The very first Tomb Raider came to PS1 on October 25, 1996 and introduced the world to adventurer and archeologist, Lara Croft. At the time of the game’s release, no one quite understood how influential the game would become, but today, Lara Croft is one of the most iconic and beloved video game characters ever made.
There are currently more than 20 Tomb Raider games in the franchise, including main games and spin-offs, but sadly, it’s been more than seven years since a new Tomb Raider game was released. Fortunately, The Game Awards announced not one, but two upcoming Tomb Raider installments, proving that the franchise is back and stronger than ever.
The Tomb Raider Franchise Is Broken Up Into Three Main Timelines
Image via CDE Entertainment
The Tomb Raider games are broken up into three major timelines or portions of Lara’s life. These three timelines include the Classic or Original Saga, the Legend Saga, and the Survivor Trilogy.
The Classic Saga includes Tomb Raider (1996), Tomb Raider II (1997), Tomb Raider III (1998), The Last Revelation (1999), Chronicles (2000), and Angel of Darkness (2003). All six of these games have been re-released as remastered collections in Tomb Raider I-III Remastered and Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered.
The Legend Saga includes Tomb Raider: Legend (2006), Anniversary (2007), and Underworld (2008). Legend is the seventh major installment in the series and is considered to be a reimagining of Lara Croft’s character, rather than a full-fledged continuation. Anniversary is a remake of the original 1996 game, while Underworld completes the Legend Saga.
Finally, we have the Survivor Trilogy, also known as the Reboot Trilogy, which includes Tomb Raider (2013), Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015), and Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018). The Survivor Trilogy follows a much younger Lara as she first sets out into the world of archeology.
It’s been more than seven years since the last Tomb Raider installment was released, but Lara’s still been active in the gaming world since then. Since Shadow of the Tomb Raider’s release, she’s appeared gam like Fortnite, Dead by Daylight, Astro Bot, and even more obscure crossovers like Powerwash Simulator and even had a Netflix animated series.
The Game Awards Delivered a Huge Tomb Raider Announcement
Image via Amazon Game Studios
For a couple of years now, the Tomb Raider franchise has teased the idea of a “unified Lara Croft.” Simply put, this is the merging of the Survivor Trilogy and the Classic Saga, and the unified timeline confirms that the Survivor Trilogy is a prequel series and the experiences that shaped Lara Croft into the Tomb Raider fans know and love.
To truly bridge the gap between the Survivor Trilogy and the Classic Saga, Crystal Dynamics and Amazon Game Studios are releasing a new game in 2026 called Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis. This upcoming game has been described as a reimagined remake of the very first Tomb Raider that came out in 1996.
Legacy of Atlantis will celebrate Tomb Raider’s 30th anniversary and also officially merge the Tomb Raider timelines. Long-term fans of the franchise will get to experience one of the most influential video games ever made, and brand-new fans will get to experience Lara’s origin story.
This remake will also be able to draw more natural connections to the events of the Survivor Trilogy, so the franchise feels less disjointed. It’s huge for Tomb Raider fans, and Legacy of Atlantis would have been big enough on its own, but a second, brand-new Tomb Raider story is slated for 2027.
Tomb Raider: Catalyst is an all-new entry into the franchise that will mainly place in Northern India. The events of the game seem to take place after a devastating catastrophe befalls the land, and Lara once again finds herself at odds with rival treasure hunters who want to do more harm than good.
The Catalyst trailer cements the unified timeline. A woman who appears to be the antagonist of the game addresses Lara by saying, “The entire world knows your legend. You survived the Dragon’s Triangle. Crossed the threshold to Atlantis. I’ve heard a dozen tall tales that say you’re unstoppable. But I say, all legends must come to an end.”
The Dragon’s Triangle refers to 2013’s Tomb Raider, the first installment in the Survivor Trilogy, which saw Lara sail into the Dragon’s Triangle. The Atlantis reference, of course, references both the original Tomb Raider game and the upcoming remake, Legacy of Atlantis. If there were any doubts that a unified timeline was happening, this trailer put that to bed.
Amazon Prime Is Also Working On a Live-Action Tomb Raider Series
Lara is dressed for freezing weather and holding climbing gear in Rise of the Tomb Raider.Image via Crystal Dynamics
Tomb Raider is no stranger to live-action adaptations. In the early 2000s, Angelina Jolie played Lara Croft in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and The Cradle of Life. While these films are fun action flicks, many fans felt failed to capture the true spirit of the video games.
In 2018, Alicia Vikander played Lara in Tomb Raider, a loose adaptation of Tomb Raider. While the 2018 film was arguably a better adaptation, it wasn’t exactly spot-on. Sadly, the live-action Tomb Raider adaptations have really added fuel to the fire that video game adaptations are never good.
Fortunately, Lara has appeared in other adaptations that have received positive attention. She’s been the main character in a series of Dark Horse comics and, as mentioned, she is also the focal point of Netflix’s animated series, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft.
Amazon Prime will also be picking up the mantle of trying to, finally, create a good live-action Tomb Raider adaptation. This seems to be a point of focus for Prime Video, because they are also working on a very successful Fallout adaptation, and a God of War adaptation is also in the works.
A lot of information about Prime Video’s Tomb Raider is still up in the air, but we do have a few key details. Production is set to begin at the beginning of 2026, and Sophie Turner will take up the mantle of Lara Croft. Phoebe Waller-Bridge will act as the creator, writer, and executive producer of the series.
The main goal of this series is to flesh out Lara’s timeline to further create a more unified connection between the Survivor Trilogy and the Classic Saga. This likely means that, like Prime Video’s Fallout series, the show won’t be a retelling of a story gamers have already played, but a new story entirely.
Bringing every timeline together is huge for Tomb Raider, and it even looks like the upcoming show will feel more connected to the games. Not only is it a great time to be a Tomb Raider fan, but it’s the perfect time for curious gamers to dive into the series for the first time.
Created by
Core Design
First Film
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Upcoming TV Shows
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft
Video Game(s)
Lara Croft Go, Lara Croft: Relic Run, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered Starring Lara Croft
Movie(s)
Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider 2, Shadow of the Tomb Raider