Every Tomb Raider Games In Order By Release Date

There have been 12 Tomb Raider Games, plus two RPG spinoffs. Since its debut, the collection has bought over 82 million copies.

Core Design created the primary trilogy between 1996 and 1999. After a second, much less profitable trilogy, Crystal Dynamics rebooted the collection in 2006.

In 2013, Square Enix turned the collection’ new writer. They rebooted the collection a second time in 2013. The final three video games are the “Survivor Timeline.” These reached the very best gross sales numbers of all the franchise.

So far, these are the Tomb Raider video games so as:

Aside from the principle sport, there’re spin-offs for different consoles like Game Boy and cellular gadgets. We’re disregarding these titles, although.

Original trilogy

Tomb Raider -1996

Tomb Raider debuted in 1996 for the Sega Saturn. Later on, variations for PlayStation, MS-Dos, macOS, Pocket PC, N-Gage, iOS, and Android got here out.

1996’s Tomb Raider launched Lara Croft. Businesswoman Jacqueline Natfla employed her to search out the Scion of Atlantis artifact.

The authentic title sport set the collection’ system, and it hasn’t modified a lot ever since.

Its core components ship a third-person action-adventure sport that revolves round exploring ruins and tombs. During your explorations, you’ll want to resolve puzzles to go on, in addition to struggle towards the wildlife, raiders, and different enemies.

Then, the gameplay units ranges with a number of areas, advanced rooms, and difficult puzzles. Until now, puzzle-solving is a vital a part of Tomb Raider’s single-player expertise.

More importantly, Lara Croft packs her two traditional pistols with infinite ammo on the back. These are her foremost weapons, however she will be able to additionally struggle in melee.

Lastly, the sport options 16 in depth ranges. It was a prolonged expertise for a 1996 sport.

Tomb Raider II: Dagger of Xian – 1997

The second installment of the Tomb Raider collection debuted in 1997 for PC and PlayStation. The Sega Saturn model by no means reached the market. Instead, there have been later ports for macOS and iOS.

The sport bought over 8 million copies and have become one of many all-time best sellers.

Its plot takes place on the Great Wall of China, the place Lara should discover the Dagger of Xian. The dagger belongs to the primary Chinese emperor, which is why it holds unimaginable worth.

Other than a brand new story and new areas, it’s the identical sport as earlier than. Lara can soar, climb, push, pull, use ranged weapons, and struggle along with her fists. Climbing was a novelty in comparison with the earlier sport.

Also, there’re new weapons Lara Croft can use. At the identical time, the sport places more emphasis on fight.

Tomb Raider II: The Golden Mask

Tomb Raider II has an growth, The Golden Mask. It includes a new mission throughout 4 ranges.

The growth tells a loopy story that opens up the Tomb Raider universe. As she appears for the Golden Mask, she faces dinosaurs and big monsters.

Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft – 1998

Adventures of Lara Croft continued the collection in 1998. It debuted for PlayStation and Windows. A port reached macOS a 12 months later.

The third installment takes Lara Croft on a quest to search out 4 meteorite items. These are scattered in numerous elements of the world.

Even although the gameplay is kind of much like Tomb Raider II, it presents numerous enhancements. Notably, the sport got here with a new graphic engine that improved effectivity, graphics, and efficiency.

The engine additionally allowed builders to create more advanced ranges and puzzles. That’s the explanation why Tomb Raider III places more emphasis on puzzles in comparison with the primary two entries.

Second Trilogy

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation -1999

The Last Revelation debuted in 1999 for PlayStation and Windows. A 12 months later, a port reached Dreamcast and macOS platforms.

The new story provides more mystical components. Lara Croft’s purpose is to imprison the Egyptian god Set.

Revelation delivers comparable gameplay to earlier entries whereas enhancing enemy AI and graphics. Other than that, the sport lacks vital innovation.

The sport ends with the supposed dying of Lara Croft.

Tomb Raider Chronicles – 2000

Chronicles debuted in 2000 for PlayStation, Windows, and Dreamcast.

It follows The Last Revelation story. A bunch of mates attend Lara Croft’s memorial on the Croft Mansion and speak about Lara’s early adventures. So, the sport occurs as a collection of flashbacks.

Players undergo completely different ranges, clear up puzzles, and struggle enemies. Lara Croft might now transfer with stealth and assault enemies from a stealth place.

