You do not need to play every Tomb Raider game before Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis. The new game is described officially as a reimagining of the 1996 original, so the clearest preparation is to play that first game—or its modern remaster. If you want a broader series tour, follow release order within each era: the original Core Design games, the Legend-era trilogy, then the Survivor trilogy.
Recommended Tomb Raider play order
The games span distinct story eras, so a practical first playthrough is to follow release order inside each one rather than treating the franchise as a single continuous storyline. The sequence below follows a release-order reference; the collections provide convenient ways to play the classic entries on modern platforms.
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Classic/original era
- Tomb Raider (1996)
- Tomb Raider II (1997)
- Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft (1998)
- Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)
- Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000)
- Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003)
Tomb Raider I–III Remastered collects the first three games, including their expansions and secret levels, for modern platforms. Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered continues with the next three adventures.
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Legend era
- Tomb Raider: Legend (2006)
- Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007)
- Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008)
Anniversary revisits the first game, but playing it after Legend keeps this era in release order.
#1 Best Overall
- Solve Ancient Mysteries: Uncover treasures of the ancient world by solving puzzles and unravelling mysteries lost to the ravages of time.
- Globe-trotting Adventure: Follow Lara Croft around the world and face off against deadly foes and dangerous myths.
- Lovingly Restored: Experience the classics boasting upgraded graphics, with the option to switch to the original polygon look at any time.
- Languages: Voice: English, French, German, Japanese, Russian; Subtitles: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Czech, Danish, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Slovak, Japanese, Simplified Chinese.
Survivor trilogy
- Tomb Raider (2013)
- Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015)
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018)
Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the third and final installment of this trilogy. The release years and groupings above follow the cited Tomb Raider release-order reference.
What to play before Legacy of Atlantis
The official announcement describes Legacy of Atlantis as a reimagining of Lara Croft’s 1996 debut, not as a sequel that requires knowledge of the later games. The official game page likewise presents it as a new take on the original adventure; it does not establish the Legend or Survivor games as prerequisites.
Rank #2
- Live the critically acclaimed, cinematic action adventure, re built specifically for next gen consoles
- Survive high octane combat, customize Lara's weapons and gear, and overcome grueling environments to uncover the island's deadly secret
- See Lara Croft like never before, with every bead of sweat, strand of hair, and article of clothing delivered in obsessive detail
- Endure a stunningly re imagined island, fraught with new, unforgiving storms, and alive with motion
- Own the complete Tomb Raider experience with all of the DLC, including the Tomb of the Lost Adventurer, six outfits for Lara, a digital mini art book, and the digital comic " The Beginning
For the most direct context, play the 1996 Tomb Raider, either in its original form or through Tomb Raider I–III Remastered. If you would rather experience the updated version itself, you can start with Legacy of Atlantis when it releases. The available official descriptions do not say that playing the original is mandatory.
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There is no objective gameplay ranking established by the cited sources. Pick the starting point that best matches the kind of context you want:
Rank #3
- See the Classic & Remastered Visuals: Play with the original polygonal models or swap to the remastered graphics at any time.
- Travel the Globe: Follow Lara Croft around iconic locales including Cairo, Rome, Paris, and many more!
- Experience Lara’s Darkest Adventures: Uncover the secrets of Lara Croft’s past and shed light on the mystery of her disappearance.
- Languages: Voice: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Polish, Russian, Japanese, Korean; Subtitles: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Polish, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified).
| Starting point | What it gives you | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Original Tomb Raider (1996), or Tomb Raider I–III Remastered | Direct context for the adventure Legacy of Atlantis reimagines; the remaster also includes the next two original games. | Players interested in Lara’s original adventure and the classic games. |
| Legend, Anniversary, Underworld | The Legend-era release sequence, with Anniversary revisiting the first game. | Players who prefer to explore that era rather than start with the original release. |
| Tomb Raider (2013), Rise, Shadow | The Survivor trilogy in release order. | Players who want to begin with that trilogy’s sequence. |
Legacy of Atlantis release date and platforms
As of the official Tomb Raider announcement dated June 2, 2026, Legacy of Atlantis is scheduled for February 12, 2027, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Nintendo Switch 2. That announcement says digital preorders are live on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam; Switch 2 preorders are to be offered later. Release plans and storefront status can change, so check the official announcement for current details.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Rank #4
- Full colour manual included
- Games List – Tomb Raider , Tomb Raider II : Starring Lara Croft , Tomb Raider III : Adventures of Lara Croft.
- Genre – Adventure
- Compatible with all Evercade hardware
- New Giga Cart Evercade Cartridge format with more space for bigger games
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