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Slay the Spire 2Where to Start with Tomb Raider
Start Tomb Raider with Tomb Raider (2013) for the modern Lara, with Tomb Raider I-III Remastered for the classic 1996 game, or with Tomb Raider: Legend for the middle era. From Feb 12, 2027, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a fourth door: a modern retelling of the first adventure.
There are three good places to start Tomb Raider, one per era: Tomb Raider (2013) for the modern Lara, which Crystal Dynamics calls her origin story; Tomb Raider I-III Remastered for the classic games, beginning with the 1996 original, which Crystal Dynamics calls the most beginner-friendly of the classics; and Tomb Raider: Legend for the middle era, the shortest main game at 7 hours. The eras do not depend on one another, so pick by the kind of game you want, not by the story. From Feb 12, 2027, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis adds a fourth door: the first adventure rebuilt as a modern game.
Quick facts
| For modern action-adventure | Tomb Raider (2013), 11.5 hours |
| For the classic games | Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, starting with Tomb Raider (1996) |
| For a short taste | Tomb Raider: Legend, 7 hours |
| Coming next | Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, Feb 12, 2027 |
| Story needed first? | No; each era stands alone |
Sources: HowLongToBeat, Nov 2, 2026; Crystal Dynamics, Sep 6, 2024; Steam, Nov 1, 2026.
Which Tomb Raider should I play first?
It depends on which Tomb Raider you mean, because the series has been three different kinds of game.
| If you want | Start with | Then | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| A cinematic survival adventure | Tomb Raider (2013) | Rise of the Tomb Raider, Shadow of the Tomb Raider | One story across three games; modern controls; best Metascore of the reboot era |
| The original puzzles and tombs | Tomb Raider (1996) in Tomb Raider I-III Remastered | Tomb Raider 2, Tomb Raider 3 | The game everything else remakes; each of the first three stands alone |
| Something in between, and short | Tomb Raider: Legend | Tomb Raider: Anniversary, Tomb Raider: Underworld | Classic tombs with smoother movement; one story across the three |
| A modern game of the 1996 story | Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis (Feb 12, 2027) | Tomb Raider: Catalyst | The first adventure with modern controls and optional hints |
Sources: Metacritic: Tomb Raider, Nov 1, 2026; Crystal Dynamics, Sep 6, 2024; Crystal Dynamics: Lara Croft, Nov 1, 2026.
Path 1: the Survivor trilogy, from Tomb Raider (2013)
Tomb Raider (2013) is the easiest door for anyone who plays modern action games. Crystal Dynamics describes it as Lara's development from a young woman into a hardened survivor: on her first expedition she is shipwrecked on an island and stops a cult tied to the Sun Queen Himiko. It has the reboot era's best reviews, 87 on PS3 and 86 on Xbox 360 and PC, and takes about 11.5 hours. Its story continues in Rise of the Tomb Raider and ends in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which Steam bills as the conclusion of her origin story. This is the one path where order matters, so play the three in sequence. It is also the earliest point in the timeline: Crystal Dynamics puts the trilogy before the 1996 story.
The 2013 game is the easiest of the three to find on any system: the Definitive Edition is on PS4, Xbox One, Switch and Switch 2 since Nov 18, 2025, and the game came to iOS and Android in 2026. Stores are on Where to Buy Tomb Raider Games.
Path 2: the classic games, from Tomb Raider (1996)
Tomb Raider (1996) is where Lara began, and Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is the way to play it now: it has the first three games, every expansion and secret level, and lets you switch between the original and new graphics at any time. Crystal Dynamics' advice is to start with the original: the first three games are self-contained, Tomb Raider 2 and 3 start hard, with many deadly traps, and the original teaches the mechanics best. Its Lara's Home training level shows every move.
This path asks the most of a newcomer. There are no objective markers, no checkpoints and only manual saves, and Lara moves on a grid with "tank" controls. The remaster offers modern controls too, but reviewers were split on them; Kotaku found they drop sidestep and turning on the spot. The reward is the series' best-reviewed game, 91 on Metacritic for PlayStation. Read Tomb Raider Beginner Tips and Controls and Movement first. After the first three, Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered holds the rest of the Core Design games. The clip shows Tomb Raider I-III Remastered.
