Complete Tomb Raider Gameplay Timeline

Tomb Raider boasts a rich legacy, chronicling Lara Croft's globe-trotting expeditions into ancient ruins and burial sites. Confronting every challenge in her path, Lara has cemented her status among gaming's most celebrated protagonists.

How Many Tomb Raider Games Are There?

As of 2025, the Tomb Raider franchise comprises 20 titles spanning three distinct timelines - each offering unique narratives and interpretations of Lara and her companions.

Fourteen entries debuted on home consoles, six appeared on handheld systems, and six launched on mobile platforms. Titles like Lara Croft Go and Tomb Raider Reloaded are excluded from these lists as standalone releases.

Which Tomb Raider Should You Play First?

Newcomers in 2025 should begin with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot - the foundation of Lara's most modern adventures culminating in 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Tomb Raider Games in Chronological Order

The franchise unfolds across three separate timelines:

• Original Saga Timeline
• Legend of Tomb Raider Timeline
• Survivor Trilogy Timeline

First Timeline - Original Saga

1. Tomb Raider (1996) - Lara's debut adventure hunting the Scion of Atlantis
2. Tomb Raider: Curse of the Sword (2001) - Game Boy Color exclusive quest
3. Tomb Raider II (1997) - The hunt for the legendary Dagger of Xian
4. Tomb Raider III (1998) - Pursuit of meteorite-forged artifacts
5. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999) - Confrontation with Egyptian gods
6. Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000) - Memorial stories of Lara's exploits
7. Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness (2003) - Murder mystery spanning Europe

Second Timeline - Legend Trilogy

1. Tomb Raider Anniversary (2007) - Remake of the original adventure
2. Tomb Raider: Legend (2006) - Modernized origins chasing Excalibur
3. Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008) - Norse mythology-inspired conclusion

Third Timeline - Survivor Trilogy

1. Tomb Raider (2013) - Stranded on Yamatai island
2. Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015) - Siberian expedition battling Trinity
3. Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) - Mayan apocalypse prevention

The Future of Tomb Raider

Crystal Dynamics has confirmed development of a new Tomb Raider title using Unreal Engine 5, slated for publication by Amazon Games. The studio hints this will continue Lara's saga, potentially following Shadow of the Tomb Raider's events.

Meanwhile, Aspyr's remastered collections have revitalized the classic adventures for modern platforms:

• Tomb Raider I-III Remastered (2024)
• Tomb Raider IV-V Remastered (2025)

The franchise continues expanding beyond games, with Netflix's animated series Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft renewed for a second season.