Tomb Raider PS1 Games in Order: Where to Start
For the original PS1 series, play Tomb Raider, II, III, The Last Revelation and then Chronicles. Starting with the 1996 game introduces the classic exploration and movement style before the later adventures build on it.
This is the PS1 sequence, not a timeline covering every reboot and remaster. If you are choosing between exploration and more combat-led adventures, compare other PS1 action-adventure styles.
On this page
The five PS1 releases
| Order | Game | Original year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tomb Raider | 1996 |
| 2 | Tomb Raider II | 1997 |
| 3 | Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft | 1998 |
| 4 | Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation | 1999 |
| 5 | Tomb Raider: Chronicles | 2000 |
The Angel of Darkness belongs to the wider classic era, but it is not a PS1 release. Modern packages that group six classic games together should not be read as a list of six original PS1 games.
Release order is a practical recommendation because it lets you learn the earlier design first. You do not need to assemble a franchise-wide fictional chronology before enjoying the original adventure.
Learn deliberate movement first
Classic Tomb Raider asks for deliberate positioning. Spend time with the training opportunities and safe spaces before interpreting every missed jump as an emulator issue. Watch the character’s orientation, the edge you intend to leave and the landing point.
Repeat a simple movement until you can predict it. Change one part of the attempt—starting position, direction or timing—rather than pressing several controls more quickly. If you can explain why the attempt worked, you have learned something transferable to the next room.
A controller may suit your preference, but pairing one does not change the game’s movement rules. Our iPhone controller guide helps verify input before you return to practising the actual game.
Explore with a route in mind
When a room presents several ledges or passages, pause and inspect the space. Choose the next destination before committing to a jump. If a switch changes something elsewhere, note what you heard or saw rather than immediately wandering into another route.
For short sessions, keep a simple note: current room, unresolved mechanism, next route to test. This preserves the puzzle without requiring a full walkthrough. If you get stuck, look for a hint about that mechanism rather than reading several chapters ahead.
Do not treat every visible pickup as mandatory on a first run. Decide whether you want a story playthrough, exploration practice or complete collection. That choice determines how much backtracking will feel rewarding.
Originals, remasters and later games
Tomb Raider I–III Remastered and IV–VI Remastered are later products with their own presentation and control options. A video using those options is not proof that they exist in the original PS1 menu. The 2013 Tomb Raider is also a different starting point from the 1996 game.
Confirm the title and platform of your own file before following a setup guide. Our platform-and-edition guide explains why similar branding is not enough.
Save at suitable opportunities and keep practice states clearly identified. In our save guide, the key distinction is that loading a state restores an earlier moment; it does not preserve every later decision automatically.
Questions answered
Is Anniversary the original 1996 game?
No. It is a later reimagining. Its controls and level details should not be used as exact instructions for the PS1 original.
Can I begin with II?
Yes, if that is the adventure you want. The original is our recommended starting point when you intend to learn the classic series in sequence.
Keep exploring
Sources and scope
This guide covers the original PS1 releases. Modern reissue features are not assumed to exist in the originals or in EMUspace. Recommendations describe a learning approach, not device benchmarks.