All 12 Mainline Tomb Raider Games, Ranked

Over the years, Tomb Raider has evolved alongside gaming’s dynamic evolution, refining its visuals, gameplay, settings, and level designs with each new installment. As it became increasingly realistic, some felt it was veering too close to cinematic storytelling at the expense of its original platforming elements that fostered exploration and freedom. Lara Croft’s appeal may be rooted in nostalgia, with fans often favoring the series they experienced during their formative years. The game’s early arcade-like essence has since grown to new levels.

Reminiscing about the past can be quite addictive, yet it’s crucial to consider its impact when discussing a timeless series like Tomb Raider. What version of Lara Croft’s escapades did you first explore? The Tomb Raider saga is divided into three distinct series, each chronicling a self-contained storyline in Lara’s journey. This list will rank the original games and the standalone prequel (Legend) without any remasters or spin-offs. Since each series presents unique aspects in Lara’s portrayal and gaming mechanics, it can be challenging to compare them directly. With that in mind, let us present every main Tomb Raider game, arranged from least favorite to most enjoyed. We are focusing on the games themselves, not Lara Croft as a character.

12) Tomb Raider VI: The Angel of Darkness

Release date: June 20th, 2003
Timeline: Original Saga

For me, the factor that spoiled the game Angel of Darkness was undeniably its problematic controls. Compared to the original trilogy, it feels noticeably clunky, making progress through it an irritating task. Maintaining a strong connection to its roots in challenging platforming, every action seems excruciatingly slow, leaving no space for me to appreciate the game.

In comparison to the latest series installments, these sections don’t allow for a quick breeze; instead, they demand a more meticulous approach due to their lack of smoothness and polish. The story is particularly engaging compared to others and warrants exploration within the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition collection. However, its challenges primarily stem from problematic controls rather than platforming, riddles, or combat-which places it as the most challenging Tomb Raider game in my book, despite its promising potential.

11) Tomb Raider (2013)

Release date: March 5th, 2013
Timeline: Survivor

The new iteration of “Tomb Raider” strays significantly from the beloved original trilogy we’re familiar with. For me, the introduction of weapon crafting, upgrade points system through a skill tree, and campsite took away from the game’s authenticity as Tomb Raider. This game felt disconnected from its roots.

This game’s title seemed overly reliant on survival aspects and emphasized combat excessively, while eliminating the suspense that typically comes with battling animals (a key aspect in the original series). The puzzles were virtually nonexistent and too simple this time around. However, the game does a good job at portraying Lara’s transformation from fearful to brave, although I found the gameplay itself disappointing.

10) Rise of the Tomb Raider

Release date: November 10th, 2015
Timeline: Survivor

In simpler terms, “Rise of the Tomb Raider,” the latest installment of the modern Tomb Raider games, seemed like a thrilling journey suitable for all players. However, what I find challenging about the newest series is its occasional easiness due to the frequent hints given by Croft, a feature not present in the original trilogy.

In this series, you’ll encounter less complex puzzles and the typical stealthy battles that Lara engages in. It’s astonishing to see how many enemies Lara eliminates with her bow in the latest Tomb Raider games. The platforming has been creatively and realistically designed, making the environment feel alive. “Rise of the Tomb Raider” embodies an exciting journey, but its combat doesn’t have the sense of a life-or-death struggle for Lara; instead, it serves mainly as a way to increase gameplay duration.

9) Tomb Raider V: Chronicles

Release date: November 24th, 2000
Timeline: Original Saga

Compared to the original series, the spin-off titled Chronicles doesn’t leave as lasting an impression. Although it boasts enhanced visuals in terms of level design and a well-balanced mix of combat and platforming, it lacks in creating unique, distinct segments that truly stand out. While the narrative is engaging, it doesn’t break down the levels in a way that makes each section particularly memorable, except for the gradual development of Lara into an ultimate spy.

The game doesn’t have a varied soundtrack (the songs get repeated throughout the entire game), causing each area to merge into one continuous level.
Despite minimal voice acting in the original trilogy, the absence of it in Chronicles seems odd and feels disjointed, considering there are more cutscenes here compared to the originals due to their increased number.

8) Tomb Raider VIII: Underworld

Release date: November 18th, 2008
Timeline: Legend of Tomb Raider

Underworld strongly encourages you to search for and gather all its collectibles, essentially immersing you in the classic Tomb Raider experience of extensive exploration. Essentially, it’s an invitation to delve deep into this game, to fully explore every corner of it. However, Underworld doesn’t significantly expand upon the original trilogy; it mainly serves as a graphical and gameplay enhancement to its predecessors.

The platforming remains somewhat simple, and the setting isn’t as vibrant as I anticipated. Everything appears in shades of gray, with an unmemorable soundtrack that tends to make different areas seem indistinguishable. Nevertheless, it embodies the essence of Tomb Raider; this is not a quality shared by other games within the series.

7) Tomb Raider: Anniversary

Release date: June 1st, 2007
Timeline: Legend of Tomb Raider

In my time, Tomb Raider was the series that kicked off my journey, and it was with Anniversary that I embarked upon this adventure. I had anticipated enhanced platforming skills since it was a remake of the PlayStation 1 games; however, I frequently found myself accidentally leaping from platforms, causing Lara to meet an untimely demise. By reducing the content from the originals, Anniversary became much more straightforward and swift to complete.

In a nutshell, it shares the visual aesthetic of ‘Underworld’, as everything appears uniform. Unlike the originals, I spent more time on climbing adventures than on navigating complex platforms, an experience that was surprisingly effortless for me. Contrasting my experiences with the originals, this game is filled with Quick Time Events (QTEs). However, it lacks the critical atmosphere that the original had, yet it remains a decent game despite not being a perfect replica of its source.

