All Tomb Raider Games In Order

1. Tomb Raider (2013)

A young, inexperienced Lara Croft embarks on her inaugural expedition to locate the mythical lost kingdom of Yamatai within the treacherous Dragon's Triangle. Disaster strikes when a localized, supernatural storm cleaves her vessel in two, scattering the crew across a fog-shrouded island littered with rotting shipwrecks. Lara is quickly isolated and captured, forced to escape a visceral nightmare where the very earth seems to pulse with ancient, malevolent intent.

The situation spirals into a struggle for survival as she discovers the island is occupied by the Solarii Brotherhood, a fanatical cult serving a trapped sun queen. These scavengers hunt the survivors with ritualistic efficiency, viewing Lara's companions as fodder for a divine resurrection that requires a specific sacrifice. She is compelled to shed her academic naivety and master the art of the hunt, scouring archaic ruins for tools while avoiding the gruesome traps laid by her zealot captors.

As she unearths the biological and supernatural rot at the island's core, Lara realizes that the storm barrier is a sentient cage preventing any vessel from leaving the coast. Her camaraderie with the remaining crew is tested by constant attrition and the terrifying realization that the "Sun Queen" seeks a permanent host. With the cult nearing the completion of their ritual and a violent storm closing in, she stands before a lightning-scarred monastery. She must decide if she is willing to pay the ultimate price to break the island's curse or remain entombed in the Dragon's Triangle forever.

2. Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015)

Still haunted by the supernatural events on Yamatai, Lara Croft becomes obsessed with her late father's discredited research regarding the lost city of Kitezh and the Promise of Immortality. Her pursuit leads her to the frigid, unforgiving wilderness of Siberia, where she hopes to find the "Divine Source" before her reputation is utterly destroyed. However, she quickly realizes she is not alone, as a clandestine and well-funded military organization known as Trinity has been tracking her every move.

The conflict intensifies as Lara discovers a hidden valley where the descendants of an ancient civilization have lived in isolation for centuries. She must navigate a volatile political landscape, allying with these "Remnants" to protect their sacred heritage from Trinity's scorched-earth tactics. The search for the Divine Source becomes a desperate race through crumbling cathedrals and frozen archives, where the history of the legendary Prophet of Constantinople is etched in blood. Trinity's leader, Konstantin, views the artifact as a holy weapon, leading to a brutal war of attrition across the Siberian tundra.

Lara's personal stakes rise as she uncovers a web of betrayal that reaches back to her childhood and her father's mysterious death. The line between archaeology and obsession blurs, forcing her to question if the power of the Source is worth the devastation its discovery invites. As Trinity launches a final, overwhelming assault on the heart of the lost city, Lara is caught between preserving history and destroying it to save her friends. She finds herself at the threshold of the immortal chamber, facing a choice that will define her legacy and the future of the Croft name.

3. Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018)

In a frantic attempt to stop Trinity from reshaping the world, Lara Croft inadvertently triggers a series of cataclysmic events linked to a Mayan prophecy. While operating in Mexico, she retrieves a sacred dagger, unaware that her actions have set a global apocalypse in motion, beginning with a devastating tsunami. Riddled with guilt, she follows the trail to the hidden city of Paititi in the Peruvian jungle, hoping to find the "Silver Box of Ix Chel" to reset the sun before the world is consumed by darkness.

The jungle itself becomes a predatory antagonist, infested with "Yaaxil" guardians and the high-tech mercenaries of Trinity's leadership. Lara must navigate the intricate social structures of Paititi, an ancient society caught in a civil war between traditionalists and a cult led by Dr. Dominguez, Trinity's elusive High Council member. Her transformation into a "one with the jungle" predator marks a dark turn in her psyche, as she utilizes mud and shadows to dismantle her enemies with cold, calculated efficiency. The weight of the lives lost in her wake begins to fracture her resolve, forcing a confrontation with her own destructive impulses.

The thematic tension focuses on the price of absolute power and the responsibility of the "Chosen One." Dominguez seeks to use the artifacts to create a world free of pain, a vision that tempts Lara's own desire to rewrite her tragic past. As the solar eclipse nears and the final rituals begin, the jungle erupts in a three-way conflict between the rebels, the cult, and the supernatural protectors of the city. Lara stands on the precipice of a final sacrifice, wondering if she can stop the end of the world without losing the very humanity she fought to protect.