Nevertheless, the final a part of the sport suggests Lara would possibly nonetheless be alive beneath the Great Pyramid ruins.

Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness – 2003

The Angel of Darkness debuted in 2003 for PlayStation 2 and Windows. In 2003, a port reached macOS X PCs.

The plot continues each The Last Revelation and Chronicles. Sometime after Lara Croft’s supposed dying, she arrives in Paris. Her mentor, Wener Von Croy, assigns her a brand new quest: discovering the Obscura Paintings. Before the treasure looking begins, an unknown murderer kills Von Croy.

Authorities imagine Lara Croft is the assassin. So, the sport turns into Lara making an attempt to show herself harmless. To obtain her objectives, she should additionally discover the Obscura Paintings.

The efficiency and visible upgrades had been obvious as a result of that is the primary Tomb Raider sport for PlayStation 2. Moreover, the builders applied a stealth system harking back to the Metal Gear collection. As Lara Croft needed to hide from law enforcement officials, it was a core mechanic.

Legend Timeline

Tomb Raider: Legend – 2006

Legend is the following entry of the action-adventure Tomb Raider collection. It debuted in 2006 for PS2, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, GameDice, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and Windows PC. In 2011, the sport additionally reached the PlayStation 3.

Crystal Dynamics was answerable for the sport, and so they determined to reboot Tomb Raider. So, the sport had a brand new Lara Croft origins story.

The new plot is about Lara Croft trying to find the Excalibur sword internationally. The story occurs throughout linear ranges the place Lara should defeat enemies, clear up puzzles, and traverse harmful environments.

Crystal Dynamics overhauled the graphics and the engine. As a consequence, the sport introduced a brand new design for Lara Croft, improved controllers, and higher enemy AI.

It’s the sport that saved the franchise.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary – 2006

Anniversary debuted in 2007 for Microsoft Windows, PS2, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo Wii, and smartphones. A 12 months later, the sport reached PS3 and macOS X.

Celebrating 10 years of Lara Croft, this sport is a remake of the unique 1996 Tomb Raider sport.

It brings back Croft’s authentic story with the graphical prowess of the time. If you bear in mind, the plot is about discovering the Scion artifact.

The ranges and story are comparable, albeit there’re some additions. First, Lara Croft’s creator Toby Gard got here back to broaden the narrative of the sport. Gard re-designed Lara, co-wrote the story and supervised the characters, character motion, and cinematics. 

Then, authentic composer Troels Brun Folmann remade the music with an orchestra.

Likewise, Lara Croft has new strikes, near what gamers can do in Legend. That impacted degree design as the sport turned more advanced and expansive.

For instance, the dev staff re-designed the puzzles to match the graphical engine. Also, the degrees had branching paths, so the Anniversary model was not as linear as earlier video games.

Aside from that, the remake provided higher gameplay, acrobatic motion, and improved total efficiency and gameplay.

Tomb Raider Underworld – 2009

Underworld is the third a part of the Legend storyline. It debuted in 2008 for PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, and Windows.

The sport options new gameplay components. Overall, the sport improved gunplay, the stock system, the map, and motion. Also, builders added a multi-purpose grappling hook.

Another addition was a touch system that guides gamers throughout puzzles and platforming sections. Also, Lara Croft might now kick and grapple-pull enemies.

The plot revolves round Lara Croft exploring a household thriller.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (Spinoff) – 2010

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a spin-off. It doesn’t comply with the principle franchise story, and it comes with a completely different form of gameplay.

This is an isometric A-RPG sport that mixes character development with platforming, puzzles, and exploration.

The plot takes place in Central America. Lara Croft and her staff should face Xolotl, an evil spirit that’s elevating the useless.

Lastly, the title permits each native and on-line co-ops.

Overall, this is a wonderful RPG sport; it simply doesn’t have a lot recognition. As the primary sport underneath the Square Enix umbrella, I suppose the RPG masters had been making an attempt to take the collection in the direction of one other style.

The sport debuted in 2010 for Windows, PS3, and Xbox 360.

Survivor Timeline Trilogy

Tomb Raider (Reboot) – 2013

After a four-year hiatus, Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix got here back with one more reboot. The sport debuted in 2013 for PS3, Xbox 360, and Windows. In 2014, the sport reached macOS X and Linux as nicely. Currently, there’re variations for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series.

