Examining the Best Tomb Raider Games on Nintendo Consoles
Are you wondering what the best Tomb Raider game of all time is? Well, we’ve got you covered. This list ranks every Tomb Raider game available on Nintendo consoles. The ranking is based on each game’s User Rating in our database, and it’s constantly changing based on user scores. You have the power to influence the ranking by giving your own rating from 1-10. Simply click on the stars to cast your vote and see real-time changes.
Before we dive in, it’s important to mention that several games, including the Survivor trilogy—Tomb Raider (2013), Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider—did not make it to Nintendo consoles. However, there’s hope that they might be ported to the ‘Switch 2’ in the future.
Now, let’s embark on our quest to discover the top Tomb Raider games, starting from the bottom…
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend (DS)
Lara’s first DS adventure was a solid attempt to recreate the essence of the 3D games in a side-scrolling format suited for the DS. It didn’t quite reach legendary status, but it certainly outshines its GBA counterpart.
Tomb Raider: The Prophecy (GBA)
This 3/4 top-down game delivers the classic acrobatic platforming and environmental puzzling that Tomb Raider is known for. While not exceptional, it’s an enjoyable game for fans.
Tomb Raider: Legend (GBA)
Although the visual presentation of this game is impressive, with clean animation and rendered sprites, it falls short with its repetitive gameplay and irritating motorcycle-shooting sections.
Tomb Raider: Underworld (DS)
Despite being a reworked version of the home console game, DS Underworld manages to fit voiced cutscenes and touchscreen features into its portable format, offering a decent but not exceptional experience.
Tomb Raider (GBC)
This Game Boy Color adventure brings Lara’s iconic 3D exploits into an 8-bit world. It provides a slower-paced and cinematic gameplay experience, reminiscent of Prince of Persia.
Tomb Raider: Underworld (Wii)
Despite being criticized for being ‘just another Tomb Raider’ game, Underworld manages to deliver solid gameplay features and functions, making it a worthy entry in the franchise.
Tomb Raider: Curse of the Sword (GBC)
Following Lara’s first Game Boy Color adventure, Curse of the Sword takes players on another acrobatic journey that successfully translates the core elements of the 3D games into a handheld experience.
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend (GCN)
This modern take on the traditional tomb-raiding formula introduced a new voice for Lara and set the stage for the character’s reboot in the 21st century.
Tomb Raider: Anniversary (Wii)
As a remake of the original 1996 Tomb Raider, Anniversary brought modernized gameplay and visuals to the classic title, offering a fresh experience for a new generation of players.
The Lara Croft Collection (Switch eShop)
This collection offers two excellent Tomb Raider spin-offs on the Nintendo Switch, delivering quality puzzles, slick combat, and fun local co-op action. It’s a must-have for fans of the series.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered (Switch eShop)
Aspyr’s remastered titles bring the iconic Tomb Raider games to a new audience, maintaining the original essence of the classics while upgrading the visuals and controls for modern platforms.
That’s our list of Tomb Raider games, with some being polished gems while others remain uncut. Do you disagree with our rankings? You have the power to influence the ranking in real-time by rating the games you’ve played. Simply click on the stars to assign a score from 1-10!