Tomb Raider has carved out a unique space in action adventure games. Whether you prefer the cinematic storytelling of the Survivor Trilogy, the classic puzzle tombs of the early games, or the blend of traversal, stealth, and combat found across the entire franchise, there is something distinct about Tomb Raider’s formula. It gives players harsh wilderness, ancient mysteries, grounded emotional stakes, and exploration-driven gameplay that rewards curiosity.
If you are looking for games that scratch the same itch, this list will guide you toward the best titles that capture the spirit of Tomb Raider. Some emphasize traversal and climbing, others lean into puzzle solving or cinematic action, while a few replicate the survival and crafting elements that defined Lara’s modern adventures. All of them offer something familiar yet fresh for fans of the franchise.
1. Uncharted Series
The Uncharted games are the most obvious recommendation for Tomb Raider fans. Both series share a love for cinematic storytelling, action set pieces, ancient mysteries, and globe-trotting adventures. Nathan Drake’s escapades mirror Lara’s blend of platforming, puzzle solving, and environmental traversal, but with a lighter tone and a stronger emphasis on banter and character relationships.
Uncharted also excels at spectacle. Where Tomb Raider is grounded and survival focused, Uncharted is playful and explosive. The set pieces feel like interactive blockbuster moments, and traversal through ruins and temples is just as engaging as Lara’s. Fans of Shadow of the Tomb Raider’s puzzle tombs will especially enjoy Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, which features some of the best environmental challenges in the franchise.
If you want the closest match to Tomb Raider’s tone and gameplay, Uncharted should be at the top of your list.
2. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown takes Tomb Raider‘s love of traversal and puzzle rooms and applies it to a stylish side-scrolling action adventure. While the perspective is different, the DNA is similar. Platforming challenges demand timing and observation, environmental puzzles reward experimentation, and each zone is filled with secrets to uncover.
The game also has a strong sense of exploration. Like in Tomb Raider, you unlock new abilities that open previously inaccessible areas, encouraging backtracking and deeper investigation. The Lost Crown also places emphasis on temples, lost civilizations, and supernatural forces, which gives it an atmosphere that will feel familiar to longtime Tomb Raider fans.
If you enjoy the puzzle side of Tomb Raider and do not mind a different perspective, this is one of the most satisfying modern adventure games in the genre.
3. Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon mixes exploration and survival elements in a way that will resonate with fans of the Survivor Trilogy. Aloy’s journey takes her across vast wilderness areas, abandoned ruins, dense forests, tundras, and deserts. The world feels dangerous yet alive, and learning to navigate it is part of the experience.
Both games offer:
- environmental traversal
- scavenging for resources
- bow focused combat
- stealth takedowns
- climbing ruined technological structures
The sense of unraveling an ancient mystery is also a major connecting thread. While Tomb Raider focuses on lost civilizations and mythological puzzles, Horizon explores a fallen futuristic world filled with secrets about humanity’s past. The tone is different, but the feeling of discovery is similar.
If you enjoy open world exploration and narrative driven adventures with strong characters, Horizon is one of the closest modern franchises that captures the heart of Tomb Raider.
4. Assassin’s Creed Series (Especially Origins and Odyssey)
Assassin’s Creed has always emphasized climbing, traversal, ancient mysteries, and historical settings. Origins and Odyssey in particular align well with the Tomb Raider formula. Their worlds are filled with ancient ruins, sprawling temples, and hidden tombs that feel designed with exploration in mind.
Origins even includes full tomb puzzle sections that strongly resemble the classic Tomb Raider experience. The emphasis on discovery, mythology, and archaeological themes makes these games feel like they exist right alongside Lara’s adventures.
Odyssey leans more into large scale exploration and combat, but the sense of uncovering forgotten worlds remains. If you enjoy climbing ancient structures, deciphering clues, and exploring lost places, Assassin’s Creed delivers that feeling on a massive scale.
5. Control
Control may not seem like an obvious pick, but it taps into one of Tomb Raider‘s core strengths: deciphering strange environments. The Oldest House is a constantly shifting supernatural structure filled with hidden rooms, environmental puzzles, and mysteries just out of reach. Exploration feels purposeful and atmospheric.
Jesse’s journey mirrors Lara’s in unexpected ways. Both are inquisitive characters drawn into strange worlds, both uncover cryptic lore, and both push deeper into forbidden spaces as the story unfolds. Combat is more supernatural in Control, but the sense of discovery and environmental interaction lines up with Tomb Raider’s DNA.
If you enjoyed the eerie tombs and mysterious environments of the Shadow Trilogy, Control is an excellent next step.
6. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor
These games blend traversal, exploration, and puzzle-based tombs in a way that feels remarkably close to Tomb Raider. Cal’s journey takes him through abandoned temples, dangerous ruins, ancient mechanisms, and platforming sections that resemble the best moments from Lara’s modern adventures.
The Jedi games emphasize:
- climbing and wall running
- environmental puzzles
- traversal challenges
- hidden collectibles
- ancient civilizations and lore
Combat is more Souls-like, but the structure of exploration is very reminiscent of Tomb Raider. The tombs on Zeffo in Fallen Order could easily appear in a Tomb Raider game without feeling out of place.
If you want a mix of platforming, puzzle solving, and cinematic storytelling, the Jedi series is an ideal recommendation.
7. The Last of Us Part II
This pick is for those who enjoy the emotional weight and grounded survival elements of the Survivor Trilogy. The Last of Us Part II is darker, more intense, and more narratively driven than Tomb Raider, but the two series share similar pacing and environmental storytelling. Both rely on stealth, close quarters combat, and small scale survival decisions.
Exploration also plays a major role. There are abandoned buildings, hidden resources, environmental obstacles, and handcrafted areas that reward careful searching. The tone is grittier than anything in Tomb Raider, but the immersive atmosphere and grounded approach to action make it a strong recommendation for the right players.
If Rise of the Tomb Raider’s survival moments and Shadow’s emotional storytelling resonated with you, The Last of Us Part II may be worth exploring.
Closing Thoughts
Tomb Raider blends cinematic spectacle, exploration, environmental puzzles, and character driven storytelling in a way few franchises can replicate. While no game on this list matches Lara’s adventures perfectly, each captures a different part of the experience. Some lean into traversal and platforming, others highlight puzzle solving or open world exploration, and a few match the emotional intensity and survival elements of the modern trilogy.
If you are searching for your next great adventure after finishing the Shadow Trilogy, these games offer new worlds to explore, new mysteries to uncover, and new ways to challenge yourself. Whether you want something familiar or something that pushes you into new territory, there is a game here that will connect with what you love about Tomb Raider.
Quick Points
- Great alternatives for fans of exploration and cinematic action
- Includes Uncharted, Horizon, Prince of Persia, and more
- Mix of puzzle-focused and combat-heavy options
- All games chosen for strong traversal, atmosphere, or storytelling
- Perfect picks after finishing the Tomb Raider reboot trilogy