14 Best Tomb Raider Games Ever Released

Lara Croft is probably one of the most recognizable characters in gaming, and a star of many movies and even comics as well. With 20+ games under her belt, Lara has been on many adventures all around the globe. In addition to this, the franchise also has several movies and comics, and with the news of a new TV series being developed by Amazon, here’s the perfect reason to play them, before the TV series release.

Since there are so many games to choose from, and from different eras, here is our list of the best Tomb Raider games for maximum enjoyment.

Tomb Raider 1996

About
	Release Date October 31, 1996
	Developer Crystal Dynamics
	Publisher Square Enix Europe
	Franchise Tomb Raider
	Genre Action Adventure
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Remakes
Tomb Raider (1996 Original Release)
Tomb Raider: Anniversary (-0001 Remake)

Where to start, but with the first entry in the series? This is where it all started, the entire thing. Developed by Core Design and released in 1996, it took the world by storm, and pretty soon was a huge hit. The original game was released on MS-DOS for the PC release, at the time an already fading OS. It also saw releases on Sega Saturn and Playstation, the latter the game would become one of the best-selling games for the console.

However, this didn’t hinder the game’s success, and pretty soon there was a Windows release, complete with expansion packs. For the game that was first in the series, it does its job flawlessly and you can see where the series would take off. The first game served as a foundation, and Core Design continued to build upon it, gradually adding more and more features to the games.

The so-called “tank controls”, are pretty easy to get into (at least for me they were), and the whole game was designed so that it could be played using only the keyboard. There is auto-aim, that is fairly accurate most of the time, and Lara has a pretty good amount of moves that she can use in combat. Puzzles aren’t that difficult, since this is an action-adventure game, and maybe one or two of them pose a slight challenge. Most of the time, you will be figuring out your next jump, and how to successfully make a landing.

When it comes to its influence and legacy, it’s immeasurable and it left a long impression in video gaming history. The original game may need some workarounds to get working on the modern OS, but now with the release of the Tomb Raider Remaster 1+2+3, that’s no longer the issue. Now, you can enjoy the original game, in a much more accessible package, and it’s a perfect start if you want to start exploring the franchise.

Tomb Raider: Anniversary 2008 Remake

About
	Release Date November 30, -0001 Initial Release: October 31, 1996
	Developer Crystal Dynamics
	Publisher Square Enix Europe
	Franchise Tomb Raider
	Genre Action Adventure
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Remakes
Tomb Raider (1996 Original Release)
Tomb Raider: Anniversary (-0001 Remake)

TR: Anniversary was developed by Crystal Dynamics, right after Tomb Raider: Legend. The overall gameplay is the same as in Legend, but it’s player-friendly enough to make it enjoyable for new players.

The gameplay is more user-friendly, and long are the days of “tank controls”. This time a more modern approach is taken, where Lara moves around freely, and you get an over-the-shoulder look while aiming. Jumps and other acrobatics are much easier to plan out and execute. It follows the original story, and the feel of the original is still there. This is a particularly difficult thing to achieve, but Anniversary is in most cases exactly, what you would imagine by playing the original game. Each level and the puzzle are still there, even the enemy placement is relatively unchanged. Even the cutscenes are remade 1:1, most of the time.

The only thing that is done differently is that some of the boss battles are done through quick-time events, as opposed to the original where you would shoot them until they die. With excellent graphics and a soundtrack, this game is a perfect introduction to the series. Moreover, if you’re a completionist type or player there are plenty of things to collect, which will be viewable in the mansion. Overall, I would suggest playing both this game and the original one, to see how far the series has gone, and also to compare notes. A definitive recommendation.

Tomb Raider II™ 1997

About
	Release Date October 31, 1997
	Developer Core Design
	Publisher Eidos Interactive
	Franchise Tomb Raider
	Genre Action Adventure
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United Kingdom

Available On

The second game in the series, has Lara searching for a magical Dagger of Xian, which is also being looked for by an Italian cult. The overall presentation and controls haven’t improved, so much so that they got expanded a bit, which is no surprise considering a one-year difference between the two games. However, there are enough original and unique puzzles, that offer new challenges to overcome.