Path 3: the Legend trilogy, from Tomb Raider: Legend
Tomb Raider: Legend (2006) was Crystal Dynamics' first Tomb Raider, and it sits between the two other styles: classic tombs and puzzles with fluid climbing, swinging and shimmying. Lara searches for Excalibur and the truth about her mother's fate. It is the shortest main game, 7 hours on HowLongToBeat, and scored 82 on PS2, PC and Xbox. Its story ends in Tomb Raider: Underworld, where Lara confronts Natla; Tomb Raider: Anniversary, a remake of the 1996 game in Legend's engine, comes between them in release order. Kotaku called the three a "genuinely wonderful" trilogy that had already remade the early games in spirit. All three are on Steam; consoles are harder, as Where to Buy Tomb Raider Games explains.
Is Legacy of Atlantis a good place to start?
It is meant to be. Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a full reimagining of the 1996 game in Unreal Engine 5 by Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog, published by Amazon Game Studios, due Feb 12, 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2 and PC. It tells the first adventure, the hunt for the Scion across Peru, Greece, Egypt and Atlantis, so it needs no earlier game, and its makers set out to welcome new players: puzzle hints from Lara and an optional scanner that are "all optional", and separate difficulty settings for puzzles and combat. Its controls are those of a modern third-person shooter, with sprinting, a grapple tool and a skill tree. The clip is IGN's Jun 2026 first preview, from a pre-release build.
Nobody can say yet whether it succeeds: no one outside the studios has played more than demos of pre-release builds, and there are no reviews as of Nov 2, 2026. The previews so far are on Legacy of Atlantis Previews, and the changes from 1996 on What's New in Legacy of Atlantis. Its successor, Tomb Raider: Catalyst, is set much later in Lara's life, after Tomb Raider: Underworld.
Do I need to play the old games before Legacy of Atlantis?
No. Legacy of Atlantis retells the first game, so it is a beginning, not a sequel. Playing Tomb Raider (1996) first in the Remastered collection would show what was changed, which some players will enjoy, but nothing in the story requires it. The makers do say the story is "expanded with deeper connections" to Lara's future, and how those connections play out is not known before launch.
Frequently asked questions
Which Tomb Raider game should I play first? Play Tomb Raider (2013) first for a modern action-adventure, Tomb Raider (1996) in Tomb Raider I-III Remastered for the classic games, or Tomb Raider: Legend for a short game in between; each era stands on its own.
Is Tomb Raider (2013) a good starting point? Yes. Tomb Raider (2013) is the start of Lara's origin story by Crystal Dynamics' own account, needs no earlier game, scored 87 on Metacritic (PS3) and takes about 11.5 hours.
Should I start the classic Tomb Raider games with the first one? Yes. Crystal Dynamics calls Tomb Raider (1996) the most beginner-friendly of the classic games and says Tomb Raider 2 and 3 start hard, so the original is the best way to learn the mechanics.
Do I need to play Tomb Raider games in order? Only within a trilogy. Tomb Raider (2013), Rise and Shadow tell one story, as do Legend, Anniversary and Underworld; the first three Core Design games are self-contained.
Is Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis good for beginners? Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is designed for newcomers, with optional hints and separate puzzle and combat difficulty, but it is not out until Feb 12, 2027 and has not been reviewed, as of Nov 2, 2026.
What is the easiest Tomb Raider game? No source ranks Tomb Raider games by difficulty; the Survivor games are the most guided, and of the classic games Crystal Dynamics calls Tomb Raider (1996) and Chronicles the most beginner-friendly.
Sources
- Happy Birthday, Lara Croft, Crystal Dynamics, Feb 14, 2026
- 10 Things You Need to Know Before Playing Classic Era Tomb Raider, Crystal Dynamics, Sep 6, 2024
- Lara Croft, Crystal Dynamics, read Nov 1, 2026
- Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, Crystal Dynamics, read Nov 1, 2026
- Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition Available NOW on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2!, Crystal Dynamics, Nov 18, 2025
- Tomb Raider Devs Explain Series Timeline, Lara Croft's New Voice, And Links Between, Game Informer (Charles Harte), Dec 15, 2025
- Tomb Raider I-III Remastered: The Kotaku Review, Kotaku (John Walker), Feb 13, 2024
- Search: tomb raider, HowLongToBeat, read Nov 2, 2026
- Metacritic: Tomb Raider, Metacritic, read Nov 1, 2026
- Metacritic: Tomb Raider (1996), Metacritic, read Nov 1, 2026
- Metacritic: Tomb Raider: Legend, Metacritic, read Nov 1, 2026
- Training Level: Lara's Home, Stella's Tomb Raider Site, read Nov 1, 2026
- Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft, Steam, read Nov 1, 2026
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Steam, read Nov 1, 2026
- Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, Steam, read Nov 1, 2026
- Puzzles Reimagined, Amazon Game Studios, Aug 3, 2026
- Combat Reimagined, Amazon Game Studios, Aug 17, 2026
- Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis hands-on report, PlayStation Blog (Phil Hornshaw), Jun 11, 2026
- History of Tomb Raider (1996 - 2018), Nick930, Sep 7, 2018 (video)
- Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered - PlayStation/Xbox/PC/Steam Deck/Switch - Digital Foundry Tech Review, Digital Foundry, Feb 13, 2024 (video)
- Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis - The First Preview, IGN, Jun 11, 2026 (video)
Moments
History of Tomb Raider (1996 - 2018)
Nick930
Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered - PlayStation/Xbox/PC/Steam Deck/Switch - Digital Foundry Tech Review
Digital Foundry
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis - The First Preview
IGN
Related
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How Long to Beat Tomb RaiderTomb Raider (1996) takes about 15.5 hours to beat on HowLongToBeat, or 20.5 hours to find everything. The shortest main game is Tomb Raider: Legend at 7 hours and the longest is Tomb Raider 3 at 20.5; Legacy of Atlantis has no figures before its Feb 12, 2027 launch.
