Start with Tomb Raider (2013) if you want modern controls, cinematic presentation, and the clearest beginner-friendly path. Continue with Rise of the Tomb Raider, then Shadow of the Tomb Raider to follow the modern three-game Survivor sequence in release order.
If you specifically want the original exploration-and-puzzle formula, choose Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft. If you want an older-school adventure with a documented control and systems refresh, Tomb Raider: Legend is the most approachable middle-era starting point.
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The three best starting routes
There is no single best Tomb Raider for every newcomer. The right first game depends on whether you value modern handling, the original platforming design, or a compact adventure that sits between those eras. These routes avoid an unnecessarily confusing entry point and give you a complete way to continue if the first game clicks.
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| Starting route | Best for | Order | Why choose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modern Survivor trilogy | Players who want contemporary controls, cinematic presentation, and a continuing story | Tomb Raider (2013) → Rise of the Tomb Raider → Shadow of the Tomb Raider | The three modern entries form a coherent sequence. Steam lists their release years as 2013, 2016, and 2018, and describes Rise as building on the 2013 template. |
| Classic trilogy | Players seeking deliberate exploration, platforming, puzzles, and the original design identity | Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, beginning with Tomb Raider I | The collection contains all three original adventures, their named expansions, and secret-level content on modern platforms. |
| Middle-era bridge | Players who want an older-school adventure but are wary of the earliest games’ handling | Tomb Raider: Legend | A PlayStation retrospective documents updates to controls, combat, enemy AI, and the physics engine, making it a practical bridge between classic and modern design. |
Why Tomb Raider (2013) is the safest default
Tomb Raider (2013) is the strongest general recommendation for someone asking, “What Tomb Raider game should I play first?” It starts the modern Survivor arc rather than dropping you into the middle of an older continuity. You can learn the series’ contemporary movement, traversal, combat, and cinematic pacing without first mastering the controls of the 1990s games.
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The recommendation is about onboarding, not a claim that every player will prefer the 2013 design. The original games put more pressure on spatial memory, exact jumps, and reading an environment with limited guidance. The modern trilogy presents a more immediately legible adventure structure, so a newcomer can concentrate on Lara Croft’s journey instead of adapting to an older control scheme.
Steam’s franchise listing identifies the modern sequence as Tomb Raider in 2013, Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration in 2016, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition in 2018. Playing in that order lets later entries build on systems and story context introduced earlier.
What to expect from the modern route
- Tomb Raider (2013): the entry point that establishes the modern version of Lara and the Survivor storyline.
- Rise of the Tomb Raider: the direct follow-up, expanding the framework introduced in 2013 rather than resetting it.
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider: the third modern chapter, completing that sequence in the 2018 release listed by Steam.
Choose this route if your priority is a smooth first hour, recognizable modern game conventions, and a reason to continue from one title to the next. You do not need to know the 1996 game or the earlier chronology to understand where this trilogy begins.
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When the original trilogy is the better first choice
Choose Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft when the phrase “classic Tomb Raider” is the part that attracts you. The collection is designed as the direct route into the original games rather than a modern reinterpretation of their structure. Its emphasis is deliberate exploration, platforming, environmental puzzles, and learning how spaces fit together.
Crystal Dynamics lists the package as:
- Tomb Raider I + Unfinished Business
- Tomb Raider II + Golden Mask
- Tomb Raider III + The Lost Artifact
The collection released on February 14, 2024. PlayStation describes it as the complete experience of the original three adventures with their expansions and secret levels on modern platforms. That makes it a substantially cleaner way to sample the first era than trying to assemble the individual 1990s releases and add-ons separately.
What makes the classic route different
The original design asks you to observe before acting. Rooms, ledges, switches, hazards, and routes are often meaningful because of how they connect, not because a marker tells you where to go next. Platforming can feel more exacting, and progress may depend on remembering a room you passed earlier. Those qualities are the appeal for players who want the series’ archaeological-adventure identity rather than a heavily guided action game.
