submarine and battling demonic forces on a haunted island, Chronicles showcases Lara’s unparalleled skill and global adventures.

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

Framed for the murder of her mentor, Werner Von Croy, Lara journeys through Paris and Prague to clear her name. Shadowed by Kurtis Trent, the last member of the Lux Veritatis Society, Lara uncovers dark secrets that intertwine their fates.

# Second Timeline - Legend of Tomb Raider

Tomb Raider Legend of Tomb Raider

# 1. Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007)

A reimagined take on the 1996 original, Anniversary revisits Lara’s quest for the Scion of Atlantis. Enhanced with modernized puzzles and physics-based challenges, the game shifts focus from item collection to dynamic environmental interactions.

# 2. Tomb Raider: Legend (2006)

Serving as a reimagined origin story, Legend follows Lara’s global race to secure Excalibur before her former ally, Amanda Evert. This reboot introduces a refreshed Lara, blending action and exploration in a vibrant, modernized world.

# 3. Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008)

The Legend trilogy concludes with Underworld, where Lara seeks Mjolnir, the key to Helheim’s realm of the dead. Exploring ancient ruins across various mythologies, she battles Natla, who also covets the mythical hammer, in a high-stakes showdown.

# Third Timeline - Survivor Trilogy

Tomb Raider Survivor Trilogy

# 1. Tomb Raider (2013)

This gritty reboot reintroduces a young Lara Croft, stranded on the hostile island of Yamatai after a failed expedition. Facing the fanatical Solarii Brotherhood, she must halt their Ascension ritual and prevent the rise of the bloodthirsty Sun Queen.

# 2. Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015)

Lara ventures into Siberia to uncover the lost city of Kitezh, clashing with the shadowy Trinity organization. As both race to locate the city, Lara encounters the Deathless Ones, legendary immortal guardians whose existence challenges reality.

# 3. Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018)

The Survivor trilogy’s finale sees Lara traversing the Americas to find the hidden city of Paititi and avert a Mayan apocalypse. Pursued by the monstrous Yaaxil and Trinity, Lara’s journey tests her resolve to save the world from impending doom.