There are new weapons that Lara can use, such as the M16, a grenade launcher, and a harpoon gun. In the classic Core Design fashion there are also new moves, such as ladder climbing and 180-degree turns when swimming or jumping. Lara can also drive vehicles, and this would be the speedboat at the Venice level. The graphics may seem primitive, and the “tank controls” may take you time to get used to, but underneath all that is a fun game.

If you’re playing games in chronological order (by release), then you will start to see the small improvements and the begging of the overall vision that Core Design had for the franchise. It’s widely available on both Steam and GOG and can be run on several modern OS. Also, it’s one of the most popular games on the original PlayStation.

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation™ 1999

About
	Release Date November 24, 1999
	Developer Core Design
	Publisher Eidos Interactive
	Franchise Tomb Raider
	Genre Action Adventure
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United Kingdom

Available On

The Last Revelation was initially going to be the last game in the series, but after a fan backlash, Core Design changed its decision. Playing it you will see the culmination of everything that Core has worked on over the years. One of the first things that you will notice is improved enemy behavior, and even more detailed graphics, which stretch the engine to its limits.

Everything from previous games, such as Lara’s movement, complex jumps, weapons, and vehicles are in this game. This also includes the puzzles, which are some of the best in the series. The plot is also interesting as Lara isn’t stopping some bad guys, like in the first game, instead, she’s in a rush to imprison the ancient god Set after accidentally setting him free. The story also gives us glimpses of Lara’s past, and her life as a teenager, working with her mentor Von Croy.

Arguably, the best game in the classic series, it’s a great example of what can be done with a great foundation, and how the games evolved over the years, even if they had technical limitations. The game might look basic by today’s standards, but it’s a nice example of evolution and improvement throughout the series. It also offers a good lesson on what happens when a company starts putting out yearly releases.

Tomb Raider: Legend 2006

About
	Release Date April 07, 2006
	Developer Crystal Dynamics
	Publisher Square Enix Europe
	Franchise Tomb Raider
	Genre Action Adventure
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Available On

The first game to be developed by Crystal Dynamics, after Eidos decided to change developers. A lot of doubt was placed on the game, but Crystal Dynamics managed to pull through, which wasn’t an easy task. The plot follows Lara’s adventure while on the search for the mythical Excalibur. In the process, she will also learn her family secrets. Lara is also working with a team that helps her, a tech expert Zip, and a research assistant Alister.

The game also introduced a new control scheme, which means that days of “tank controls” are finally over. The controls are much smoother and are what you would normally find in modern games. As a bonus, if you manage to do a complicated move while fighting, you’ll get a bit of slow-mo action. The levels are some of the most memorable parts of the game, and there are several action set pieces, that push the tempo of the game. As for the puzzles, they are somewhat basic compared to the rest of the series, but they’re fun and work great with the action sections of the game.

Overall, Legend is a great new entry in the series, and also the second-best option for introducing new players to the franchise. The presentation still holds up, and the soundtrack is once again amazing. It’s also fairly short and will take around 6 hours to complete, while a completionist run will take around 8 hours. In conclusion, Crystal Dynamics managed to make a fun, action-adventure, that is a bit on the short side, but fun nonetheless.

Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition 2014 Remaster

About
	Release Date January 28, 2014 Initial Release: March 05, 2013
	Developer Crystal Dynamics
	Publisher Square Enix
	Franchise Tomb Raider
	Genre Action Adventure
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Remakes
Tomb Raider (2013 Original Release)
Tomb Raider: Game of the Year Edition (2014 Complete Edition)
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition (2014 Remaster)

The reboot of the franchise is always difficult to accomplish, as many things can go wrong if the developers aren’t careful. Fortunately, this wasn’t the case with Tomb Raider (2013), which gave us new stories after Underworld was concluded.

The game is set on a single island, the island of Yamatai, instead of a globe-trotting adventure. In the game, you play as young Lara, where she’s just begging her career as a Tomb Raider. After a freak storm, breaks her ship in half, she finds herself marooned on an unknown island, where she must survive, save her friends and get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding the queen Himiko. The tone of the game is realistic, and you’ll see Lara getting hurt, struggling, and trying her best in the situation that she’s in.