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The first Tomb Raider officially launched in 1996, according to PlayStation’s retrospective. Starting there gives you the historical beginning of the trilogy represented in the remaster. You can then move to Tomb Raider II and Tomb Raider III in order, carrying forward your understanding of the original control language and puzzle expectations.
Who should not start with the remaster
If you become frustrated by older-feeling movement, exact positioning, or long stretches where the environment itself is the puzzle, the remaster may give you the wrong first impression of the franchise. That does not make the collection a poor game; it means its design priorities are different from those of the modern Survivor trilogy. In that case, begin with Tomb Raider (2013) and return to the classics after you know which parts of Tomb Raider appeal to you.
Why Tomb Raider: Legend works as a bridge
Tomb Raider: Legend is the useful middle option for a player who wants a self-contained, older-school adventure but is concerned that the earliest games will feel too rigid. PlayStation’s retrospective specifically documents a reformulation of the controls, combat, enemy AI, and physics engine. Those changes are why “bridge” is a useful description: the game retains the recognizable exploration-and-traversal focus of earlier Tomb Raider while presenting a more refreshed set of systems.
Legend is also a sensible choice when you want a more compact introduction than a three-game commitment. It does not require you to begin with the first 1996 release, and it avoids placing you directly into the modern trilogy’s longer arc. Treat it as a standalone test of whether the series’ movement, environmental problem-solving, and adventurous tone suit you.
Choose Legend if these trade-offs sound right
- You prefer a focused, older-generation adventure to a large modern campaign.
- You want updated handling compared with the earliest entries.
- You are interested in classic Tomb Raider ideas but do not need to begin with Lara’s first game.
- You would rather sample one middle-era title before committing to either full trilogy.
Legend is not the canonical first chapter of the modern Survivor storyline. If your goal is story continuity across the current trilogy, choose Tomb Raider (2013) instead.
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| Criterion | Modern Survivor sequence | Tomb Raider I-III Remastered | Tomb Raider: Legend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control modernity | Most contemporary of the three routes | Classic handling presented on modern platforms | Refreshed controls documented by PlayStation |
| Exploration and puzzles | Present within a more guided, cinematic structure | Primary focus of the original design | Classic-inspired adventure structure with updated systems |
| Combat emphasis | More prominent in the modern action framework | Secondary to navigation, platforming, and puzzles | Updated combat and enemy AI compared with earlier entries |
| Story continuity | One connected three-game Survivor arc | The original trilogy and its expansions | A middle-era standalone starting point |
| Scope | Three releases played as a continuing sequence | Three original games plus expansions and secret levels in one collection | A more compact single-game introduction |
| Availability considerations | Edition names and storefront availability vary by region | Modern-platform remaster; regional listings still differ | Platform and edition availability can vary |
The table describes design differences rather than a universal quality ranking. “More modern” does not mean “better” if what you want is the demanding, unhurried puzzle structure of the originals. Likewise, the classic route is not automatically the best historical introduction if you mainly want fluid contemporary controls.
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Do you need to play Tomb Raider in order?
No. You can start with any of the three routes without completing the others first. The most important order is inside the route you choose.
If you choose the modern trilogy
- Play Tomb Raider (2013).
- Continue with Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration.
- Finish with Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition.
This is the clearest order for story continuity and for watching the modern systems develop from one release to the next.
If you choose the remastered classics
- Begin with Tomb Raider I and its included Unfinished Business content.
- Move to Tomb Raider II and Golden Mask.
- Play Tomb Raider III and The Lost Artifact.
You can sample the base game of each entry first and return to its expansion afterward if you want a gentler introduction. The collection includes all of that content, so the decision is about pacing rather than access.
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Play it as a standalone introduction. If its combination of traversal, puzzles, combat, and updated handling works for you, decide afterward whether to move backward to the remastered originals or forward to the modern trilogy. There is no requirement to use it as a bridge in a particular direction.
A practical first-session plan
Use the following process if you are still undecided and want to avoid buying or installing several games before you know what suits you.
