Few video game protagonists have stood the test of time to last as long as the likes of Mario or Sonic The Hedgehog. One of these characters would be Lara Croft; one of the ultimate heroes in gaming history. Very rarely had a female protagonist been the leading playable character in a video game at that point in 1996 with the only noteworthy one being Samus from the Metroid series.

Related: Nathan Drake Vs. Lara Croft: Who Is The Best Treasure Hunter?

Lara debuted on the Sony PlayStation in 1996's Tomb Raider which exploded into a mega-franchise that continued for many years, then found itself rebooted with a new series of games that continues to this day. What's considered the worst and the best of this franchise?

Updated by Saim Cheeda on 26th March 2021: The Tomb Raider series saw a rise in quality with the rebooted series, which has also come to an end. This has led to fans checking out the entire series until a new entry comes along. The best way to do so is by playing through the best-received games from critics. The franchise isn’t restricted just to the “Tomb Raider” title either, as there are several spin-offs with the “Lara Croft” tag. These have been included to present fans with additional options with versatile gameplay. As the website GameRankings has been integrated into Metacritic, the scores on that site have been counted as well.

17 Tomb Raider: The Angel Of Darkness (2003) - 49

When Lara made the leap from the PlayStation to the PlayStation 2, fans were met with a more gritty and darker game that disappointed players. The lack of polish to the controls, a camera the players ended up fighting more than the in-game enemies, and a plethora of bugs and glitches made this rushed sequel a mess to play.

The developers openly admitted to suffering from a severe lack of leadership with too much ambition for the project leading to many production issues thus resulting in the game players were given in 2003.

16 Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000) - 57

The developers at Core Design had already become fatigued by Tomb Raider, hence why they attempted to kill off Lara Croft in the previous game but Eidos was determined to keep the franchise going as a cash cow which led to the final game for Lara on the original Playstation.

With a mixed reception, the general consensus is that Chronicles was nothing bad but very uninspired, forgettable, and with little to no difference to distinguish it from previous installments. Even the developers were not fond of the game.

15 Tomb Raider: The Prophecy (2002) - 66

Swapping from a third-person adventure to a Zelda-esque overview, Lara jumped to the Nintendo Game Boy Advance with a mildly successful title that was praised for its impressive graphics and sound for a Game Boy Advance title.

However, it received criticism for its dull gameplay, little to no story to drive the repetitive action set pieces, and various other complaints. It all led to a title that even most Tomb Raider fans have forgotten had existed over the years.

14 Lara Croft: Relic Run (2015) - 71

This spin-off took its liberties to present the series to a casual audience. Essentially a Tomb Raider version of the mobile game Temple Run, Relic Run does present some of the franchise’s trademark qualities that make the game its own thing.

It’s more of an evolution in the endless platforming genre, as elements like wall-running and utilizing weapons are injected into the game. All things considered, Relic Run is a great way for casual fans to be introduced to the series, even if it is too one-dimensional.

13 Lara Croft And The Temple of Osiris (2014) - 74

The series tried its hand at the arcade-inspired gameplay to present co-op as an option. The Temple of Osiris accommodates up to four characters including Lara and all of them have their own special abilities and traits.

It has a top-down view of the action, which takes away some of the charm of the series since the camera is so limited. Apart from that, however, the game is good fun for multiple players to make it a small-scale but enjoyable entry in the series.

12 Shadow Of The Tomb Raider (2018) - 75

The third entry in the rebooted Tomb Raider series by Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics was one that had positive reviews for bringing Lara back to a more visually appealing jungle setting along with the gameplay that made the previous two games classics in gamers' eyes.

RELATED: The 10 Best Action & Adventure Games Of 2020, Ranked (According To Metacritic)

Though it pleased fans, it didn't rise to the bar that the previous entries set so well due to a disappointing story and formulaic gameplay that felt very "been there, done that." It definitely was a solid third entry in the series for fans but not the best.

11 Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008) - 75

After the series had returned with Anniversary and Legend, Tomb Raider made its biggest comeback with Underworld which mixed classic and new mechanics with the pleasing visuals from the era of Xbox 360 and PS3. It led to an entry that fans felt was a satisfying ending for the classic Lara Croft.

The game was not considered perfect, however. Players agreed that the combat system felt dated, the game was surprisingly short, and much like with Angel Of Darkness, could not quite get a proper grasp of the camera.

10 Tomb Raider III (1998) - 76

While not as beloved as the first two games in the series, many gamers agree that Tomb Raider III was a solid threequel that made everything bigger than ever despite the loss of most of the mystery of suspense of the prior entries.

