Tomb Raider has been a staple in the gaming world for many years now. Archeologist Lara Croft has changed quite a bit with each release in the series, but she has always remained an incredible heroine. The later games have certainly given her character more depth, and the series as a whole has come a long way.
The series has been around since 1996. It has had multiple reboots, spin-off games, and even movies focused on Lara Croft. Some releases have been better received than others, but with its entertaining exploration and adventure themes, the series has always had fans returning time and time again. So, just how many Tomb Raider games are there?
Updated February 16, 2023, By Luke Ackroyd: There have not been any big releases for the Tomb Raider series in recent years, but luckily you can still go back and play the many entries into the Tomb Raider timeline. Lara Croft has been on so many unforgettable adventures, and it isn't just tombs she has had to handle over the years. She's also had to take on ancient Egyptian gods, such as Osiris, and deal with a mysterious prophecy here and there.
Despite no main game being released yet, there have been a few announcements. In 2022, Crystal Dynamics revealed they were working on a new Tomb Raider game on Unreal Engine 5. In January 2023, PowerWash Simulator added a free Tomb Raider DLC, where you can wash the Croft Manor. There is also talk of an Amazon Prime Tv series being in development. A Tomb Raider mobile game was released in February 2023, so this list has been updated to reflect that.
27 Tomb Raider (1996)
The first game in the series was certainly ahead of its time. This classic PlayStation release came out in 1996. In her first installment, Lara Croft is tasked with searching for the Scion of Atlantis. Lara must venture through several tombs in this action-packed adventure.
26 Tomb Raider II (1997)
The second installment of the original series was released in 1997. Lara Croft returns to navigating through tombs, this time hunting for a legendary dagger of Xian. She must do so before an intimidating mafia boss discovers the dagger first.
25 Tomb Raider III (1998)
Tomb Raider's third game was released a year later, in 1998.
The game revolves around four ancient artifacts that were forged from a meteorite. Lara learns along the way that her employer doesn't have the best of intentions and must stop the four artifacts from ever being combined.
24 Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation is the fourth installment in the original series and was released in 1999. It follows Lara Croft's exploration of tombs in Ancient Egypt. When Lara accidentally opens the Tomb of Set, she must attempt to restore the god to his tomb before it is too late.
23 Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000)
After the events of The Last Revelation, Lara Croft is presumed dead. In Tomb Raider: Chronicles, released in 2000, stories from Lara's past are retold at her memorial. These stories include Lara's adventures on a submarine, a haunted island, and even at a high-tech facility.
22 Tomb Raider (2000)
In the year 2000, there was also a Tomb Raider game released for the Game Boy Color. In this spin-off adventure, Lara is tasked with protecting the Nightmare Stone: a crystal Orb that hosts a dangerous spirit.
21 Tomb Raider: Curse Of The Sword (2001)
In 2001, another spin-off game was released on the Game Boy Color. This adventure follows on from the previous Game Boy Color version.
This time, Lara is chasing after a magical sword while also struggling with the fact that she has been possessed by an entity known as Madame Paveaux.
20 Tomb Raider: The Prophesy (2002)
Tomb Raider: The Prophecy was released in 2002 on the Game Boy Advance. In this adventure, Lara Croft is seeking out three magical stones that could kickstart the apocalypse.
19 Tomb Raider: The Angel Of Darkness (2003)
This addition to the series certainly had an interesting development process. For example, despite the gap between the releases, it was in development at the same time as Tomb Raider: Chronicles. This sixth installment of the main series was released in 2003. Following on from the events of Chronicles, Lara is on the run, accused of murdering her former mentor.
18 Tomb Raider: The Osiris Codex (2003)
The Osiris Codex, released in 2003, was the first of a trilogy of mobile spin-off games that made use of the Tomb Raider license. In this mini-adventure, Lara searches a tomb in Egypt to find the Osiris Codex.
17 Tomb Raider: Quest For Cinnabar (2004)
In 2004, a second installment of the mobile series was released. This time, Lara Croft is navigating puzzles while attempting to discover the Cinnabar, an urn mentioned in the Osiris Codex.
16 Tomb Raider: Elixir Of Life (2004)
A third and final mobile game was released in 2004 to conclude the spin-off trilogy. After finding the Osiris Codex and the Cinnabar, Lara discovers that these relics are vital components for creating a fabled Elixir Of Life. She must now attempt to stop her employer from achieving this goal of creating the Elixir.
15 Tomb Raider: Legend (2006)
Tomb Raider: Legend is the first reboot of the main series. It was released in 2006 with a new version of Lara Croft. This version of Lara lost her mother in the Himalayas after touching a mysterious ancient artifact as a child. The game revolves around a now-grown-up Lara, who seeks out this artifact, a Stone Dais, in hopes of finally saving her mother.
14 Tomb Raider: Puzzle Paradox (2006)
In 2006, a casual mobile game was released called Tomb Raider: Puzzle Paradox. This game revolved around solving a series of puzzles to help Lara escape a vault.
13 Tomb Raider: The Action Adventure (2006)
In 2006, Tomb Raider: The Action Adventure was released. This spin-off was quite a different style of game from the previous installments. The game was an interactive DVD that allowed you to go through a simplified version of Tomb Raider: The Angel Of Darkness.
12 Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007)
Tomb Raider: Anniversary is the second installment in the rebooted series. It was released in 2007 and is a prequel to Tomb Raider: Legend. Anniversary revamps the original 1996 game with a similar quest to retrieve the Atlantean Scion.
11 Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008)
Tomb Raider: Underworld is the third and final game from Crystal Dynamics' reboot series. It was released in 2008 and continues on from Tomb Raider: Legend.
In this adventure, Lara finds herself seeking out various Norse Underworlds as she attempts to uncover artifacts from her family's past.
10 Lara Croft And The Guardian Of Light (2010)
2010 saw the release of Lara Croft And The Guardian Of Light. It was the first Tomb Raider game to have multiplayer. In this spin-off game, Lara teams up with Totec, the guardian of light, in order to defeat Xolotl, the keeper of Darkness.
9 Tomb Raider (2013)
The 2013 version of Tomb Raider is considered one of the best in the series. This game reboots the series a second time, focusing on a younger Lara Croft stranded on an island. Lara must attempt to escape the island while combating beasts and cultists along the way.
8 Lara Croft: Reflections (2013)
Alongside the reboot, 2013 saw the release of Lara Croft: Reflections. This is a free-to-play card game that was created for mobile. The life of this game was short-lived, as the servers were shut down the following year.