- Identify your control tolerance. If you want contemporary movement with minimal adjustment, select Tomb Raider (2013). If learning an older control style sounds enjoyable, select the remastered first game.
- Choose your preferred story shape. Pick the modern trilogy for one continuing three-game arc. Pick the remaster for the original trilogy and its expansions. Pick Legend for a single middle-era starting point.
- Decide how much guidance you want. Modern entries generally make the next objective easier to read. The classic route expects more environmental observation and route memory.
- Commit to one complete opening session. Play far enough to experience the game’s basic movement, first combat situations, and first meaningful traversal or puzzle sequence. Do not judge the entire franchise from a loading screen or opening cutscene.
- Continue only when the core loop fits. If you enjoy searching, climbing, and solving spaces but dislike the handling, try Legend. If you enjoy the presentation but want deeper, less guided puzzles, try the remaster.
Common beginner problems and how to avoid them
Starting with a sequel because it is the only listing you see
Check the full title before launching. Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider are later parts of the modern sequence. They can be played independently, but beginning with Tomb Raider (2013) gives you the intended introduction and avoids losing context built into the sequels.
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Expecting the remaster to play like a modern action game
The remastered collection preserves the identity of the original trilogy. Approach it as exploration and platforming first, with combat supporting that structure. If you expect constant cinematic momentum, the pacing may seem slow even though it is working as designed.
Assuming every “classic” entry has the same handling
Legend is not simply another release of the 1990s control model. Its documented refresh to controls, combat, enemy AI, and physics is exactly why it can work as a middle-era option. Use it when you want an older presentation without starting at the earliest control style.
Choosing by edition name alone
Edition labels differ by platform and region. Steam lists the modern releases with names such as Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration and Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, while the classic collection is titled Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft. Confirm the platform, included content, seller, and regional listing before purchasing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Platform and edition checks before you buy
Availability, pricing, physical stock, and edition contents can change by country and storefront. The release information above establishes the routes, not a permanent worldwide shopping list. Before buying, verify:
- The exact platform you own and whether that version is currently listed in your region.
- Whether an edition includes the expansions named for the classic collection.
- Whether a listing is the base game, a celebration package, or a definitive edition.
- Whether you are purchasing a digital license or a physical copy, if that distinction matters to you.
- The seller, currency, age rating, and any regional restrictions shown on the live storefront page.
These checks matter particularly for older releases, where backward compatibility, bundled editions, and physical availability can differ between countries. Treat a retailer’s current listing as the authority for price and stock rather than relying on a static guide.
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“I want the easiest modern entry.”
Start with Tomb Raider (2013), then follow the modern trilogy in release order. This route minimizes historical control friction and gives you the strongest continuity between games.
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“I want what made Tomb Raider famous.”
Start with Tomb Raider I-III Remastered and play the included adventures in numerical order. Expect exploration, platforming, and puzzles to carry more of the experience than cinematic combat.
“I want classic flavor but smoother systems.”
Start with Tomb Raider: Legend. Its documented systems refresh makes it a reasonable compromise between the original trilogy and the modern Survivor games.
“I care about one complete story, not a history lesson.”
Choose the modern trilogy. Begin with the 2013 game so that each later release can build on the character and framework established before it.
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Legend is the lowest-commitment test if you want one older-school game. Choose Tomb Raider (2013) instead if you are more comfortable with contemporary presentation and want the route most likely to explain why the modern series has three connected entries.
Final recommendation
For most first-time players, play Tomb Raider (2013), then Rise of the Tomb Raider, then Shadow of the Tomb Raider. It is the clearest modern onboarding path and the only route here built explicitly as a continuing three-game sequence.
Choose Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft when classic exploration and puzzle-led platforming are your main reason for starting. Choose Tomb Raider: Legend when you want a compact middle-era adventure with the documented control, combat, AI, and physics improvements. Whichever route you take, verify the live platform listing and edition contents for your region before purchasing.
Quick Recap
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