4. Tomb Raider (1996)

Lara Croft is hired by the enigmatic Jacqueline Natla, CEO of Natla Technologies, to recover a mysterious artifact known as the Scion from the lost tomb of Qualopec in the Peruvian mountains. Her journey begins in the frozen heights of the Andes, where she discovers that the tomb is merely a fragment of a much larger, global mystery. Upon retrieving the artifact, she is ambushed by Natla's mercenaries, realizing that her employer has no intention of letting her walk away with the prize.

The search for the remaining pieces of the Scion takes Lara across the world, from the crumbling monasteries of Greece to the sprawling, subterranean temples of Egypt. She uncovers a history of three ancient rulers who governed the lost continent of Atlantis, realizing that the Scion is a repository of immense genetic and historical power. Her path is obstructed by a variety of lethal guardians, including prehistoric predators and centauric constructs that have remained dormant for millennia. The friction between her desire for archaeological discovery and the reality of a global conspiracy keeps her on a razor's edge.

The narrative shifts toward a harrowing climax as Lara follows Natla to a volcanic island that hides the remnants of the Great Pyramid of Atlantis. She discovers that Natla is far more than a corporate mogul, possessing a link to the prehistoric past that threatens to ignite a new age of biological chaos. Caught in a labyrinth of shifting walls and grotesque flesh-breeding vats, Lara must dismantle the machinery of a forgotten empire. She stands at the heart of the pyramid, facing a final choice: allow the Scion to remake the world or shatter the artifact and bury the secrets of Atlantis forever.

5. Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007)

Returning to her roots with a renewed sense of purpose, Lara Croft embarks on a reimagined quest to find the Scion of Atlantis at the behest of Jacqueline Natla. This version of the journey emphasizes Lara's emotional growth and the physical toll of her isolation as she navigates the perilous ruins of Peru. The encounter with the T-Rex in the "Lost Valley" serves as a brutal reminder that some corners of the earth have remained untouched by time. Lara's motivation is driven by a genuine curiosity for the unknown, though she is soon forced into a lethal game of cat-and-mouse.

The conflict expands as Lara moves through the Midas Palace in Greece and the high-stakes traps of Egypt, realizing that Natla's mercenaries are constantly one step behind her. She unearths the tragic history of the Atlantean Triumvirate, seeing how the pursuit of absolute power led to the total annihilation of their civilization. Her internal struggle is heightened as she is forced to take human lives to defend herself, a moral weight that hangs heavy over her solitary exploration. The ruins themselves act as a silent judge, their archaic machinery demanding both intellect and agility to survive.

As she reaches the final volcanic island, the narrative focuses on the corruption of the human spirit through the lens of Natla's megalomania. Lara must navigate a twisted landscape of organic technology and ancient suffering to reach the heart of the Atlantean pyramid. She finds herself face-to-face with a distorted reflection of her own ambition, as Natla offers her a place in the new world order. With the volcano nearing eruption and the Scion's power beginning to fluctuate, Lara must decide if she is a seeker of truth or a destroyer of worlds.

6. Tomb Raider II (1997)

The hunt for the Dagger of Xian-a legendary blade that grants the power of the dragon to whoever plunges it into their heart-leads Lara Croft to the Great Wall of China. Her expedition is quickly interrupted by the Fiamma Nera, a modern-day Italian cult led by the ruthless Marco Bartoli. Bartoli believes it is his divine right to claim the dragon's power, turning the archaeological race into a global war of nerves and firepower. Lara must track the cult from the canals of Venice to an offshore oil rig and deep into the heart of a sunken shipwreck.

The narrative shifts from urban environments to the eerie, claustrophobic depths of the Maria Doria, a luxury liner resting at the bottom of the ocean. Lara must scavenge for air and ammunition while avoiding the cult's divers and the predatory life that has claimed the ship. The search for the "Seraph," a key to the dagger's final resting place, takes her to a remote Tibetan monastery where she must assist warrior monks in defending their sacred halls. The friction between Bartoli's fanatical ambition and Lara's professional resolve creates a constant sense of impending disaster.

As she returns to the Great Wall, the story moves into a surreal and deadly landscape known as the Floating Islands. She realizes that the Dagger of Xian is not just an artifact, but a gateway to a terrifying transformation that defies the laws of nature. The cult's forces have been decimated, but Bartoli himself is on the verge of completing the ritual. Lara must navigate a world of shifting platforms and stone guardians to reach the dragon's lair. She stands on the threshold of a final, fiery confrontation, wondering if the legend of the dragon is a gift or a curse for the world.

