Best Tomb Raider Games

Few video game protagonists have stood the test of time to last as long as the likes of Mario or Sonic The Hedgehog. One of these characters would be Lara Croft. When Tomb Raider burst onto the scene in 1996, it was very rare for a female protagonist to be the leading playable character in a video game, with the only noteworthy exception being Samus from the Metroid series.

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Tomb Raider exploded into a mega-franchise that continued for many years, then found itself rebooted with a new series of games that enjoyed tremendous success during the 2010s. Which are the best Tomb Raider games? Which are the worst?

Updated January 20, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Galleries have been added for nearly every Tomb Raider game, providing a more varied look into each entry’s aesthetic. Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered is also set to be released in less than a month, with the compilation debuting on February 14, 2025. Despite covering a “lesser” collection of games than its predecessor, this release is pretty exciting since it is arguably modernizing three projects that need a refresher more than the original trilogy did.

Every Tomb Raider Game

Tomb Raider has a long and storied history, one that spans more than 15 games across a plethora of platforms and console generations. Lara Croft has been around the world multiple times, and that looks set to continue. The table below lists every Lara Croft game, along with its original release date, developer, and publisher.

22

Tomb Raider: The Angel Of Darkness (2003)

Lara’s Broken Adventure

Systems

Released

June 20, 2003

Developer(s)

Core Design

How Long To Beat

15 Hours

When Lara made the leap from the PlayStation to the PlayStation 2, fans were met with a grittier and darker game that disappointed plenty of players. The lack of polish to the controls, a camera the players ended up fighting more than the in-game enemies, and a plethora of bugs and glitches made The Angel of Darkness a mess to play.

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The developers openly admitted to suffering from a severe lack of leadership with too much ambition for the project leading to many production issues resulting in the game players were given in 2003. The Angel of Darkness has neat ideas and a potentially interesting story, but it is difficult to recommend in its current form. Out of all of Lara Croft’s adventures, this would be the best candidate for a remaster or remake.

21

Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000)

Franchise Fatigue

Systems

Released

November 24, 2000

Developer(s)

Core Design

How Long To Beat

11 Hours

The developers at Core Design had already become fatigued by Tomb Raider by the time Chronicles rolled around. Consequently, they attempted to kill off Lara Croft in the previous game but Eidos was determined to keep the franchise going as a cash cow. This led to the final game for Lara on the original PlayStation.

With a mixed reception, the consensus is that Chronicles was nothing bad but very uninspired, forgettable, and with little to no difference to distinguish it from previous installments. This is just another PS1 Tomb Raider game, an adventure that goes in one ear and out the other.

20

Tomb Raider Reloaded (2023)

An OK Mobile Diversion

Systems

Released

February 14, 2023

Tomb Raider‘s only new game to be released in the 2020s so far, Reloaded went by largely unnoticed, which makes sense since the franchise is predominantly a console staple rather than a mobile heavyweight (despite producing quite a few projects for the latter). Several big IPs have tried their hand at iOS and Android gaming, and while there are a couple of great releases, they tend to fall by the wayside quite quickly. Tomb Raider Reloaded is no exception, although that does not mean the game has nothing to offer. In fact, it is a decent mobile project, even if it might struggle to satisfy long-time fans who want a traditional Lara Croft adventure.

Reloaded‘s gameplay loop revolves around short-burst stages filled with traps and enemies. The controls and mechanics are stripped down quite a bit, but they do complement this type of release. Unfortunately, like so many mobile games before and after it, Reloaded‘s monetization is frustrating at the best of times. That said, the Netflix version removes a lot of the ads and greatly improves the overall experience.

19

Tomb Raider: The Prophecy (2002)

A Respectable But Forgettable Portable Adventure

Swapping from a third-person adventure to a Zelda-esque overview, Lara jumped to the Nintendo Game Boy Advance with a mildly successful title. Tomb Raider: The Prophecy was praised for its impressive graphics and sound for a Game Boy Advance title.

However, it received criticism for its dull gameplay, little to no story to drive the repetitive action set pieces, and various other complaints. It all led to a title that even die-hard Tomb Raider fans have forgotten had existed over the years. While it is far from brilliant, The Prophecy is a serviceable handheld entry in the franchise.

18

Tomb Raider: Apocalypse (2002)

(Almost) Lost To Time

Arguably the hardest Tomb Raider project to find, Apocalypse was a 4-episode game released through Sky Gamestar, a service that allowed customers to play quite an extensive list of titles by paying either for a session or daily. The service launched in 2001 and ended in 2015, making its library difficult to access legitimately. While unknown to people outside the UK, Sky Gamestar had games based on quite a few recognizable IPs (Ben 10, Avatar, Codename: Kids Next Door, Dexter’s Laboratory, Ed, Edd n Eddy, Hulk, and Scooby-Doo!), along with popular originals like Beehive Bedlam.

