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For most new players, start with Tomb Raider (2013), then play Rise of the Tomb Raider, followed by Shadow of the Tomb Raider. That sequence is the clearest modern introduction: the three games form a continuous Survivor-era arc, use a shared modern design foundation, and let each sequel build on the previous entry.
Your best starting point changes if you want the original series’ exploration and puzzle identity. In that case, choose Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft. If you want an older-school adventure with a more approachable control and combat design than the earliest games, Tomb Raider: Legend is the useful middle option.
The three best starting routes
There is no single correct first Tomb Raider game. The right choice depends mainly on whether you want modern presentation, classic exploration, or a compact middle-era adventure. Use this table before choosing an edition.
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| Starting route | Best for | Control and presentation | Puzzle and exploration emphasis | Story continuity | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomb Raider (2013) → Rise of the Tomb Raider → Shadow of the Tomb Raider | First-time players who want modern controls, cinematic presentation and one connected arc | Modern design foundation across all three games | Balanced with action and cinematic progression | Play in this order | Three-game journey released in 2013, 2016 and 2018 |
| Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft | Players specifically seeking the original trilogy’s classic structure | Remastered presentation of the original adventures | Classic exploration, platforming and puzzle solving are the main attraction | Play the included games in numerical order | Three original games, expansions and secret levels |
| Tomb Raider: Legend | Players wanting an older-school, more compact introduction | Updated controls, combat, enemy AI and physics compared with the earliest entries | Adventure and traversal in a shorter middle-era format | Works as a standalone starting point | Compact bridge between classic and modern approaches |
Platform, edition, price and physical availability change by region. Check the current store listing for your country before buying, particularly when several editions use similar names.
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Why Tomb Raider (2013) is the safest general starting point
Tomb Raider (2013) is the strongest default recommendation when a reader asks, “What Tomb Raider game should I play first?” It was the first release in the modern Survivor sequence and establishes the design language used by Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
It gives beginners the clearest onboarding
Starting at the beginning of a modern arc means the later games can introduce their ideas in sequence instead of asking you to learn a new style from the middle. You meet the modern version of Lara Croft in the first entry, then see the next games build on that foundation. You do not need background knowledge from the 1996 original or from any earlier release to understand why this route is recommended.
It combines action with exploration
The modern route is aimed at players who expect cinematic presentation as well as traversal, puzzles and combat. That balance makes the first game a practical test of whether the series suits you. If its modern approach works for you, the two sequels continue along the same broad design path rather than abruptly switching to the original trilogy’s structure.
It starts the documented modern sequence
Valve’s Steam franchise listing identifies the release years as 2013 for Tomb Raider, 2016 for Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, and 2018 for Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. Those dates establish the order for the modern arc; they are not a recommendation to buy a particular store edition, since available packages differ by platform and region.
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How to play the modern Survivor sequence
- Begin with Tomb Raider (2013). Treat it as the onboarding game for the modern design and story arc.
- Continue with Rise of the Tomb Raider. It follows the 2013 entry and develops the same modern foundation rather than restarting the series.
- Finish with Shadow of the Tomb Raider. It follows Rise and completes this three-game route for a newcomer.
Do not begin with Rise just because it is newer
Rise of the Tomb Raider is a direct follow-up, not a separate reboot. You can technically launch it first, but doing so removes the intended first step of the modern arc and makes the onboarding less clear. Unless you have a specific reason to skip the first game, start with Tomb Raider (2013).
Do not treat Shadow as the entry point
Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the final game in this sequence. It is the right destination for someone who has completed the first two modern entries, not the most informative introduction to the series. Playing the trilogy in release order preserves the progression documented by the official catalog and the Steam franchise listing.
When the modern route is not the right choice
Choose another route if your priority is the original games’ deliberately classic exploration and platforming structure, or if you want a shorter middle-era adventure. Modern cinematic presentation is not automatically better; it is simply the most accessible default for readers who have no established preference.
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The remastered collection is the direct classic route. Crystal Dynamics states that it released on February 14, 2024, and identifies the package as three complete adventures with their named expansions:
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| Main game | Included expansion |
|---|---|
| Tomb Raider I | Unfinished Business |
| Tomb Raider II | Golden Mask |
| Tomb Raider III | The Lost Artifact |
PlayStation’s announcement describes the collection as the complete original three adventures with all expansions and secret levels on modern platforms. That makes it more than a single-game sampler: buying this route gives you the first three numbered adventures in one package.
Choose it for the classic identity
Select the remaster when the words “exploration,” “platforming” and “puzzles” matter more to you than a modern cinematic structure. The collection preserves the reason many players associate early Tomb Raider with deliberate traversal and environmental problem solving. It is the best answer to “Should I play Tomb Raider 2013 or the original?” when your interest is specifically in the original trilogy rather than in modern presentation.