6) Tomb Raider VII: Legend

Release date: April 7th, 2006
Timeline: Legend of Tomb Raider

The original Legend, while boasting an engaging storyline and my preferred portrayal of Lara, felt less challenging due to its linear progression and limited exploration, making it seem more straightforward compared to other entries in the series. What sets Legend apart is its cinematic gameplay style, prioritizing fast-paced action over complexity. It features enhanced controls, graphics, and quick time events (QTEs) that streamline your journey from one point to another.

In my opinion, the first installment of Legend had a compelling narrative and the version of Lara I enjoy the most. However, its linear structure and limited freedom made this adventure seem less complex than usual for the series. What distinguishes Legend is its cinematic approach to gameplay, focusing on action-packed scenes, improved controls, graphics, and quick time events that expedite your progress from one location to another.

In Legend, there’s a wonderful assortment of gameplay elements, providing a welcome change from earlier games that lacked such variety. However, as one progresses through Legend, the game can become somewhat disordered. Despite this, its easier level layout makes it relatively straightforward to complete.

5) Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Release date: September 14th, 2018
Timeline: Survivor

A filmic narrative that carries a vibe similar to an “Uncharted Legacy” style, “Shadow of the Tomb Raider” aligns with the trends prevalent during its release. This contemporary adaptation embodies the essence of Tomb Raider, while incorporating standard stealth tactics and AI patrol patterns that are foreseeable.

I appreciated how the game paid homage to the original trilogy, particularly the jungle scenes, as they captured the classic spirit of Tomb Raider. Instead of mostly creeping around and shooting enemies with Lara’s bow and arrow, these sections felt more traditional. While

I really enjoyed how the game brought back elements from the original trilogy, especially the jungle scenes, which gave off a more traditional Tomb Raider vibe. I found myself doing less sneaking and sniping with Lara’s bow and arrow in these sections, making them feel more nostalgic. Despite not being overly difficult, this game is still approachable for those who are fans of action-adventure games. In my opinion, this latest Tomb Raider offers the most well-rounded, narrative-driven, and enjoyable experience yet, by skillfully combining puzzle-platforming and combat elements.

4) Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation

Release date: November 24th, 1999
Timeline: Original Saga

The Last Revelation features the most challenging puzzles within the Tomb Raider series. On the other hand, Tomb Raider IV showcases a significant enhancement in level design and graphics, offering a contrast to the third game’s continuous gunfights as it presents Lara with numerous puzzles instead. Ultimately, your preference between these two games depends on your personal tastes. The Last Revelation offers distinct enemy types and an ominous, dark ambiance due to its Egyptian tomb setting.

As a gamer, I’d say this game leans heavily on solving puzzles and navigating platforms, rather than the other way around. A minor gripe is that when combat occurs, it lacks a distinctive theme to make it memorable – unfortunately, no catchy tunes accompanied my battles. However, there’s plenty of room for exploration in

3) Tomb Raider III

Release date: November 20th, 1998
Timeline: Original Saga

The game Tomb Raider III concluded the trilogy with a cinematic flair, featuring impressive camera angles to enhance the overall adventure experience. It maintains similar elements to its prequels but focuses more on Lara Croft’s violent exploits. As in previous games, you’ll face threats from animals and dangerous traps. Even though these elements are now familiar, they can still evoke a feeling of anxiety, especially as the traps become more intricate and frequent.

Intricate level design encourages contemplation about your next move, making it more complex compared to before. The ambiance in Tomb Raider III was captivating, with notable locations (some less impressive than others) that stood out. Moreover, the combat was the most challenging in the series, as every element seemed determined to eliminate Lara Croft.

2) Tomb Raider

Release date: October 25th, 1996
Timeline: Original Saga

In its iconic soundtrack and gameplay, Tomb Raider stands out as an indelible gaming experience, even with its relatively basic design that remains challenging. The auto-aim feature is a welcome addition, enabling players to concentrate more on maneuvering to dodge attacks rather than aiming. The initial release of the game delivers an arcade-like feel, and this is demonstrated in its replayability through factors such as speed in completing levels, kill count, and discovery of all hidden secrets.

This game is so engaging that you can’t help but continue playing, unlike the latest installments. Each region has a unique theme that gives Lara Croft’s world a sense of authenticity and vibrancy. While its simplicity allowed for potential enhancements, it’s important to note that Tomb Raider was not without its flaws.

1) Tomb Raider II

Release date: November 21st, 1997
Timeline: Original Saga

Tomb Raider II maintained the strengths of its predecessor while enhancing it through intricate and imaginative level design. Although the game still featured a flat world, it preserved the core elements of the series while ramping up the difficulty considerably. The sound design was exceptional, with each level being distinctly marked by memorable themes. Additionally, an innovative feature allowed enemies to call out from a distance, serving as a warning that they were nearby even if they weren’t yet visible. This detail added an extra layer of immersion and tension to the game.

As a devoted gamer, I’ve got to admit that the original titles truly embodied the “less is more” philosophy, with an unyielding focus on meticulously crafting minute details – and boy, did Tomb Raider II deliver on that front! This game was all about immersive exploration and testing your platforming skills, with danger lurking just around every corner. The unpredictability of booby traps and the diverse array of enemies kept me on my toes, making this game a real adrenaline rush. Every moment felt tense because I never knew when the next trap or enemy ambush was coming. This installment definitely ramped up the challenge level, making it a standout entry in the series.

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2025-08-24 01:16