For years, Tomb Raider: Apocalypse was considered lost media, as were many Gamestar projects; however, 2023 changed all of that, as most of the service’s games were discovered and made available in some form or another. Regardless of quality, the fact that Apocalypse can be experienced nowadays is fantastic. That said, is it actually worth playing? Well, the game is an acquired taste, especially since it does not play like any of the other Tomb Raider releases. An old-school cinematic platformer, Apocalypse very much seems ripped from the late ’80s and early ’90s, albeit with OK visuals that benefit from the episodes visiting quite a few different locations. The gameplay is fine but slow and punishing, and it gets repetitive quite quickly. Still, Apocalypse is quite substantial, containing dozens of levels across its episodes.

17

Lara Croft: Relic Run (2015)

Tomb Raider Is A Good Fit For An Endless Runner

This mobile spin-off took its liberties to present the series to a casual audience. Essentially a Tomb Raider version of the mobile game Temple Run, Relic Run does contain some of the franchise’s trademark qualities that allow the game to stand out in the Endless Runner genre.

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It’s more of an evolution in the endless platforming genre, as elements like wall-running and utilizing weapons are injected into the game. All things considered, Relic Run is a great way for casual fans to be introduced to the series, even if it is too one-dimensional.

16

Tomb Raider: Curse Of The Sword (2001)

Impressive For The Hardware

The GBA’s Curse of the Sword is the sequel to 2000’s Tomb Raider which came out on the Game Boy Color. Similar to that title, the 2001 release takes players on a small but satisfying adventure. This time, the campaign primarily takes place in city locations and opts for larger stages rather than its predecessor’s shorter levels.

Curse of the Sword looks pretty decent for a Game Boy Advance game, particularly its backdrops. Even if the environments are not especially exotic, the game does its best to make them visually striking.

15

Lara Croft And The Temple of Osiris (2014)

Really Fun Co-Op Top-Down Shooter

In 2014, the Tomb Raider series tried its hand at arcade-inspired gameplay with co-op pushed to the forefront. The Temple of Osiris accommodates up to four characters, including Lara, and all of them have their own special abilities and traits.

It has a top-down view of the action, which takes away some of the franchise’s charm since the camera is so limited. Apart from that, however, the game is good fun for multiple players, making it a small-scale but enjoyable entry in the series.

14

Tomb Raider (2000)

Better Than It Has Any Right To Be

Tomb Raider (Game Boy Color)

Systems

Platform(s)

Nintendo Game Boy Color

Released

June 12, 2000

Developer(s)

Core Design

How Long To Beat

12.5 Hours

2000’s Tomb Raider took Lara to Nintendo’s Game Boy Color, and the franchise handled the transition to handheld surprisingly well. Naturally, expectations need to be tempered since the hardware could not possibly replicate the home console experience, but Tomb Raider does an admirable job of replicating Lara’s iconic moveset.

As the game maintains a relatively slow pace, this is certainly not an action-heavy experience; however, the campaign offers a good mix of puzzles, exploration, and cutscenes. While not a must-play title, this release would fit snugly in any GBC collection.

13

Tomb Raider 3 (1998)

Very Good, But Safe Sequel

Tomb Raider 3

Systems

Released

November 21, 1998

Developer(s)

Core Design

How Long To Beat

20 Hours

While not as beloved as the first two games in the series, Tomb Raider 3 is a solid threequel that made everything bigger than ever before. Admittedly, this did come at the loss of most of the mystery and suspense found in the prior entries.

There was also a severe lack of innovation that caused Tomb Raider 3 to feel more akin to an expansion pack to the second game rather than a big-budget sequel. Despite these criticisms, Tomb Raider 3 is a highly enjoyable classic romp in the series, one that should please anyone fond of Lara’s previous two adventures.

12

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)

Nothing New But Nothing Bad

Systems

Released

October 31, 1999

Developer(s)

Core Design

How Long To Beat

17 Hours

Best remembered these days for being a failed effort by the series to kill off Lara Croft and introduce a new lead, The Last Revelation is still a solid affair that represents the style and gameplay choices of gaming back in the day.

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There’s no innovation to be found here, but nostalgia and the trademark Tomb Raider entertainment are available in buckets. Puzzle-solving is more focused upon here than in other games, making this entry a subtler venture for the series.

11

Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered Starring Lara Croft (2024)

The Best Way To Experience The Original Trilogy

Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered is a difficult compilation to properly rate since it is simultaneously the best way to experience the PS1 trilogy, all the while not being particularly impressive. Just to be crystal clear, this release remasters the games by updating the visuals and providing the option to use modern controls, although the latter can be swapped for the original versions. The package’s changes and improvements do not go much further than that, so anyone expecting any tweaked content or fresh ideas will likely be disappointed. Consequently, if someone has already played through the classic entries and does not have any desire to revisit them, they will probably get next to nothing out of Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered.

While perhaps not everything it could have been, this 2024 release still preserves three influential games that are not particularly accessible on modern systems outside of PC. The new controls are a welcome alternative, even if the levels are clearly designed to accommodate tank controls rather than modern movement. The games are still brimming with creativity and personality, with the first title being especially great.

