Tomb Raider is a three-decade-old video game franchise that's been a household name for almost as long. Even though the likes of movies and shows have bolstered the popularity, the best of Lara Croft can be found in the games.
Barring any delays, we're currently expecting to see the upcoming remake Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, and the brand-new title Tomb Raider: Catalyst, come out in 2027. I'm very excited as a fan, so with the series fresh on my mind, here's my ranking of the best Tomb Raider games to play while you wait.
5. Tomb Raider: Anniversary
Even though it's been 30 years, Lara Croft's first adventure remains one of her best. Enough so that the upcoming Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is actually the second remake of the original game. The first remake was 2007’s Tomb Raider: Anniversary.
What's great about it is how much it stays true to the original vision. The visuals are better and there are both gameplay and story ties from Tomb Raider: Legend, the game that came before it, but the heart is exploring and solving puzzles. It’s great if combat isn’t what you’re looking forward to.
4. Tomb Raider II
If you've played the original (or remake) and wished Lara used her signature pistols more, you'll enjoy Tomb Raider II. The sequel decided to focus on the "action" part of action-adventure and certainly benefits from it.
Facing off against two tigers in the first minute of gameplay is a core gaming memory for me. While it's undeniably more challenging than the original, the perfect balance between enemy encounters and puzzles makes for a well-paced experience that still holds up today.
3. Tomb Raider: Legend
One of the best entry points to the franchise is Tomb Raider: Legend. This was the first reboot, changing Lara's design as well as key parts of her backstory.
Fully replacing tank controls with a modern control scheme alone earns this title points. However, it's the visuals and what feels like the first successful implementation of a good story that have kept this at the top of mind among fans. The biggest thing against it is that it’s one of the shortest games in the franchise.
2. Shadow of the Tomb Raider
From 2013 to 2018, Tomb Raider was rebooted with the "Survivor trilogy," which explored a younger Lara and the origins of her eventual tomb raiding career. 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the final part of the trilogy and the closest to what fans expect from the franchise.
Both the gameplay and visuals are the best of this rebooted timeline. Jungles and forests might sound boring and routine for the series, but every area feels unique and fresh. Combat is simultaneously less frequent to give puzzles and tomb raiding more focus, while still featuring a greater variety of enemies.
1. Tomb Raider: Underworld
At the very top of the list is the third of the "Legend trilogy", bridging elements from Tomb Raider: Anniversary and Tomb Raider: Legend together. Tomb Raider: Underworld is a globe-spanning personal adventure for Lara that manages to be both epically expansive and grim.
I'll be the first to admit it's not a perfect game, with a finicky camera and a somewhat rushed ending, but it gets everything else so right. Exploring the different environments and puzzles is a blast, combat is very satisfying, and the story is fun.
Although the Tomb Raider series has had some lulls, you're sure to find fun with any of the games on this list. Considering that the future of the series is meant to be a single timeline taking elements from every trilogy, playing through any of these might help you identify any potential fun connections.