The presentation of the game still holds up, and you’ll probably notice that Lara has more fluid animation. It uses “performance capture”, which is something that was used in TR: Underworld, but in more detail. You know also have the option of upgrading your weapons and equipment, and there are even optional dungeons that offer an additional challenge. Puzzles vary from easy to very complex, which means there is something for both newcomers and veteran players.

Rise of the Tomb Raider™ 2015

About
	Release Date November 10, 2015
	Developer Crystal Dynamics
	Publisher Square Enix
	Franchise Tomb Raider
	Genre Action Adventure
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Available On

The second game in the Survivor series and a sequel to Tomb Raider (2013), Rise of the Tomb Raider is like a middle child in the family, good but often overlooked. It follows Lara one year later, as she travels to Siberia, to find the legendary city of Kitezh, while also looking for the city’s secret of immortality. Also, she battles Trinity mercenaries, which have become standard goons for the series, as they’re also looking for artifacts and secrets, but want to use them for their nefarious plans. However, as she’s digging deeper, she will also learn her family’s secrets and the details of the late Lord Croft’s research.

One of the biggest pluses of the game is the overall presentation. Not many games are set in Siberia or deal with Russian folklore, so exploring that side of the story is both compelling and captivating. Also, Lara has access to a wide variety of guns, which often have an alternate firing mode, and bow and arrow make a return as well. The overall design of Kitezh is simply remarkable and has great set pieces, and in one case Lara gets to use an actual catapult. The soundtrack is also on the mark, and it follows the narrative perfectly.

The game also features four DLCs and one of them is a fun side quest, the other three have a more zombie-like theme, and in some cases have hordes of enemies rushing your position. This was probably made because gunplay is so much fun, so why not capitalize on the idea? In conclusion, if you liked the first one, you’ll love the sequel as well. It has improved some features and expanded others, paving a way for better things to come. Some will say it’s more of the same, but here the argument should be “if it’s’ not broken don’t fix it”. Overall, a good sequel that paves the way for new adventures and mysteries on Lara’s journey.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider™ 2018

About
	Release Date September 12, 2018
	Developer Eidos-Montréal
	Publisher Square Enix Europe
	Franchise Tomb Raider
	Genre Action Adventure
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Canada

Available On

The final installment in the third series, and an epic conclusion as well. One thing you will immediately notice is how this third series has evolved from Tomb Raider (2013). The action is more fluid, the set pieces are amazing, and the puzzles are more challenging.

This time Lara must similarly to The Last Revelation, race against the clock to prevent the Mayan apocalypse she has unleashed. There isn’t any globe-spanning adventure, but instead, Lara will travel across Middle and South America, pursuing her goal. This gives the game a sense of urgency, and it flows well with the overall story.

Presentation is one of the best in the entire series, and everything from graphics and sound design is masterfully done. As a bonus, you can choose different costumes for Lara, and some of them are even classical outfits, which is a nice nod to the series overall. While the combat and overall gameplay relatively remained the same, while the challenge tombs and puzzles are still strong, there is enough to go around for both new players and old fans. If that isn’t enough, there is also DLC content to keep you occupied, offering new content and more insight into the story.

Tomb Raider™ Underworld 2008

About
	Release Date November 18, 2008
	Developer Crystal Dynamics
	Publisher Square Enix Europe
	Franchise Tomb Raider
	Genre Action Adventure
	Graphics 3D
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

Available On

Underworld is a thrilling conclusion and a third entry in the Legend series. It utilizes new technologies and approaches to gameplay and uses a whole new engine in the progress. It’s using the new CDC Engine, which is a different one from the one used in Legend and Anniversary. The game is also redesigned around Lara’s movement and gameplay and is the first game to use motion capture.

The story follows Lara on her quest of finding Mjolnir, which acts as a key to entering Helheim and confronting people and things from her past. Underworld can be viewed as a direct sequel to Legend, but it manages to incorporate the events from Anniversary into its story, creating a thrilling ending. Lara can still do all of her signature acrobatics, but this time they look much more realistic. In addition to this, she will also ride a bike in certain scenes, but it’s also used for puzzle solving as well. However, one of the most memorable moments is the acquisition of Mjolnir, which will instantly kill enemies.

