Game · in order

Tomb Raider Games in Order

By the Bingerun team · How we choose the order →

All 12 mainline Tomb Raider games across three separate continuities: the classic Core Design series, the Legend trilogy, and the modern Survivor reboot. The 2013 reboot is the best place to start.

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  1. Tomb Raider 1996

    The original that launched the series

  2. Tomb Raider II 1997

    Bigger levels and a Venice motorboat

  3. Tomb Raider III 1998

    Globe-trotting and notoriously hard

  4. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation 1999

    Egypt-set, single connected adventure

  5. Tomb Raider: Chronicles 2000

    Four flashback adventures from Lara's past

  6. Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness 2003

    Core Design's troubled final entry

  7. Tomb Raider: Legend 2006

    Crystal Dynamics reboot starts here

  8. Tomb Raider: Anniversary 2007

    Remake of the 1996 original

  9. Tomb Raider: Underworld 2008

    Concludes the Legend continuity

  10. Tomb Raider 2013

    Survivor reboot and best starting point

  11. Rise of the Tomb Raider 2015

    Siberia and the Prophet's tomb

  12. Shadow of the Tomb Raider 2018

    Concludes the Survivor trilogy

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Why this order?

Tomb Raider is unusual in that it has been rebooted twice, so its games split into three self-contained eras rather than one long timeline. Release order is the cleanest way to follow Lara Croft's evolution: the blocky, grid-puzzle classics from Core Design (1996-2003), the slicker Crystal Dynamics "Legend" trilogy (2006-2008), and the cinematic Survivor reboot (2013-2018). Because each era resets the story and the gameplay, you do not need to play them in any strict sequence to understand what is going on.

For most newcomers, the modern Survivor trilogy is the recommended starting point. Begin with Tomb Raider (2013), an origin story that reinvents Lara as a younger, more vulnerable survivor, then continue with Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015) and Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018). This trilogy is one continuous narrative and is by far the most accessible to play today.

The big gotcha is Anniversary (2007): it is a full remake of the original 1996 Tomb Raider, built on the Legend engine, so its story belongs to the classic era even though it released during the Legend trilogy. Within Crystal Dynamics' continuity the intended story flow is Anniversary, then Legend, then Underworld, because Anniversary depicts Lara's earliest adventure and chronologically precedes the events of Legend. The classic Core Design games (through Chronicles and The Angel of Darkness) form their own continuous arc and are best experienced in release order.

If you enjoy this kind of cinematic action-adventure with platforming and puzzle tombs, the obvious neighbor is Uncharted, the series Tomb Raider directly inspired and was later reshaped by. Fans of exploration-heavy adventure may also appreciate the Indiana Jones games and Assassin's Creed for similar globe-trotting, ruin-delving thrills.

Timeline 1996โ€“2018

Every entry plotted by release year โ€” see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.

1996 2018 Tomb Raider 1996 Tomb Raider II 1997 Tomb Raider III 1998 Tomb Raider: The Last Rโ€ฆ 1999 Tomb Raider: Chronicles 2000 Tomb Raider: The Angel โ€ฆ 2003 Tomb Raider: Legend 2006 Tomb Raider: Anniversary 2007 Tomb Raider: Underworld 2008 Tomb Raider 2013 Rise of the Tomb Raider 2015 Shadow of the Tomb Raidโ€ฆ 2018

Where to play it today

Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.

Frequently asked questions

How many Tomb Raider games are there?

There are 12 mainline Tomb Raider games covered here, spanning 1996 to 2018: six classic Core Design titles, the three-game Legend trilogy, and the three-game Survivor reboot. Counting spin-offs, ports, and mobile entries, the wider franchise is larger.

What order should I watch Tomb Raider in?

For games, play in release order (1996-2018) to follow Lara's full evolution. If you just want the best modern experience, start with the Survivor reboot trilogy: Tomb Raider (2013), Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015), and Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018).

Where should a newcomer start with Tomb Raider?

Start with Tomb Raider (2013), the Survivor reboot. It is an origin story, plays well by modern standards, and leads directly into Rise and Shadow as one continuous trilogy.

Do the Tomb Raider games share one continuity?

No. There are three separate continuities: the classic Core Design series (1996-2003), the Legend trilogy (2006-2008), and the Survivor reboot (2013-2018). Each restarts the story, so you do not need to play earlier eras first.

Is Tomb Raider: Anniversary a remake?

Yes. Anniversary (2007) is a full remake of the original 1996 Tomb Raider, built on the Legend engine. Its story belongs to the classic era even though it released during the Legend trilogy.

What is the correct story order for the Legend trilogy?

Within Crystal Dynamics' continuity the intended order is Anniversary (2007), then Legend (2006), then Underworld (2008). Anniversary remakes the 1996 original and depicts Lara's earliest adventure, so it precedes Legend in the narrative timeline even though it released a year later.

Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata

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