Tomb Raider Games in Order of Release Date [Complete List]

Tomb Raider games are among the most popular franchise for a very long time now. The franchise has taken advantage of the good storyline that it has been able to create and maintain, as well as a powerful gameplay and interesting visual to remain one of the most recognized games across platforms.

With the most recent game in the franchise, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which was released in 2018 as one of the best games in the franchise, we have decided to look at all the Tomb Raider games as well as list the mobile versions.

Tomb Raider Games

Original Series

Tomb Raider

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Release Date: 25 October 1996

Platforms: Sega Saturn, MS-DOS, PlayStation, N-Gage, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android, Macintosh

The first game in the franchise, this title was first created for Sega Saturn and PS. Although it came in a time when graphics was still far from anything significantly good, the game still built a good followership with a good story and engaging gameplay. The Job of Lara Croft is to find the Scion of Atlantis.

Tomb Raider II

Tomb Raider Games
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Release Date: 31 October 1997

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, Mac OS, iOS, Android

This time around, there is a significant improvement in the graphics quality of the game and new weapons were introduced to make the gameplay even better. Another good thing with this is that there is an improvement also in the location. With all the good things, you will still enjoy playing the first title much more.

Lara is up against Marco Bartoli as her adventure takes her in search for the Dagger of Xian. Marco is also in search for the legendary dagger.

Tomb Raider III

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Release Date: 20 November 1998

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, Mac OS

Just as you would naturally expect, the graphics quality has improved more than the previous titles. Surprisingly enough, it lacks in both the storyline and the gameplay when you place it against the other two. It is quite difficult to play, but that is what makes some to absolutely love it and at the same time, others to absolutely hate it. Either way, it has more weapons to choose from and it comes with good mini-games.

The job for Lara is to find four artifacts that have great powers which were made from an ancient meteorite.

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation

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Release Date: 19 November 1999

Platform: PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, Dreamcast, Mac OS

Set in Egypt, Tomb Raider III is definitely not the favorite for many gamers because, after the trilogy, it seems like we are hopping back to what we have played already in the previous titles. The only salvation for the game is its good gameplay, although you don’t need to be an Oliver to ask for more.

Tomb Raider Chronicles

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Release Date: 17 November 2000

Platform: PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, Dreamcast, Mac OS

In the previous title, you get the idea that Lara is dead. Believing that, Tomb Raider: Chronicles sees her friends retelling her past. That will get interesting right? No. It is, in fact, the exact thing that many did not want because we get taken back again and everything seems very stale.

What is even worse is the gameplay which many will find very hard to play. This does not come with the same thrill as the difficulty of the Tomb Raider 3, so we may as well place it somewhere in the bin of the worst Tomb Raider games. If you decide to skip it, there is nothing to lose.

Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness

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Release Date: 17 June 2003

Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Mac OS X

If you think the previous title is bad, the Angel of Darkness is, in fact, the darkest part of the franchise. This time around, Lara Croft is on a journey to gather scattered paintings in different parts of the world. Although it has a very strong storyline with a lot of interesting twists, the gameplay is not necessarily the best that you will find.

It was easy to understand why the entire title was a flop because it was rush on one hand, and on another, it was stretched from the previous games in the series. It will be very hard to find any other Tomb Raider game that will be worse than this.

The Legend Series

Tomb Raider: Legend

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Release Date: 7 April 2006

Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, GameCube, Mobile, PlayStation 3

You will be forgiven if you describe Tomb Raider Legends as the legendary return of the main game. Apart from the graphics which has been improved, the narrative is also great and the gameplay was almost perfect as the controls are made good.

Interestingly enough, many years later, you can still play the game and still feet at home with it.

Tomb Raider: Anniversary

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Release Date: 1 June 2007

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360, Wii, Mobile, OS X, PlayStation 3

The Tomb Raider Anniversary comes even better than the Legend. What makes it highly successful is that it reimages the first game in the series which was also great.

Tomb Raider: Underworld

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Release Date: 18 November 2008

Platform: OS X, Microsoft Windows, N-Gage 2.0, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Wii, Xbox 360

Bringing 3D to Nintendo, this comes as third-person gameplay and shooter elements. With both the story and gameplay, this is in a good position. Lara is tasked with finding the entrance to Avalon and then the hammer of Thor.

Survivor Timeline

Tomb Raider

Tomb Raider Games
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Release Date: 5 March 2013

Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, OS X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Linux, Shield TV

The Tomb Raider 2013 is a reboot of the main game which starts an entirely new story while maintaining Lara Croft as the main character. She is tasked with rescuing her friends while she learns to also survive.

This is for us, one of the best games in the franchise as the story is great while the gameplay is engaging. Another thing with the title is that it has very good graphics and may also be the best when it comes to the looks.

Rise of the Tomb Raider

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Release Date: 10 November 2015

Platform: Xbox 360, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, macOS, Linux

After the reboot of Tomb Raider, what comes next is something likewise spectacular with the Rise Of The Tomb Raider. The story here is better than anything we have seen in the franchise and the gameplay is in a class of its own with versatility in the combat mechanics.

The adventures of Lara here see her looking to find the fabled city of Kitezh.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

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Release Date: 14 September 2018

Platform: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Ending the trilogy which has made the Tomb Raider games unforgettable, Shadow of the Tomb Raider does not betray the franchise. Lara is out to save the world from an apocalypse that she has triggered after uncovering an artifact.

It doesn’t matter how one decides to look at this title, it is a very successful one in both the storyline and the gameplay.

Spin-Offs

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light

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Release Date: 18 August 2010

Platform: Android, BlackBerry PlayBook, Google Chrome, iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

A two-player action arcade-inspired game, this allows you to either play as Totec, a Mayan tribesman, or as the usual suspect, Lara. You can play either as a single player or both in two player mode.

See Also: Assassin’s Creed Games in Order of Release [Complete List]

While the visuals and gameplay have scored high, the storylines still leave more to be desired. That said, it is a title that you will return to play again and again.

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris

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Release Date: 9 December 2014

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Also set in Egypt, this is one of the forgettable games in the franchise even though it is not necessarily bad. It is playable in both single and multiplayer mode that allows for up to 4 players. It has a good story and the gameplay is highly underrated.

Lara and Carter Bell are out to defeat Set who is an evil deity and so they imprisoned the gods, Isis and Horus.

Lara Croft Go

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Release Date: 27 August 2015

Platform: iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, macOS, Linux

Go is another Title among the Tomb Raider games that cannot be pushed aside. It has good gameplay, interesting visuals, and good storyline although there is much reference to earlier games in the franchise.

Mobile Versions

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1. Tomb Raider

Release Date: 8 June 2000

Platform: Game Boy Color

2. Tomb Raider: Curse of the Sword

Release Date: 25 June 2001

Platform: Game Boy Color

3. Tomb Raider: The Prophecy

Release Date: 12 November 2002

Platform: Game Boy Advanced

4. Lara Croft: Reflections

Release Date: 20 December 2013

Platform: Android, iOS

5. Lara Croft: Relic Run

Release Date: May 28, 2015

Platform: iOS, Android, Windows Phone

Tim Flaherty
Tim Flaherty
Tim is our talented senior tech writer and editor, the one who plays music on replay, drinks more coffee than beer, plays video games, and reads poetry. In between, Tim reviews products, write about computers, games, hardware, software, guides, reviews and talk tech and arts. If there is a WWIII, he thinks it could be caused by bad writing.

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