The game was developed in just two and a half years, but suffered a delay, due to the creation of the new engine. While the game looks gorgeous, the devs had trouble adapting it and suffered staff shortages. Nonetheless, I would say that the developers pulled through, as the game was released on almost all of the then-popular gaming hardware. Some changes are done to the PS2 and Wii versions, where certain levels are shorter and puzzles are a bit different. In conclusion, Underworld offers a thrilling story and a conclusion to the trilogy and also features some of the best costumes in the series. This should be reason enough to try the game.

Lara Croft™ and the Guardian of Light 2010

About
	Release Date August 18, 2010
	Developer Crystal Dynamics
	Publisher Square Enix
	Franchise Tomb Raider
	Genre Action Adventure
	Graphics 2D
	Perspective Isometric
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United Kingdom

Available On

Now, this is an interesting take on Lara and her adventures. Guardian of Light is an isometric, adventure that manages to perfectly keep the spirit of the series. An ancient Mayan god, Xolotl has been released after mercenaries steal it from Lara, and mishandle the artifact. Now, with the help of an ancient Mayan warrior, Totec, Lara must rush to stop Xolotl, before the light of dawn.

Having a secondary protagonist in Tomb Raider is nothing new, but Guardian of Light offers for the first time in the franchise’s history co-op gameplay. Player one controls Lara, while the other one controls Totec. This works surprisingly well, as players can work together on solving puzzles, and with great teamwork, easily defeat enemies. One of the biggest highlights of the game is the challenges and puzzles. Puzzles are especially fun and offer just the right amount of challenge not to be overwhelming, or complicated.

The gameplay is also smooth, and the combat is easy to get into. Lara will use her grappling hook and signature guns at first, but can later pick up other weapons, while Totec will use his spear and shield which Lara can climb on. The game also received five DLCs, three of them are additional challenges and puzzles, and the other two are player skins, which allow you to play as characters from Legacy of Kain, or the Kane and Lynch series. Overall, a sleeper hit, and a co-op experience that you shouldn’t miss out on. With fun puzzles and memorable bosses, this game will keep you occupied for hours, and bring you back for more.

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris 2014

About
	Release Date December 08, 2014
	Developer Nixxes Software
	Publisher Square Enix
	Franchise Tomb Raider
	Genre Action Adventure
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Co-Op, Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Netherlands

Available On

Due to the success of the previous game, Square Enix decided to give us another isometric adventure, similar to the first one. However, the changes are kept to a minimum, and the game certainly follows the philosophy “if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it”, but it does expand other concepts. This time you can play with up to, four people, each with his weapons and skills.

This time the plot is set in Egypt, where she with the help of a rival hunter, Carter Bell, and imprisoned gods, Isis and Horus, rush to stop Set before he can enslave humanity. Along the way, they must recover pieces of Osiris, to have any chance of stopping Set and saving the world. The overall presentation of the game is great, with an excellent soundtrack and amazing graphics and effects, despite using an isometric perspective. The puzzles and challenges are a bit more complex in some places, and if you’re playing with friends, teamwork is key. Brilliant level design and boss encounters will keep you engaged, and the multiplayer option also works without any bigger issues.

In conclusion, if you liked Guardian of Light, definitely give this one a go. While it may be more of the same, the bosses, puzzles, and combat will still give you plenty of fun, especially if you’re playing with friends. Temple of Osiris, shouldn’t be overlooked just because it’s a spin-off game, and even as such it manages to deliver. The graphics and soundtrack are excellent, and once again the developers managed to capture the spirit of the franchise. If that’s not enough, the game also has four DLCs, that will give you character skins allowing you to play as characters from Deus Ex, Hitman, and Tomb Raider: Legend. The fourth one will give you new enemies and puzzles, that will offer new challenges for you and your friends. Don’t skip it over, and give it a shot!

Tomb Raider III™ Adventures of Lara Croft 1998

About
	Release Date November 20, 1998
	Developer Core Design
	Publisher Eidos Interactive
	Franchise Tomb Raider
	Genre Action Adventure
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United Kingdom

Available On

Tomb Raider III, is when Core Design managed to develop an upgraded version of their engine, and playing it, you’ll see improvements in both graphics and gameplay. At the time, the new features that the engine offered were better lighting and triangular polygons. Core Design at first wanted to create a next-generation Tomb Raider game, that would run on a new engine with completely new animations. However, due to the immense popularity of the franchise, and customer demand, this was put on the back burner.