7. Tomb Raider III (1998)

Lara Croft's pursuit of four artifacts carved from the heart of an ancient meteorite begins in the dense, humid jungles of India. These relics, known as the Infada artifacts, were originally found by the crew of HMS Beagle and scattered across the globe, each possessing the power to accelerate human evolution. Lara is hired by Dr. Mark Willard, a scientist who claims to want to study the artifacts for the benefit of mankind. However, her journey from the rooftops of London to the top-secret facility of Area 51 reveals a much darker agenda.

The conflict escalates as Lara experiences the diverse horrors associated with each relic, from cannibalistic tribes in the South Pacific to mutated experiments in a high-security military base. She discovers that the artifacts are beginning to warp the environment and the people around them, turning local leaders into distorted monsters. Dr. Willard's true motives become increasingly suspicious as he pushes Lara into more dangerous situations to secure the final piece in Antarctica. The narrative captures the cold, clinical terror of scientific curiosity gone wrong in the most isolated corner of the earth.

The thematic focus centers on the danger of playing god with prehistoric forces beyond human comprehension. Lara must navigate the frozen, alien-like ruins beneath the Antarctic ice, realizing that the meteorite's power is a biological ticking time bomb. Willard's desperation to "perfect" humanity leads to a final, grotesque betrayal that threatens to unleash a global mutation. As the facility crumbles around her and the ancient guardians of the meteorite awaken, Lara is caught in a race against time. She stands before the center of the crater, wondering if she can contain the evolution before it consumes the planet.

8. Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)

In the shadow of the Great Pyramid, a young Lara Croft and her mentor, Werner Von Croy, explore a tomb in Cambodia, an expedition that ends in a tragic accident and a lifelong rivalry. Years later, Lara inadvertently awakens the Egyptian god Set by removing the Amulet of Horus from his sarcophagus. Realizing her mistake has set a global apocalypse in motion, she must race across Egypt to find the Armor of Horus and reseal the deity before the world is plunged into eternal darkness. Her quest is complicated by Von Croy, who has been possessed by the very god she seeks to stop.

The narrative takes Lara through the ancient temples of Karnak, the bustling streets of Alexandria, and the high-tech excavations of Cairo. She must outmaneuver Von Croy's mercenaries while deciphering astronomical puzzles that align with the stars above. The air of Egypt is thick with the presence of the undead and the shifting sands of a prophecy that seems to have already determined her fate. Lara's guilt over releasing Set drives her into increasingly desperate measures, scouring the libraries and catacombs for a way to undo her archaeological hubris.

The thematic tension focuses on the burden of a mistake that could end the world and the collapse of a mentor-student relationship. Lara realizes that Von Croy is no longer the man who taught her, but a vessel for an ancient malice that knows all her weaknesses. As she reaches the final chamber beneath the Giza plateau, the alignment of the stars signals the peak of Set's power. She must perform a ritual of divine proportions to trap the god once more. The story concludes with a harrowing escape from a collapsing tomb, leaving her fate hanging in the balance as the sands of Egypt reclaim their secrets.

9. Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000)

Following the presumed death of Lara Croft in Egypt, her closest friends gather at Croft Manor to reminisce about her most daring and previously untold exploits. The narrative serves as an anthology of four distinct stories, beginning with a search for the Stone of Philosophy in the rain-slicked streets of Rome. This flashback introduces a younger, more reckless Lara who must outwit a pair of rival treasure hunters, Larson and Pierre. The tone is nostalgic but underscored by the somber reality of her current disappearance.

The conflict shifts to a high-tech heist in a corporate skyscraper to recover the Iris artifact, followed by a harrowing encounter with supernatural forces on a remote Irish island. Each story reveals a different facet of Lara's character: her professional rivalry with Von Croy, her teenage brushes with the occult, and her clinical efficiency in modern espionage. The island story, in particular, highlights her vulnerability as a young girl facing a demonic presence with no weapons and only her wits to survive. These disparate memories paint a picture of a woman who was constantly living on the edge of mortality.

The relationship between the mourners at the manor provides a framing device for the series' history and the uncertainty of Lara's future. While they share stories of her triumphs, a secret excavation team in Egypt continues to dig through the ruins of the Temple of Horus. The theme of "legacy" is explored through the eyes of those she left behind, questioning if she was a hero or a victim of her own ambition. The suspense builds as the search party uncovers a familiar item in the rubble. The narrative leaves her legacy in a state of suspended animation, wondering if the "Tomb Raider" has truly found her final resting place.

10. Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness (2003)

Accused of the murder of her former mentor, Werner Von Croy, a jaded and cynical Lara Croft becomes a fugitive on the run through the rain-slicked streets of Paris. She is drawn into a dark world of occultism and secret societies known as the Cabal, who are searching for five "Obscura Paintings." These archaic artworks are said to hold the power to resurrect a prehistoric race known as the Nephilim. Lara must navigate the urban underworld, from the dark alleys of the Louvre to the high-security labs of Prague, to clear her name.

The tension rises as Lara meets the enigmatic Kurtis Trent, a member of a secret order dedicated to fighting the Cabal's leader, Eckhardt. She must contend with "The Monstrum," a serial killer whose gruesome murders are linked to the paintings and the Nephilim's rebirth. The friction between her desire for solitude and the necessity of allying with Kurtis creates a noir-like atmosphere of distrust and shadows. As she uncovers the Alchemist's plan to harness the "Sleeper," the last of the Nephilim, Lara finds herself caught in a war that has been brewing for centuries.

The thematic focus is on redemption and the blurring of the line between a hero and a monster. Lara is forced to operate in the gray areas of morality, stealing and manipulating to stay one step ahead of the police and the Cabal's assassins. The mystery of the paintings leads to a final, visceral confrontation in a subterranean fortress where the Nephilim are kept in stasis. As Eckhardt's ritual nears completion, Lara must decide if she can trust Kurtis to help her finish the job. She stands at the heart of the alchemical chamber, wondering if she will emerge as a savior or merely another victim of the shadows.

11. Tomb Raider: Legend (2006)

Lara Croft's search for a legendary artifact in Bolivia takes a personal turn when she encounters a woman from her past, Amanda Evert, whom she believed had died years ago in a tragic archaeological accident. This discovery leads Lara on a global hunt for the shards of Excalibur, a weapon she believes is linked to the mysterious disappearance of her mother. Her journey takes her from the high-rises of Tokyo to the lush jungles of Ghana and the snowy peaks of Kazakhstan. She is constantly tracked by Amanda's mercenaries, who are utilizing a dark, shadowy power to stay ahead.

The conflict intensifies as Lara uncovers the "Dais" technology, ancient portals that suggest her mother may not be dead, but trapped in another realm. She must navigate the friction between her professional duty to recover history and her desperate need to find her parent. Amanda, fueled by a decade of resentment and a strange, sentient shadow creature, becomes a formidable rival who mirrors Lara's own determination. The narrative explores the secret history of the King Arthur legend, revealing that the "sword in the stone" was part of a much older, global network of transportation.

The relationship between Lara and her past is the emotional core of this new timeline, emphasizing the trauma that shaped her into the Tomb Raider. She realizes that her mother's disappearance was not an accident, but a consequence of a divine machine she never fully understood. As she gathers the final shards of Excalibur, the stakes are raised to a world-altering level. The suspense builds toward a final confrontation in Bolivia, where the portal to Avalon awaits. Lara stands before the ancient machine, her hand on the sword, wondering if she is about to find her mother or unleash a power that cannot be contained.

12. Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008)

Picking up immediately after her discovery in Bolivia, Lara Croft ventures into the depths of the Mediterranean Sea to find the path to Helheim, the Norse underworld. She believes that Thor's Hammer, Mjolnir, is the key to entering the realm where her mother is imprisoned. Her quest is complicated by the return of Jacqueline Natla, who has manipulated Amanda Evert into freeing her from her ancient prison. Lara must navigate the ruins of Thailand, Mexico, and Jan Mayen Island, collecting the gauntlets and belt of Thor to wield the legendary hammer.

The narrative shifts toward a dark, apocalyptic tone as Lara realizes that Natla's true goal is to trigger the "Midgard Serpent," a tectonic event that would bring about Ragnarök. She must contend with "thralls"-undead guardians of the Norse ruins-and the betrayal of those she thought were allies. The friction between Lara's singular focus on her mother and the global threat posed by Natla creates a suffocating sense of urgency. The search for her mother leads to a harrowing revelation in the depths of a frozen fortress that shatters Lara's hope and replaces it with a cold, righteous fury.

The thematic focus centers on the finality of loss and the burden of divine power. Lara must use Thor's Hammer to fight her way through Natla's final defenses, realizing that the goddess of Atlantis intends to burn the world to start anew. The relationship between Lara and Amanda reaches a desperate climax as they are forced into a fragile alliance to stop the tectonic collapse. As the machinery of Ragnarök begins to churn and the underworld floods with lethal energy, Lara is caught in the crossfire. She stands at the center of the world-ending device, wondering if she can survive the fallout of her own legend.