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SecretsThe 1996 Tomb Raider has 45 secrets across its 15 levels, counting Stella's per-level figures for the Remastered version, from 1 to 5 per level, plus 10 in Unfinished Business. Secrets hold ammunition, medi packs and sometimes a weapon, and the original gives no reward for finding them all.
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Tomb Raider Beginner TipsThe best Tomb Raider beginner tips for the 1996 game are to save often in several slots, hold Walk near edges, count jumps in grid squares, keep medi packs for emergencies and rely on the unlimited-ammo pistols. Legacy of Atlantis tips so far come only from its makers and preview builds.
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Tomb Raider Games in OrderThe Tomb Raider games in release order run from Tomb Raider (1996) through Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018), the Remastered collections of 2024 and 2025, and Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis on Feb 12, 2027, with Catalyst after it. In story order the Survivor trilogy comes first, then the 1996 adventure.
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Where to Buy Tomb Raider GamesEvery main Tomb Raider game from 1996 to 2018 is sold on Steam, and the six Core Design games are also in Tomb Raider I-III Remastered and IV-VI Remastered on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, Steam, Epic and GOG. Legacy of Atlantis is on pre-order for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2 and Steam.
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Jacqueline NatlaJacqueline Natla is the villain of the 1996 Tomb Raider, an Atlantean ruler posing as a businesswoman who hires Lara to find the Scion. In Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis she is the CEO of Natla Technologies, played by Adrienne Wilkinson.
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Lara Croft Voice ActorsAlix Wilton Regan voices Lara Croft in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and Catalyst. Before her, Lara was voiced by Shelley Blond, Judith Gibbins, Jonell Elliott, Keeley Hawes and Camilla Luddington, and by Hayley Atwell in Netflix's animated series.
See also
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Tomb Raider (2013)Tomb Raider (2013) is Crystal Dynamics' reboot, Lara Croft's origin story on a stormbound island, published by Square Enix on Mar 5, 2013 with Camilla Luddington as Lara. It scored 86 to 87 on Metacritic and had sold 11 million copies by 2018, though Square Enix first called its sales below target.
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Tomb Raider I-III RemasteredTomb Raider I-III Remastered is Aspyr's Feb 14, 2024 collection of the first three Tomb Raider games and their expansions, with new graphics you can switch off at any time, modern or classic controls and a photo mode. It scored 75 on Metacritic for PS5; a Challenge Mode came on Mar 12, 2026.
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Tomb Raider: LegendTomb Raider: Legend (2006) is Crystal Dynamics' first Tomb Raider, a fast, short adventure in which Lara Croft hunts the pieces of Excalibur to learn her mother's fate. It scored 82 on Metacritic and shipped over 2.9 million units in its first months.
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Rise of the Tomb RaiderRise of the Tomb Raider (2015) is Crystal Dynamics' second Survivor game, sending Lara Croft to Siberia in search of the Lost City of Kitezh. Critics rated it among the best Tomb Raider games, at 86 on both Metacritic and OpenCritic.
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Shadow of the Tomb RaiderShadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) ends the Survivor trilogy, with Lara Croft trying to stop a Maya apocalypse in the jungle. Eidos-Montréal led it with Crystal Dynamics; critics liked it less than the two before it, at 82 on Metacritic for Xbox One and 80 on OpenCritic.