10

Lara Croft Go (2015)

Great Mobile Game

Systems

Released

August 27, 2015

Developer(s)

Square Enix Montreal

How Long To Beat

4 Hours

It seemed as if the Tomb Raider series had explored all avenues as far as gaming genres were concerned, only for Lara Croft Go to utilize the turn-based gaming style. The game is entirely puzzle-based and relies on crucial movements the player makes.

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This makes it one of the smartest smartphone games out there, as Lara has to be navigated in such a way that players need to strategize their next moves. Overall, it’s an effective change from the norm the series engaged in.

9

Lara Croft And The Guardian of Light (2010)

Very Different Gameplay But Nails What It Is Trying To be

Remarkably, the top-down camera approach doesn’t hinder the fun factor of this spin-off. The game makes puzzle-solving and platforming its greatest strength as these are bolstered by the beautiful visuals and balance with action sequences.

The slight negative here is the cheesy storyline, which is far removed from the Tomb Raider formula. Still, it’s easy to overlook that considering the remarkable replay value courtesy of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light‘s fun gameplay, great level design, and utilization of traditional Tomb Raider gameplay.

8

Shadow Of The Tomb Raider (2018)

A Good Conclusion To A Great Trilogy

Systems

Released

September 14, 2018

How Long To Beat

12.5 Hours

The third entry in the rebooted Tomb Raider series by Square Enix garnered positive reviews for bringing Lara back to a more visually appealing jungle setting. It also retained the gameplay that made the previous two games classics in gamers’ eyes, although this entry focuses more on exploration and platforming than action. Shadow of the Tomb Raider also includes some great underwater sections.

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Though it pleased fans, the game didn’t rise to the bar that the previous entries set due to a disappointing story and safe gameplay that felt very “been there, done that.” While a solid experience in its own right, Shadow of the Tomb Raider ended the Survivor trilogy on a slightly underwhelming note.

7

Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008)

A Great Conclusion To A Somewhat Overshadowed Trilogy

After the series had returned with Anniversary and Legend, Tomb Raider made its biggest comeback with Underworld. This entry mixed classic and new mechanics with pleasing visuals from the Xbox 360 and PS3 era. Underworld led to an entry that fans felt was a satisfying ending for the classic Lara Croft.

Naturally, the game was not considered perfect; the combat system felt a bit dated, the story was surprisingly short, and much like with Angel Of Darkness, Underworld could not quite get a proper grasp of the camera. Still, this is a fun adventure game that nails the franchise’s trademark exploration and platforming while showcasing Lara at the height of her cool.

6

Tomb Raider: Legend (2006)

A Legend Is Revised And Respected

After the disappointing Angel Of Darkness, Legend was intended as the true return to form as a brand-new story in the series, and it did just that despite its short length. While she got a bit of a redesign, Lara continued to be a great hero, the gameplay was fluid and satisfying, the puzzles were challenging yet fun, and it provided an adventure that rivaled the original trilogy.

Though the game was perhaps not considered on par with the original trilogy, Legend did break new ground in a different gaming generation. This 2006 game brought Lara back in a big way, setting up the franchise for more adventures to come in the future.

5

Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007)

Fantastic Remake Of The Original Tomb Raider

Taking what they had done with Lara Croft in Legend, the developers chose to celebrate over ten years of the franchise with a game that acted as a remake of the very original entry. This resulted in Tomb Raider: Anniversary. As the rating suggests, Anniversary was well-received across the board, particularly the PC version. Anniversary acted as a special gift for both longtime fans of the series and those who wanted to get into the games, much like what Capcom has done recently with the Resident Evil franchise.

While nowhere near as iconic as the original Tomb Raider, Anniversary offers a fantastic refresh of a classic adventure, utilizing the changes seen in Legend to great effect. Due to being so different from the 1996 original, they are both worth playing regardless of someone’s familiarity with them.

4

Tomb Raider 2 (1997)

Fine-Tuning A Masterpiece

Tomb Raider 2

Systems

Released

November 24, 1997

Developer(s)

Core Design

How Long To Beat

16 Hours

After exploding to iconic status with the first game alone, it was only a year later that Lara Croft returned for a sequel that fans welcomed with open arms. Much in the same vein as Die Hard 2, the series avoided peaking in the second game, but it still managed to impress and make its money back.

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Though some praised its challenging difficulty, there are those who have thought it was too hard in spots. In the end, though, Tomb Raider 2 is a nearly perfect follow-up to the classic original.

3

Tomb Raider (2013)

The Start Of A New Era

With games becoming more cinematic in quality and style, Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics made the brave choice of not only completely rebooting the Tomb Raider franchise but also giving players the origin story of their favorite explorer. It took inspiration from games at the time like Uncharted and the Arkham franchise.

Did it work? Yes. Fans were quick to fall in love with the dark, gritty, and more realistic origin story that embraced new gameplay while respecting the classics with thoughtful puzzles, great third-person shooter gameplay, and more characters besides Lara to love.