Tomb Raider on PlayStation: Where to Start and Which Order to Play

For a straightforward introduction, start with Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition and continue through Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. If you want the original style of exploration and platforming, begin with Tomb Raider I-III Remastered. Both are sensible entry points; they offer different experiences rather than two versions of the same trilogy.

Choose an era before choosing an order

The official series catalog groups the Survivor games separately, while Crystal Dynamics describes Legend, Anniversary, and Underworld as an interconnected trilogy. Treating every release as one uninterrupted story can make buying and play order more confusing than necessary. Official game catalog and the developer's middle-era guide.

The Survivor trilogy: the simplest complete route

1. Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
2. Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration
3. Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition

These are the three editions included in Tomb Raider: Definitive Survivor Trilogy. The PlayStation bundle is labeled PS4 and is playable on PS5 through backward compatibility; buying it does not mean you are buying three native PS5 remakes. The US listing includes English text and audio for all three games. Survivor Trilogy contents and platforms.

This route suits someone who wants to follow one version of Lara's development without assembling several generations of releases. Start with the first game even if a later entry is discounted: the order gives you a clearer basis for deciding whether you enjoy this style. A bundle is convenient, but compare it with what you already own so that convenience does not become duplicate spending.

If your library mixes disc copies, digital purchases, and older console versions, check our PS4-on-PS5 guide before assuming an edition includes an upgrade or a transferable save.

The classic games: follow release order

The most practical classic route is I, II, III, The Last Revelation, Chronicles, then The Angel of Darkness. Play the games in order within each collection rather than trying to rearrange every flashback into a strict biography.

I-III Remastered includes the first three adventures and their expansions, with both PS4 and PS5 versions listed. IV-VI Remastered contains The Last Revelation, Chronicles, and The Angel of Darkness, also for PS4 and PS5. I-III contents and IV-VI contents.

A remaster is a useful way to approach the older games, but updated visuals do not make their design identical to the Survivor trilogy. Give yourself time to learn how movement, exploration, and saving work. If you find the approach frustrating, switching eras is a better response than feeling obliged to finish a historical checklist.

Also check your existing purchases before buying an I-VI bundle. The number in a collection's title describes the included games; it does not mean the collection contains Legend, Rise, or every later release.

Legend, Anniversary, and Underworld

For a first run, use release order: Legend → Anniversary → Underworld. The developer recommends Legend as the starting point. Story chronology instead places Anniversary before Legend, with Underworld last. Anniversary revisits the original adventure within this different era, so it is not simply the same product as the first game's remaster. Crystal Dynamics on order and continuity.

Current UK store listings offer PS4/PS5 releases of Legend and Anniversary as emulations of their PS2 versions. Both list English audio and text. That is a different proposition from a new remaster.

This guide did not verify a current downloadable PS4/PS5 edition of Underworld. Check your country's store and any streaming entitlement before committing to this route on one console. Do not assume an older PlayStation disc or a listing for another platform supplies a PS5 version.

Where Legacy of Atlantis fits

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is an upcoming reimagining of the 1996 adventure, with PS5 among its announced platforms. The publisher's dated announcement gives February 12, 2027 as its release date. It is not a released alternative to I-III Remastered at this guide's October 2026 check. Official release and platform announcement.

You can play the original remaster now to understand its starting material, or wait for the reimagining if that is the experience you want. Neither choice requires buying every previous game. Do not treat a future product's marketing as proof of its final performance or an instruction to complete unrelated entries first.

Before buying an edition

• Match the exact title and included games to your intended route.
• Check the platform label: PS5 release, PS4 backward compatibility, and classic emulation are distinct.
• Read the separate audio and screen-language fields for your country and version; English availability does not guarantee every other language.
• Distinguish a purchase from access through a subscription, and verify any included add-ons.

For imported copies or separately purchased expansions, use the DLC region checks. Choose the route you are likely to enjoy, then buy the next relevant game rather than the largest possible collection.