There was also a severe lack of innovation that caused the game to feel more akin to an expansion pack to the second game rather than a big-budget sequel. Still, the game was received mostly positively and would lead to The Last Revelation, which currently has no Metascore.

9 Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007) - 77

Taking what they had done with Lara Croft in Legend, the developers choice to celebrate over ten years of the franchise with a game that acted as a remake of the very original entry resulting in Tomb Raider: Anniversary.

As the rating suggests, it was not as beloved as either the original or Legend but it did act as a special gift for both longtime fans of the series and those who wanted to get into the games much like what Capcom had been (and continues to do) doing with the Resident Evil franchise.

8 Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999) - 79

Best remembered these days for being a failed effort from the series to kill off Lara Croft and introduce a new lead, The Last Revelation is still an adequate affair that represents the style and gameplay choices of gaming back in the day.

There’s no innovation to be found here, but nostalgia and the trademark Tomb Raider entertainment are available in buckets. Puzzle-solving is more focused upon here than in other games, making this entry a subtler venture for the series.

7 Tomb Raider: Legend (2006) - 82

After the disappointing Angel Of Darkness, Legend was intended as the true return to form as a brand new story in the series and it did just that despite its short length. Players agreed that Lara continued to be a great hero, the gameplay was fluid and satisfying, the puzzles were challenging yet fun, and it provided an adventure that rivaled the original trilogy.

RELATED: Tomb Raider: 10 Hidden Details About Lara Croft You Only Know If You Read The Dark Horse Comics

Though the game was not considered on par with the original trilogy, it did break new ground in a different generation. It brought Lara back with more adventures to come in the future.

6 Lara Croft Go (2015) - 84

It seemed as if the Tomb Raider series had explored all avenues as far as gaming genres were concerned, only for Lara Croft Go to utilize the turn-based gaming style. The game is entirely puzzle-based and relies on crucial movements the player makes.

This makes it one of the smartest smartphone games out there, as Lara has to be navigated in such a way that players need to strategize their next moves. Overall, it’s an effective change from the norm the series engaged in.

5 Lara Croft And The Guardian of Light (2010) - 85

Remarkably, the top-down camera approach doesn’t hinder the fun factor of this spin-off. The game makes puzzle-solving and platforming its greatest strength as these are bolstered by the beautiful visuals and balance with action sequences.

The big negative here is the cheesy storyline, which is far removed from the Tomb Raider formula. Still, it’s easy to overlook that considering the remarkable replay value as the level design is a thing to behold in the many forms it is presented.

4 Tomb Raider II (1997) - 85

After exploding to iconic status with the first game alone, it was only a year later that Lara Croft returned for a sequel that fans welcomed with open arms. Much in the same vein as Die Hard II, the series avoided peaking in the second game, but it still managed to impress and make its money back.

Though some praised it for its challenge, there are those that have thought it too difficult in spots. In the end, though, Tomb Raider II was considered a nearly perfect follow-up to the classic original.

3 Tomb Raider (2013) - 86

With games becoming more cinematic in quality and style, Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics made the brave choice of not only completely rebooting the Tomb Raider franchise but also to give players the origin story of their favorite explorer. It took inspiration from games at the time like Uncharted and the Arkham franchise.

Did it work? Yes. Fans were quick to fall in love with the dark, gritty, and more realistic origin story that embraced new gameplay while respecting the classics with thoughtful puzzles, great third-person shooter gameplay, and more characters besides Lara to love.

2 Rise Of The Tomb Raider (2016) - 88

Rise Of The Tomb Raider takes everything that the first game did so well and amplifies it, creating a perfect sequel a la Empire Strikes Back or Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Lara's character was explored deeper than ever, the graphics were top-notch at the time, and the Siberian setting was something different but accepted by fans.

With new survival mechanics, more crafting, and possibly the most ambitious story of the series, Rise Of The Tomb Raider is often considered the best modern Tomb Raider game by old school and new fans alike.

1 Tomb Raider (1996) - 91

There's a reason why this franchise is as big as it is and while there are sequels, remakes, and reboots that have rightfully earned their praise, many fans can agree that they don't match the same groundbreaking level as the original.

Mixing platforming, puzzle-solving, and action into one, the original Tomb Raider turned Lara into a PlayStation icon and a mega-franchise of gaming that has aged remarkably well. It holds up just as well today as it did back then, and gamers can thank this game for starting the entire series.

NEXT: 10 Amazing Tomb Raider Mods That Make The Games Even Better