Tomb Raider 2013 tells a brand new origin story for Lara Croft. The plot occurs in Yamatai, a fictional misplaced island of the outdated Japanese empire. Lara Croft and her staff are trying to find the island. However, a shipwreck leaves the ship survivors stranded.

The setting delivers a linear-cinematic action-adventure sport. As this occurs earlier than Lara Croft had any fight expertise, your purpose is to outlive, save your pals, and escape the island. Thus, you’ll slowly progress by the island to search out what you want and those that want you.

Gameplay mechanics deal with the survival components. While the sport is linear, areas are extensive and invite you to discover to search out provides, ammo, and secrets and techniques.

More importantly, the Survivor Timeline Trilogy added RPG mechanics. Lara Croft beneficial properties XP by fight, looking, exploration, raiding tombs, and accumulating artifacts. As Lara ranges, gamers acquire talent factors to spend on numerous fight, survival, or exploration expertise.

Tomb Raider 2013 acquired vital and fan acclaim. Many contemplate the reboot was forward of its time. The graphics, sound design, music, ambiance, gameplay, and storytelling nonetheless holds up right now.

The sport bought over 8 million copies by 2015. It was a brand new top for the franchise.

Currently, the sport has a multiplayer function, a 4v4 PvP fight on completely different maps. If you browse Steam, you’ll see a wide selection of skins and power-ups for the multiplayer a part of the sport.

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris (Spinoff) – 2014

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris proceed the Guardian of Light with the same isometric A-RPG gameplay. RPG components, platforming, and puzzles are additionally current.

The sport additionally permits a four-player co-op, both on-line or offline. If you play alone, you’ll management Lara. As mates be part of your celebration, they will play as Carter, Isis, and Horus.

The co-op works as a drop-in/drop-out function. As more gamers be part of your celebration, the sport turns into more difficult and more rewarding.

As for the story, Lara and her staff go to an Egyptian underworld to defeat the evil god Set.

The sport debuted for PS4 and Xbox One in 2014. Currently, there’re numerous DLCs and packs obtainable for the title. There’s additionally a Google Stadia model obtainable.

Rise of the Tomb Raider – 2015

Rise of the Tomb Raider continues the reboot and retains comparable gameplay and design. 

It debuted as an Xbox-timed unique in 2015 (Xbox One and Xbox 360). Then, the title reached the PlayStation 4 and Windows PCs in 2016. Nowadays, there’re variations for Linux, macOS, Google Stadia, PS5, and Xbox Series.

The plot occurs in Siberia, the place Lara Croft searches for Kitezh, a legendary metropolis. Kitzeh holds the key of immortality, however one other paramilitary group is trying to find its energy as nicely.

As earlier than, you journey environments, fight enemies, and clear up puzzles. Stealth and survival components are prevalent. However, the sport delivers semi-open pocket worlds as a substitute of linear degree design.

On every of those hubs, Lara can raid tombs to unlock rewards. Additionally, she will be able to full aspect missions and scavenge assets to craft supplies.

Eidos Montreal and Nixxes Software created a new sport engine for the sport. It improved the general efficiency and graphics of the title.

Much like its predecessor, Rise of the Tomb Raider was a profitable sport. By 2017, the sport had bought over 7 million copies. It didn’t beat Tomb Raider 2013, but it surely saved a excessive mark both method.

If you search the sport on Steam or different platforms, you see numerous DLCs, packs, and add-ons.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider – 2018

The latest entry of the Tomb Raider saga got here out in 2018 for Windows, PS4, and Xbox One. Nowadays, the sport is on the market for PS5, Xbox Series, macOS, Linux, and Google Stadia.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the ultimate entry of the reboot trilogy. It got here out for Windows, PS4, and Xbox One. macOS, Linux, and Google Stadia variations are presently obtainable.

The new plot places Lara Croft within the Americas, trying to find the legendary metropolis Paititi. Lara’s purpose is stopping the Mayan apocalypse that’s unleashing.

As earlier than, you’ll be able to raid tombs, scavenge assets, and full aspect missions on every pocket semi-open world. Aside from that, gameplay tweaks embody swimming, a grappling hook, and elevated issue.

Finally, Shadow of the Tomb Raider added more complexity to the RPG options. There’re more expertise and more development pathways. Also, there’s a talent three gamers can unlock through a New Game+ function.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider has numerous DLCs and add-ons. Nevertheless, you should purchase the Definitive Edition to take pleasure in its full content material.