Lara Croft is a fictional character who is a professional archaeologist but indulges herself in adventures. She is a highly intelligent being displaying a great deal of agility and resourcefulness. She is the main protagonist in the Tomb Raider video game. Shelley Blond inaugurated the video game series by lending her voice in the first title in 1996, a time when gamers used to love games like Tomb Raider.
Later, the game was adapted into movies, and Angelina Jolie kicked off the project with her gothic personality, setting up the Tomb Raider Universe on fire. There have been 10+ titles developed over the years that have gotten the attention of gamers worldwide.
In this blog, you’ll get to know about the best tomb raider-like games offering similar experiences. But before we move ahead, let’s discuss in detail one of the best action-adventure games of all time.
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The Tomb Raider gaming franchise is a massive success and has a global presence. The fandom is not limited to video games but has also grown into movies, animated series, and spin-offs.
After its first inauguration in 1996, developed under the title ‘Original Timeline’, games like Tomb Raider II (1997), Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft (1998), Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999), and Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000) were developed before wrapping up the series in 2003 with the last game Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness. So the Original Timeline continued from 1996 to 2003 and rolled out 6 titles. The series was a massive hit among the gamers.
After completion of the Original Timeline, ‘Legend Timeline’ was introduced to the players featuring a trilogy of games in a span of 3 years from 2006 to 2009. The Legend Timeline deployed Tomb Raider: Legend (2006), Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007), and Tomb Raider: Underworld (2009). These games surpassed the previous timeline with better graphics and rich storylines.
The last phase of the video game series started in 2013 with the title Tomb Raider under the ‘Survivor Timeline’, this also was a trilogy. The other two games were Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015, 2016), and Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018).
Enough about Tomb Raider, let’s get back to discussing the games similar to Tomb Raider.
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Although gamers cherish Tomb Raider, other games have also occupied a place in the hearts of gamers. Games like RDR, Uncharted, and Prince of Persia compete with Tomb Raider in terms of popularity and game mechanics. In this section, we discuss the best games like Tomb Raider in detail.
More of a Tomb Raider in a few different ways. Kena: Bridge of Spirits, the title itself seems like an action-adventure title offering archery and puzzles. Played from a third-person perspective, the game features a super-bright grassy environment that resembles some of the locations Lara has visited over the years.
On one side, where Lara Croft can be seen using guns on her adventure in Tomb Raider. Keno doesn’t do the same instead she uses her special abilities. Keno aims to help free spirits on her way to a sacred shrine. It is one of the games like Tomb Raider for Xbox that you should try once.
| Platform | Windows, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X & S |
| Released | September 21, 2021 |
| Developers | Ember Lab |
The Uncharted Series is developed by Naughty Dog and Iron Galaxy for PlayStation, smartphones, and PCs. The gamers take up the mantle of Nathan Drake and complete missions by wandering different locations, finding treasures, and engaging in action involving shootings. This game highly resembles Tomb Raider because of its action-style gameplay and puzzle-solving missions. So if you are a fan of Tomb Raider, Uncharted should be on your list, as you will be equally impressed by this title.
| Platforms | Android, iOS, PlayStation, Windows |
| Released | November 19, 2007 |
| Developers | Naughty Dog, Iron Galaxy |
Ubisoft’s two of the biggest titles, Assassin’s Creed series is a great contender to Tomb Raider. Both the titles, Origins and Odyssey are completely set in a pre-historic era of ancient Egypt and Greece. These games consist of mythological elements, however, they resemble Tomb Raider in terms of open-world exploration and missions. Parkour mechanics and stealthy gameplay are some of the features of the game that make it similar to Tomb Raider.
| Platforms | PlayStation, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Google Stadia |
| Released | Creed Origins: October 27, 2017 & Odyssey: October 2, 2018 |
| Developers | Ubisoft |
Guerilla Games developed this title for PCs and PlayStation where the world is overrun by artificial intelligence, just like Planet of the Apes movie where our world is controlled by apes. It is set in a post-apocalyptic world, and the resemblance it offers with Tomb Raider is the resilience of the protagonists of both games.
| Platforms | PlayStation 4, Windows |
| Released | February 28, 2017 |
| Developers | Guerrilla Games |
Before talking about the resembling factor, you should know that the game has a downside. Users with Xbox or PCs may be disappointed as the game is developed only for PS consoles. Shadow of the Colossus is included on this list because it is a worthy contender for Tomb Raider. It revolves around a young warrior whose aim is to defeat Colossi, the antagonist. It resembles Tomb Raider in terms of its world exploration features and the story’s adventures.
| Platforms | PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 |
| Released | October 18, 2005 |
| Developers | Team Ico, Sony Interactive Entertainment |
Another Ubisoft’s fantastic creations, Prince of Persia: Forgotten Sands was also adapted into movies just like Tomb Raider. Both games involve puzzle-solving missions and eye-catching graphics, however, their combat style might differ in some ways. It is a highly skill-based game that has features like rewinding time and going in the past, things Tomb Raider fans might love. So if you are a Tomb Raider fan, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time will surely blow your mind.