Start with the first included game
Although all three adventures are available together, use numerical order: Tomb Raider I, then Tomb Raider II, then Tomb Raider III. The expansions belong with their respective games. This order gives you the clearest progression through the classic route and prevents the collection’s size from turning into an arbitrary playlist.
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Understand what “remastered” does and does not mean
The collection places the original adventures on modern platforms, but it is still the classic route. Do not buy it expecting the same overall structure as the 2013–2018 trilogy. Its appeal is the original design identity, including the emphasis on exploration, platforming and puzzles. If you want the most immediately familiar modern handling and cinematic presentation, use the Survivor route instead.
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Why Tomb Raider: Legend works as a bridge
Tomb Raider: Legend is the middle choice for players who are curious about older Tomb Raider but concerned that the earliest games may be a difficult first contact. A PlayStation retrospective documents that Legend reformulated the series’ controls, combat, enemy AI and physics engine. That documented systems refresh is why it works as a bridge rather than simply another chronological entry.
It is an approachable older-school introduction
Choose Legend when you want a more compact adventure and an older-era feel, but do not want to begin with the original trilogy’s design. Its role is editorial rather than a claim that it replaces either main route: it offers a separate entry point for readers who want a shorter middle-era experience.
It does not require the classic trilogy first
You can start with Legend without completing Tomb Raider I, II or III. The reason to choose it is its updated handling systems, not a need to fill a chronological gap. If you later want the classic route, move to the remastered collection; if you want the modern arc, begin that arc with Tomb Raider (2013) rather than trying to force Legend into the Survivor sequence.
Which route fits your preferences?
Pick the modern trilogy if you want continuity and current presentation
- You want the clearest first-time onboarding.
- You prefer cinematic presentation and modern controls.
- You want a connected three-game route rather than a historical sampler.
- You are comfortable committing to the sequence of 2013, 2016 and 2018 releases.
Pick the remastered trilogy if puzzles and classic traversal come first
- You specifically want the original three adventures.
- You are interested in classic exploration, platforming and puzzle structure.
- You want the expansions and secret levels included with the main games.
- You prefer one collection containing the first three numbered titles.
Pick Legend if you want a shorter middle option
- You want an older-school adventure without beginning with the earliest releases.
- You value the documented refresh to controls, combat, enemy AI and physics.
- You would rather sample a compact standalone entry before choosing a trilogy.
Do you need to play Tomb Raider in order?
No single order covers every Tomb Raider release. You should play in order within the route you select:
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| If you choose | Play in this order | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Modern Survivor route | Tomb Raider (2013) → Rise of the Tomb Raider → Shadow of the Tomb Raider | The three games form the documented modern sequence. |
| Classic route | Tomb Raider I → Tomb Raider II → Tomb Raider III, with each game’s included expansion | This follows the numerical order of the original adventures. |
| Middle-era route | Tomb Raider: Legend first | It is a standalone bridge option and does not require the classic trilogy. |
You do not need to complete one route before sampling another. A player can begin with Legend, decide that classic-era design is appealing, and then move to the remastered collection. Alternatively, someone can start with the remaster and switch to Tomb Raider (2013) after deciding that modern controls and presentation are a better fit. The important rule is to preserve order inside the modern trilogy and inside the numbered remastered collection.
Buying and platform checks before you start
Availability is a practical part of the decision. The research-backed release information establishes the games and dates, but it does not establish one universal price, physical format or platform list for every country. Stores may show different editions, subtitles and bundles.
- Confirm the exact title. Distinguish Tomb Raider (2013), Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition from similarly named bundles.
- Check your region’s store page. Verify that the edition is sold in your country and works on your platform.
- Check what is included. For the remaster, confirm the listing includes the three named games and their expansions; for the modern games, verify whether the displayed edition is the one you intend to purchase.
- Verify physical availability separately. A digital listing does not establish that a boxed copy is available, and availability can change by region.
- Buy only after checking the live listing. Prices and seller information are volatile, so a dated recommendation should not be treated as a permanent price guide.
A simple first-player decision
If you still cannot decide, answer these questions in order:
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- Do you want modern controls and cinematic presentation? Start with Tomb Raider (2013).
- Do you specifically want the original trilogy’s exploration, platforming and puzzles? Start with Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft.
- Do you want an older-school but more compact option with refreshed systems? Start with Tomb Raider: Legend.
- Are you choosing the modern route? Do not skip the 2013 game unless you have a strong reason; follow it with Rise, then Shadow.
- Are you choosing the remaster? Begin with Tomb Raider I, then continue numerically through II and III.
Bottom line for a new player
Start with Tomb Raider (2013) unless you already know that you want the classic games. It is the safest general recommendation because it opens the modern Survivor sequence and leads naturally into Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Choose Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft for the original trilogy’s exploration, platforming, puzzles, expansions and secret levels. Choose Tomb Raider: Legend when you want a shorter, older-school introduction with the documented control, combat, AI and physics improvements that make it a useful bridge.
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