As a foundational 3D action-adventure main game released in 1996, Tomb Raider tasks you with guiding archaeologist Lara Croft through perilous tombs to recover artifact fragments, specifically the Atlantean Scion. The core loop blends precise platforming and acrobatic movement with environmental puzzle-solving and third-person shooter combat against wildlife. The story follows Croft's globe-trotting pursuit across ancient sites in Peru, Greece, Rome, and Egypt after a betrayal. This influential title has since received multiple remakes and a remaster, reflecting its enduring design across various platforms.
The gameplay loop centers on navigating complex, multi-tiered environments that demand precise movement and environmental manipulation. Players must guide Lara through intricate tombs and dangerous locales, utilizing a robust set of acrobatic maneuvers.
The experience is a distinct blend of three primary genres:
The objective in each area is to locate treasures and artifacts, ultimately leading to the next stage of the quest for the Scion fragments. The game emphasizes exploration and careful navigation over constant combat.
The game establishes a tone of isolated adventure within ancient, forgotten spaces. The atmosphere is characterized by large, open-ended level designs that encourage thorough searching. Players will explore subterranean caverns, crumbling temples, and hidden chambers, all rendered in the early 3D style that defined the era.
This original main game has seen several releases across various hardware generations since its debut. Original platforms included the Sega Saturn, DOS, and PC (Microsoft Windows), with later ports appearing on the original PlayStation and Nintendo 64, as well as handheld systems like the PlayStation Portable.
Regarding additional content, this specific main release contains no official Downloadable Content (DLCs) or Expansions.
This game was critically acclaimed upon release and proved highly influential in the development of 3D action-adventure games. Its success established a major media franchise, leading to numerous sequels and related media projects.
While the original remains a landmark title, it has received several modern interpretations, including three distinct remakes and one remaster, allowing new players to experience the core adventure across different graphical fidelity levels.

Tomb Raider: 10th Anniversary Edition (TRAE) was the last Tomb Raider game developed by Core Design, the original developers of Tomb Raider. It was a remake of the original 1996 game meant to be released for the series 10th anniversary in 2006. In 2003, following the poor sales of Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness and Core expressing franchise fatigue, Eidos Interactive handed the Tomb Raider IP to Crystal Dynamics to reboot the series, resulting in Tomb Raider: Legend. Core started development on TRAE near the end of Tomb Raider: Legend's development as Eidos was acquire by the SCi Entertainment Group. The project was eventually shelved after Eidos and SCi had marketing concerns about Core returning to the Tomb Raider IP. Core was sold to Rebellion Developments in 2006, terminating the development on TRAE. In its place, Crystal Dynamics developed their own remake of the original Tomb Raider called Tomb Raider: Anniversary. It was announced in 2006 after a presentation of Core's game leaked online and released in the following yaer. Following a PSP prototype build of TRAE being made public in 2020, TRAE has been actively restored by fans and there's now an early playable PC build available. It is notable for being more faithful to the original game's level design than the 2007 remake, while still adding new mechanics and updating technical aspects.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a reimagining of Lara Croft’s 1996 genre-defining game with visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5, modern gameplay, and new surprises that honor the spirit of the original.

A remaster of the original Tomb Raider, including The Unfinished Business expansion as well as the ability to toggle between original and remastered graphics.

This is a game made with Tomb Raider Level Editor. It uses the mechanics of the 1996 version of Tomb Raider while recreating its entire story. This TRLE was placed in the trle.net hall of fame in 2023.

Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a remake of the original Tomb Raider with a technically more advanced graphics engine. It has the same basic storyline, though some cutscenes and much of the dialogue within have been expanded or modified in other ways. Locations correspond to those of the original version and are accessed in the same order, but have been re-designed with different layouts and mostly completely different puzzles which allow implementation of new moves: swinging on ropes and using a grappling hook at specific points.

The N-Gage port of Tomb Raider is a 3D game closely modeled after 1997's Tomb Raider II on PlayStation. Rather than feature a side-scrolling perspective as in previous handheld efforts, Tomb Raider maintains the console and computer's third-person perspective from behind globetrotting archaeologist Lara Croft. While navigating the 3D worlds in an attempt to recover a relic known as the Scion, players can run, jump, climb, shimmy across ledges, and perform various other acrobatic maneuvers. Along the way the intrepid explorer must defend herself from hungry wolves and rival treasure hunters using her trademark dual pistols or an assortment of other weapons found during her journey.

The Gold Edition of Tomb Raider adds two new chapters to the original release. The first chapter takes place in Egypt, and occurs several months after the events of Tomb Raider. Lara returns to the city of Khamoon, where she must investigate a hidden temple dedicated to the feline goddess Bast. The second chapter is a prequel to the first, and continues directly the events of the original game, starting with Lara sliding down the slope of the last level, preparing to deal with the remnants of the Atlantean race.