5 Best Video Games Like Tomb Raider

Ever since 1996, gamers have been thrilled by the "Tomb Raider" franchise, with treasure hunter Lara Croft venturing into ancient deathtraps around the world. The series blends third-person shoot'em-up action with acrobatic platforming gameplay as Lara navigates various locales. As "Tomb Raider" has undergone a stunning transformation, it's moved away from its treasure-hunting premise, dialing up the gritty action and adding more human enemies. But while the series has changed its aesthetics and narrative sensibilities, the gameplay mechanics have largely been retained, though they've been subtly refined for modern audiences.

For gamers who love "Tomb Raider," either the classic '90s games or the reboot series that began in 2013, there are plenty of similar titles to check out. These range from other games that involve exploring ancient civilizations to adventure titles balancing action and platforming. Lara Croft is one of the most iconic figures in gaming and her influence spreads to everything from new titles to established franchises. Here are the five best video games like "Tomb Raider" to keep that third-person action-adventure platforming coming.

The first "Tomb Raider" game was inspired by Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones — in fact, the original player character was an Indy-esque adventurer, but they decided to pivot to a female hero instead to avoid any potential lawsuits. The game became a hit, and, ironically, "Indiana Jones" games from that point onward would follow the "Tomb Raider" blueprint, moving away from side-scrolling and top-down games Indy had previously starred in. The best realization of Indy from a third-person perspective is the 2003 title "Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb."

A standalone prequel to "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," the game has Indy travel around the world on a mystery involving the first Chinese emperor's tomb and its mystical artifacts. While it doesn't rank among the best Indiana Jones games, "Emperor's Tomb" has the most in common with "Tomb Raider." The third-person gameplay mechanics are staged better than other titles in the series with a similar perspective, with the action elements cinematically presented. Beautifully evoking the spirit of the adventurous film franchise, "Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb" is an underrated entry in the series.

"Prince of Persia" is another series that repositioned itself from its classic side-scrolling perspective, with this change effectively taking shape in "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time." The game leans into platforming action-adventure gameplay as players control an unnamed prince in 9th century Persia. After the Sands of Time are unleashed, the Prince's kingdom is transformed into a monster-plagued nightmare, prompting him to embark on an adventure to restore everyone from the curse. Armed with the Dagger of Time, the Prince is able to briefly reverse time as he battles monsters and navigates trap-filled environments.

"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" marked a full-on rebirth for the classic franchise, retaining the platforming and puzzle-solving but with a greater emphasis on combat. The third-person mechanics improved significantly upon "Prince of Persia 3D," with much more fluid and intuitive movement. With the long-planned "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" remake nowhere in sight, the 2003 game is still as good as it gets. Fortunately, it holds up marvelously and arguably stands as the greatest game in the franchise.

When it comes to games resembling "Tomb Raider," it doesn't get much closer than Sony's "Uncharted" franchise. These games also take place in exotic parts of the world with characters trying to obtain powerful relics from a third-person perspective. The 2017 entry "Uncharted: The Lost Legacy" focuses on Chloe Frazer, who teams up with Nadine Ross to stop a vicious insurgent's plot in India. The two women take on a small army, trying to prevent them from obtaining the tusk of Ganesh, which they intend to use to start a civil war.

"Tomb Raider" fans are bound to love all of the "Uncharted" games, but "The Lost Legacy" ticks an extra box because it puts players in the shoes of a female protagonist with an interesting backstory. Naughty Dog is seemingly finished with the "Uncharted" series, so "The Lost Legacy" stands as the final entry, but you don't need to have played the previous games to enjoy it. The franchise goes out on a bang, refining both the platforming and combat gameplay with an added emphasis on teamwork. It's a must-play for Lara Croft lovers.

Ubisoft's "Assassin's Creed" franchise notably has its various player characters primarily get around through parkour in their respective settings and time periods. The games also incorporate tomb challenges for players, putting their puzzle-solving skills to the test. One game in the series that channels these elements well with environments that will feel particularly appealing to "Tomb Raider" fans is "Assassin's Creed Origins." The 2017 release takes place primarily in Ptolemaic Egypt and follows married couple Bayek and Aya as they get caught up in a shadow war for the fate of the world.

"Assassin's Creed Origins" has all the action-packed gameplay and immersive historical settings that the franchise is known for along with revamped combat and character progression. The wealth of side quests and other activities is retained, along with some of the most engaging tomb exploration challenges. These improvements and sensibilities really make "Origins" stand out more than any other "Assassin's Creed" game for discerning "Tomb Raider" fans. It also happens to be one of the best "Assassin's Creed" games ever made, so it's definitely worth your time.

The most family-friendly entry on this list, Ember Lab's "Kena: Bridge of Spirits" is a pleasantly straight-forward gaming experience that plays out like an action-adventure fairy tale. It takes place in a fantasy world where the spirits of the deceased with unresolved business exist among the living until spirit guides help them find closure. As a young spirit guide, Kena searches for a mountain shrine to discover what is corrupting the surrounding forest. She defends herself with a staff, which is upgraded steadily throughout the game, and recruits spirit companions — known as the Rot — to help her with platforming and combat.

"Kena: Bridge of Spirits" takes around nine hours to beat, so it's a great game for "Tomb Raider" fans who aren't looking to make a huge commitment. The animation is beautifully rendered and the mechanics in recruiting and deploying the Rot offer engaging gameplay variety. Compared to other entries on this list, the 2021 game is a source of cozy fun, retaining clear stakes but with a decidedly heartwarming quality rather than hard-hitting action. If you're a "Tomb Raider" fan looking for something to play with a younger sibling or a child, or you just want something that's a bit more easy going, then you can't go wrong with "Kena: Bridge of Spirits."