New player guide
Tomb Raider Games to Play Before Legacy of Atlantis
You can start with the new game. Earlier adventures are optional context, not a confirmed checklist. Choose the Survivor trilogy for modern Lara or the 1996 original for a classic comparison.
- Required firstNo listed game
- Modern contextSurvivor trilogy
- Classic referenceTomb Raider (1996)
Looking for Tomb Raider games to play before Legacy of Atlantis? You can start with the new game. Choose an older title only for context: the Survivor trilogy for modern Lara, or the 1996 original for the adventure being reimagined. The timeline guide covers continuity.
Do you need to play another Tomb Raider first?
No previous game is listed as a prerequisite in the sources reviewed. The developer interview says the Survivor trilogy helped shape Lara but describes that history as her past, not a checklist. Start with Legacy of Atlantis, or choose one route for character or classic-series context.
- Want modern Lara’s background? Play Tomb Raider (2013), Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider in order.
- Want a classic comparison? Try one release of Tomb Raider (1996).
- New to the series or short on time? Start with the game you came for.
Tomb Raider games to play before Legacy of Atlantis: three optional paths
Choose based on your goal: meet Lara for the first time, learn about modern Lara, or compare the new game with the 1996 adventure. The routes below are optional context, not a homework list.
The developers describe the new game as a reimagining of the original and have discussed Survivor-era influence. Neither point establishes that you need a particular ending, collectible, or full-series chronology before starting.
| Your goal | Optional games | Why choose it | Time commitment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start with no homework | None | Keep the new adventure as your first Tomb Raider. | No preparation |
| Understand modern Lara | Tomb Raider (2013) → Rise of the Tomb Raider → Shadow of the Tomb Raider | Follow the modern origin arc that the developers say helped shape Lara. | Three full games |
| Compare the classic premise | Tomb Raider (1996), or one current release of it | See the foundational adventure that Legacy of Atlantis reimagines. | One classic game |
| Explore every era | Classic, Legend, and Survivor entries | Useful only if your goal is franchise history rather than preparation for one game. | A much longer series project |
- Choose one route, or none. A release-order list catalogs the series; this guide helps you prepare for one game.
Choose the Survivor trilogy for modern Lara’s background
The Survivor trilogy is an optional path for modern Lara’s background. Play Tomb Raider (2013), Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider in release order for its connected origin arc.
In a June 2026 interview, game director Raul Siqueira said Survivor influenced Lara and gameplay. Experience director Jeff Adams described it as Lara’s past and said she is not bound by it. That gives context, not a prerequisite list.
For a sample, start with Tomb Raider (2013) and stop if the commitment is too much. A partial route is not a full recap, and the source does not say it unlocks an advantage in the new game.
When this route is worth your time
Pick the trilogy for long-form character development or franchise history. It is less direct if you only want context for the reimagined 1996 adventure; choose the classic route instead. Collectibles, optional tombs, and completion runs can wait.
Play Tomb Raider (1996) if you want a classic comparison
Tomb Raider (1996) is the closest reference for the new game’s premise. It can help you recognize the original adventure, but it does not reveal every scene, puzzle, or story change in the reimagining.
If the original release is inconvenient, choose one modern edition for comparison. Legacy of Atlantis is described as a reimagining, while a remaster preserves an older game in a current package; neither label makes the original required.
Classic controls, camera behavior, and pacing may feel dated. If that style is not for you, read a spoiler-light overview or skip it. Preparation should help you enjoy the new game, not feel like a test.
Do you also need to play Tomb Raider: Anniversary?
No. Anniversary is another interpretation of the original, but one version is enough for a reference point. Playing both is a separate series-history project, not a prerequisite.
Later classic games cannot confirm the new title’s exact plot. The new game reimagines the original and developers have described modern-Lara influence; judge returning details from the released game.
If time is limited, use one of these short plans
A simple plan is zero, one, or three games. Start fresh; choose 1996 for a classic comparison, Tomb Raider (2013) for modern Lara, or the trilogy for its connected character arc. Stop if it stops being fun: prior games add context, not access.
- Zero games: begin with Legacy of Atlantis and learn its version of Lara there.
- One game: choose the 1996 original for the closest historical comparison, or Tomb Raider (2013) for modern-origin context.
- Three games: play the Survivor trilogy in release order for its connected character arc.
- Do not add collectibles or completion runs unless you want them for their own sake.
What you can skip before the new game
Skip a full-series marathon, spin-offs, and completion runs unless you want to explore Tomb Raider broadly. Use the timeline guide for chronology and the remake guide for labels. The developer interview does not settle a complete timeline, so avoid treating exact-year theories as confirmed. You can also skip walkthrough spoilers and meet the story fresh.
- A release-order list is not a required play order.
- No source reviewed provides a mandatory-game checklist.
A spoiler-light way to prepare
Decide whether you want character background or a fresh story. Choose one route for context; otherwise avoid walkthrough spoilers and read only a short premise. The official product page is a better place to check confirmed details.
Separate developer comments from editorial advice. The interview describes influence, not a promise about every story reference. Start with the game that interests you and return to older entries only if it points you there.
The practical recommendation
Earlier Tomb Raider games are optional. Start fresh, choose the Survivor trilogy for modern Lara, or play one version of the 1996 adventure for comparison. Neither route is a confirmed prerequisite.
Sources and scope
The developer interview provides character context; PlayStation provides the visual media. Play paths here are editorial advice, not official requirements.
Frequently asked questions