| Platforms | Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2 |
| Released | May 18, 2010 |
| Developers | Ubisoft |
Remedy Entertainment launched this game keeping in mind all the gamers. You can enjoy this game on both console and PC. It is a supernatural thriller that has a fantastic storyline revolving around a mysterious building called Oldest House. Jesse Faden is the protagonist of the game who has a telekinesis power, different from Lara Croft’s exploration skills, and resembles Tomb Raider in its combat mechanics.
| Platforms | PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows |
| Released | 2019 |
| Developers | Remedy Entertainment |
Developed by Sucker Punch Productions, the Ghost of Tsushima is one of the action-packed PS4 games like Tomb Raider. The game features a large open world explorable with or without guidance based on wind directions. As the player progresses in the game, the three islands of the Tsushima get unlocked. There are several non-playable characters (NPCs) in the game with whom players can interact. If you’re looking for a game that has a storyline similar to Tomb Raider, Ghost of Tsushima is a pick.
| Platforms | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows |
| Released | July 17, 2020 |
| Developers | Sucker Punch Productions, Nixxes Software |
Developed by Kojima Productions, this is an open-world game that you can consider as a solid alternative to the Tomb Raider. Gameplay elements are accessible from a third-person perspective. It encourages you to think strategically with tactics in mind. The game has a lot of action as well, and you have options to either use horses, jeeps, or even tanks. Available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows, it is one of the best games like Tomb Raider to try if you’re truly looking for the perfect game with similar gameplay.
| Platforms | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Windows |
| Released | September 1, 2015 |
| Developers | Kojima Productions |
The gameplay of Darksiders III matches with Tomb Raider. You take up the role of Fury, a member of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The world building in Darksiders III is quite interesting stuffed with different kinds of enemies like in Tomb Raider. It is one of those games like Tomb Raider and Uncharted that is available to play on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.
| Platforms | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, Google Stadia |
| Released | August 14, 2012 |
| Developers | Vigil Games |
The Arkham Series is a video games and comics franchise that originated from Batman: Arkham Asylum in 2009. The series features 12 video games starting from Arkham Asylum and the latest version being Arkham: Shadows. While the main continuity of the major video games includes only a handful of games, everything else falls under the Arkhamverse Expanded Media. Batman: Arkham Knight is the last PC game in the Arkham series and features some of the best combat mechanics and storyline in RPG games.
If you are a fan of games like Tomb Raider, uncovering mysteries, and fighting bad guys, you should definitely give the Arkham Series a try.
| Platforms | Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S. (However, keep in mind that platform compatibility will depend on each game) |
| Released | 2009 |
| Developers | Warner Bros. Montreal, Rocksteady Games |
Arguably the best game on the list, Red Dead Redemption 2 is developed by Rockstar Games, the same development company that deployed Grand Theft Auto. RDR 2 is filled with character-driven stories, where your decisions in the game affect the storyline. If you like Tomb Raider, you will love this game. It is set in the American West, and the protagonist is an outlaw, portraying the culture of that time.
| Platforms | Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia |
| Released | October 26, 2018 |
| Developers | Rockstar Games |
As compared to its first installment Alan Wake, the 2nd part features complete horror while adding scope for more exploration into the mixture of thrill and action. The game has a forest environment of Bright Falls highly similar to the Tomb Raider 2013’s version. Tomb Raider fans can be easily allured by its significant-sized explorable map along with puzzles. Tomb Raider deals with ancient mysteries, and Alan Wake 2 deals with a modern-day supernatural evil that threatens to destroy reality. Whether hardcore or casual Tomb Raider fan, Alan Wake 2 is a good alternative to Tomb Raider game.
| Platforms | Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X & S, GeForce Now |
| Released | October 27, 2023 |
| Developers | Remedy Entertainment |
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From Kena: Bridge of Spirits to Alan Wake 2, these top games like Tomb Raider offer similar to more exciting gameplay experiences. You must try these games if you haven’t played yet. If you want to develop games similar to Tomb Raider, you can get it so by a reputed game development company with long-standing experience in creating top-notch PC and mobile games with high-end graphics and immersive features.
Ans. If a game has a mix of action-adventure genre and exploration with missions involving puzzle-solving skills then it’s considered a similar game. A touch of mystery and mythical creatures also makes a game similar to Tomb Raider.
Ans. Uncharted series, Assassin’s Creed series, Horizon Zero Dawn, Shadow of the Colossus, Red Dead Redemption 2, Prince of Persie: The Sand of Time, and The Last of Us are some of the popular Xbox games like Tomb Raider.
Ans. Female protagonists like Lara Croft are featured in multiple games, some of the games include Horizon Zero Dawn (Aloy), Control (Jesse Faden), and The Last of Us Part II (Ellie).
Ans. Yes, you can find several games like Tomb Raider on the mobile phone. In fact, Tomb Raider itself has been optimized for mobiles, and it is called Lara Croft GO. Apart from that, Uncharted: Fortune Hunter and Republique have a similar experiences gameplay experience.
Ans. Sony’s PlayStation provides a wide range of games with exploration and puzzle-solving like Tomb Raider. Moreover, you can also experience the thrill of Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