The game was initially developed with the mind that PlayStation 1 would be the main platform and PC second. As a result, almost everything was built to accommodate the Playstation 1 hardware and features. For example, while saving the game, you would use one of the “Save Crystals”, that Lara would pick up during the game. This means that you could save at any time, and not just in a specific place. This time the plot is also interesting, and you aren’t looking for an old artifact, instead, Lara is searching for four pieces of a meteorite that are all around the globe. There are new locations to visit, such as India, South Pacific, London, Nevada, and finally Antarctica.

There are also plenty of weapons to choose from, and the new ones are Desert Eagle, MP5, and a rocket launcher. Tomb Raider III, also features plenty of underwater sections, so you should be on the lookout for piranhas, which can kill you in seconds. There are also new vehicles for you to control such as the kayak, quadbike, boats, minecarts, and even an underwater propeller in one particularly exciting level. It also features an expansion pack, The Lost Artefact, which features six new levels. Overall, Core managed to improve the game, but also stay true to its character. It’s more of the same but done right.

Tomb Raider Chronicles™ 2000

About
	Release Date November 17, 2000
	Developer Core Design
	Publisher Eidos Interactive
	Franchise Tomb Raider
	Genre Action Adventure
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United Kingdom

Available On

This game is often considered the worst in the entire franchise and is a sort of the “black sheep” in the series that people rarely talk about. The reasons are numerous, but overall the developers were experiencing fatigue, and Core Design was split into two teams. The new one would work on a PS2 title (later known as Angel of Darkness), while the old team would work on Chronicles. The FMV cutscenes were outsourced to ExMachina, which had already made commercials featuring Lara.

The plot is odd, but unique in its way. Following the conclusion of the previous game, Lara is presumed dead, buried under the collapsed Giza pyramid. Her three former friends and associates gather for a memorial service and reminisce over her previous adventures. While certainly, an interesting approach, where we play as someone else recollects her actions, the story can get pretty convoluted, if you aren’t paying attention. It serves as a deeper look into her past, and connection with other characters from the previous games.

The presentation and gameplay, haven’t changed from the previous game all that much. One of the most notable things is the new death scenes for Lara, and several new moves that she can do, such as walking on a tightrope, the move to flip out from crawl spaces, and swinging from horizontal poles. The Windows version of the game also came with a level editor, allowing players to create their levels. While not the best in the series, you should give it a try, and also learn what can happen when the developers experience franchise fatigue.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider™ The Angel of Darkness 2003

About
	Release Date June 20, 2003
	Developer Core Design
	Publisher Eidos Interactive
	Franchise Tomb Raider
	Genre Action Adventure
	Graphics 3D
	Perspective Third-Person
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United Kingdom

Available On

Angel of Darkness, was the franchise’s first foray into the PlayStation 2 market. An ambitious project, to create a new take on the series, with better, more modern action, while utilizing the sixth generation hardware. Core Design also planned for it to be the first in the new trilogy of games, for the then next generation of consoles. Unfortunately, the game was hit with several delays, and many parts of the game were either scaled back or completely cut from the game.

The premise is interesting, as we find Lara in Paris, where she’s framed for a murder of an old friend. Now, on the run from the police, she must clear her name, all the while investigating a mysterious black magic cult. What’s interesting is that Core Design follows up on their previous games (Last Revelation and Chronicles), and some of the events are even referenced in the game, giving the Tomb Raider universe even more depth. One of the first things that you will notice is that you aren’t exploring tombs, but are instead on the run, and later exploring urban environments. Angel of Darkness is also the only game, where you control a completely different character, Kurtis, in a short, but more action-oriented section.

There are several new features unique to the game, such as that all the cut scenes are actually in real-time (which when bugged out, can have hilarious results), and the introduction of a stamina bar, which must be upgraded before you can progress to a different area. This faced the most criticism, as Lara was supposed to be a legendary archeologist and had plenty of experience.
The presentation is good, and the graphics have a certain charm to them but are nowhere near the level of some PS2 games. Overall, play this game if you want to see what could have been, but beware of the lack of polish and a huge amount of bugs in it.