What Order to Play Tomb Raider Games: A Journey Through Time, Puzzles, and Adventure

The Tomb Raider franchise has been a cornerstone of the gaming world since its inception in 1996. With over a dozen mainline games, spin-offs, and remakes, the series has evolved significantly, offering players a rich tapestry of storytelling, gameplay mechanics, and character development. But with so many entries, the question arises: What order should you play the Tomb Raider games? This article will guide you through the various approaches to experiencing Lara Croft’s adventures, whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned fan looking to revisit the series.

1. Release Order: The Classic Approach

Playing the Tomb Raider games in the order they were released is the most straightforward method. This approach allows you to experience the evolution of the series, from its humble beginnings to its modern-day iterations.

• Tomb Raider (1996): The game that started it all. This is where Lara Croft made her debut, introducing players to her iconic dual pistols, acrobatic moves, and penchant for solving ancient puzzles.
• Tomb Raider II (1997): Building on the success of the first game, Tomb Raider II expanded Lara’s world with more complex levels, new weapons, and a deeper storyline.
• Tomb Raider III (1998): This entry introduced more varied environments and gameplay mechanics, including the ability to drive vehicles.
• Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999): Often considered one of the best in the series, this game delved deeper into Lara’s backstory and featured more intricate puzzles.
• Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000): A collection of shorter stories that explore different periods in Lara’s life, offering a more episodic experience.
• Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003): A divisive entry that attempted to modernize the series with more action-oriented gameplay and a darker tone.
• Tomb Raider: Legend (2006): A reboot of sorts, this game introduced a more cinematic experience, with a focus on storytelling and character development.
• Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007): A remake of the original Tomb Raider, updated with modern graphics and gameplay mechanics.
• Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008): This game continued the story from Legend and Anniversary, with a focus on exploration and puzzle-solving.
• Tomb Raider (2013): A complete reboot of the series, this game reimagined Lara as a more vulnerable and relatable character, with a focus on survival and exploration.
• Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015): The sequel to the 2013 reboot, this game expanded on the survival mechanics and introduced a more open-world structure.
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018): The final entry in the reboot trilogy, this game focused on Lara’s transformation into the iconic adventurer we know and love.

2. Chronological Order: A Narrative Journey

For those who prefer to experience the story in chronological order, there’s an alternative approach. This method allows you to follow Lara’s journey from her early days as a young adventurer to her later exploits as a seasoned tomb raider.

• Tomb Raider: The Beginning (2006): This game, also known as Tomb Raider: Legend, serves as a prequel to the original series, exploring Lara’s early adventures.
• Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007): A remake of the original Tomb Raider, this game retells the story of Lara’s first major adventure.
• Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008): This game continues the story from Legend and Anniversary, with a focus on Lara’s quest to uncover the truth about her mother’s disappearance.
• Tomb Raider (2013): The reboot of the series, this game reimagines Lara’s origin story, showing her transformation from a young, inexperienced adventurer to a hardened survivor.
• Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015): The sequel to the 2013 reboot, this game follows Lara as she continues her quest to uncover the secrets of immortality.
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018): The final entry in the reboot trilogy, this game focuses on Lara’s journey to stop a Mayan apocalypse and her transformation into the iconic adventurer.

3. Thematic Order: Exploring Different Aspects of Lara’s Character

If you’re more interested in exploring different aspects of Lara’s character and the themes of the series, you can play the games in a thematic order. This approach allows you to focus on specific elements of the series, such as survival, exploration, or puzzle-solving.

• Survival Focus: Start with the reboot trilogy (Tomb Raider 2013, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Shadow of the Tomb Raider) to experience Lara’s transformation from a vulnerable survivor to a confident adventurer.
• Exploration Focus: Play the original trilogy (Tomb Raider 1996, Tomb Raider II, Tomb Raider III) to experience the classic Tomb Raider formula, with a focus on exploration and puzzle-solving.
• Puzzle-Solving Focus: Dive into Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation and Tomb Raider: Chronicles for some of the most intricate and challenging puzzles in the series.
• Character Development Focus: Play Tomb Raider: Legend and Tomb Raider: Underworld to explore Lara’s backstory and her relationships with other characters.

4. Spin-Offs and Alternate Universes: Expanding the Tomb Raider Experience

In addition to the mainline games, the Tomb Raider series has several spin-offs and alternate universe entries that offer a different take on Lara’s adventures. These games can be played in any order, as they often exist outside the main continuity.

• Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (2010): A top-down action-adventure game that focuses on cooperative gameplay and puzzle-solving.
• Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris (2014): The sequel to Guardian of Light, this game continues the cooperative gameplay and introduces new mechanics.
• Lara Croft: Relic Run (2015): A mobile game that combines endless running with Tomb Raider’s signature exploration and combat.
• Lara Croft Go (2015): A turn-based puzzle game that simplifies the Tomb Raider formula into a more accessible experience.

5. Remakes and Remasters: Modernizing the Classics

For those who want to experience the classic Tomb Raider games with modern graphics and gameplay mechanics, there are several remakes and remasters available.

• Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007): A remake of the original Tomb Raider, updated with modern graphics and gameplay mechanics.
• Tomb Raider I-III Remastered (2021): A collection of the first three Tomb Raider games, remastered with updated graphics and controls.

Conclusion

The Tomb Raider series offers a wealth of experiences, from the classic exploration and puzzle-solving of the original games to the cinematic storytelling and survival mechanics of the reboot trilogy. Whether you choose to play the games in release order, chronological order, or thematic order, there’s no wrong way to experience Lara Croft’s adventures. Each entry in the series offers something unique, and the best order to play them depends on your personal preferences and what aspects of the series you find most appealing.

Related Q&A

Q: Should I play the Tomb Raider games in release order or chronological order? A: It depends on your preference. Release order allows you to experience the evolution of the series, while chronological order offers a more cohesive narrative experience.

Q: Are the spin-off games necessary to understand the main series? A: No, the spin-off games exist outside the main continuity and can be enjoyed independently.

Q: Which Tomb Raider game is the best for newcomers? A: The 2013 reboot is a great starting point for newcomers, as it reimagines Lara’s origin story and introduces modern gameplay mechanics.

Q: Are the remakes and remasters worth playing? A: Yes, the remakes and remasters offer updated graphics and gameplay mechanics, making them a great way to experience the classic games with a modern touch.

Q: How long does it take to complete the entire Tomb Raider series? A: The length of each game varies, but on average, it takes about 20-30 hours to complete each mainline game. Completing the entire series could take anywhere from 200 to 300 hours, depending on your playstyle.