[Top 10] Games Like Tomb Raider (Games Better Than Tomb Raider In Their Own Way)

Ah, good old Tomb Raider. It’s gone through a lot of changes over the past few years. But today, we’ll be focusing on the 2013 definitive edition. Lara’s very first adventure which was retold for the PS3. We’ve created a list of our top 10 games that’ll let you relive those tomb-raiding days. Get ready to sneak, shoot, and parkour your way into a new favourite!

10. Just Cause 3

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Cool guys don’t look at explosions… Or, maybe they do.

Imagine Tomb Raider. Now imagine that with 20x more guns and explosions. Now imagine all that in a huge open-world island in the Mediterranean. Congratulations, you’ve discovered Just Cause 3! The beautiful island is under the power of a tyrannical dictator. It’s your job as Rico Rodriguez to free the island using as many bullets, tanks, and explosives as it takes.

Just like Lara, you’ll become a one-man army wreaking havoc on a madman and his goons. As this story is a lot less linear than Tomb Raider, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore every inch of the gigantic island. Similarly, there are also plenty of challenges and collectables to get through. I guarantee you’ll be entertained for hours!

In your mission to dismantle the crazy government, you’ll have to arm yourself with an extensive array of weaponry. From missile launchers to tanks, you have everything at your disposal to destroy military bases, communications centres and harbours. There are over 400 square miles of island to explore and plenty of ways to get around, including a highly entertaining wingsuit that allows you to swoop through the mountains!

Choose this game if you like:

• Open world; As mentioned above, the play area is absolutely huge! It’s stuffed full of bases, collectables, challenges, and things to blow up. In fact, if you’re trying to 100% the game, it’ll take you roughly 61 hours!
• Far Cry; If you’re a fan of the playstyle of the Far Cry franchise, then you’ll love this one. The mechanics and goals are fairly similar. You’ll definitely be getting flashbacks if you play this one.
• Big booms; With hundreds of different ways to destroy things, it’s time to get creative! The explosions in Just Cause 3 are genuinely spectacular to watch.

9. Dishonored

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All the puzzles, twice the parkour.

Dishonored is a first-person action game that puts you in the shoes of a vengeful assassin. Using supernatural abilities, you’ll be sneaking and slicing your way through a steam-punk city. Your approach to this game will define the story and impact the ending, giving Dishonored a great sense of replayability.

If you enjoyed Lara’s relentless killing sprees, then it’s certain you’ll love this one. Get by with stealth or hack and slash through enemies with no remorse. The choice is yours. Much like Tomb Raider, there are plenty of puzzles and challenges to solve, serving as breaks from the brutality.

As a former bodyguard who has been framed for the murder of an Empress you swore to protect, your goal is to find the truth. Bestowed with supernatural abilities in a time of great political instability, you’ll be forced to come to terms with your past and the betrayal you faced.

Choose this game if you like:

• Parkour; Dishonored is infamous for its parkour mechanics. You’ll learn to use the game’s unique movements to perform lethal attacks and get around without a trace.
• Choice; This game will allow you to take two routes in each mission, stealth or malice. These routes will lead to different outcomes for each mission and a specific ending for the overall story. 
• Supernatural powers; Throughout the game, you’ll gain several abilities such as time manipulation, possession, and even teleportation! These are super fun to play around with and use to your advantage.

8. God of War

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Turns out the Norse Gods aren’t as great as they say…

Kiddos, it’s a well-known saying that you should never meet your heroes. If you wanted proof, look no further than God of War. Whilst this is a continuation of the earlier games in the franchise, it’s not necessary to have played them to enjoy this one! They are spectacular games though, so it’s worth a play.

If you loved the history of Tomb Raider, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this one. God of War is set in the times of the Norse Gods and is filled with ancient stories and runes. It’s perfect for those who love Norse mythology or have an interest in historical games.

In this game, you’ll be able to play as Kratos, a Spartan warrior with godly powers. After the death of your wife Faye, you and your son must climb to the highest peak in the nine realms to scatter her ashes. However, a mysterious and powerful stranger lingers behind you every step of the way…

Choose this game if you like:

• Norse mythology; As I mentioned before, God of War is all about the Norse Gods and their mysterious powers. There’ll be myths, runes and plenty of ancient beasts to discover!
• Boss fights; From giants to actual gods, there are plenty of hugely fun boss fights scattered throughout the game. Some of them are pretty challenging too!
• Gore; When you’re playing as a warrior with unimaginable power, there’s bound to be some pretty gruesome deaths. If you’re into some heavy bloodshed, then you’ll be a fan of Kratos’ finishers.

7. The Evil Within

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I’m pretty sure this one would leave Lara traumatised…

For those of you who wanted to explore the more dark aspects of Tomb Raider, The Evil Within is the perfect game. This survival-horror game will keep you on the edge of your seat and always looking over your shoulder. You’ll have to struggle through horrific situations with limited resources in a desperate attempt to stay alive.

If you thought Tomb Raider was too scared to get dark, then this will be sure to satisfy you. Much like Lara, you’ll be fighting for your life and doing whatever it takes to stay alive. The Evil Within is filled with supernatural elements and strange creatures, similar to the strange and mysterious events Lara has faced.

You play a detective who was knocked unconscious at a mass murder investigation, waking to find yourself in a horrific and brutal world. It’s filled with hideous and terrifying creatures that all seem to have one thing in common: the desire to kill you. You’ll have to fight for your survival through one traumatic experience after another.

Choose this game if you like:

• Pure horror; This game was perfectly crafted to keep you at the highest points of fear and anxiety. For horror fans, The Evil Within is a classic and certain to give you a good thrill.
• Grotesque creatures; The creatures of this game are pure nightmare fuel. From unsettling to disgustingly terrifying, these vile creations are sure to haunt your dreams.
• Resident Evil; The Evil Within was created by the same developer who worked on Resident Evil. Shinji Mikami. But the scares in Resident Evil really have nothing on this game. Do you think you’re up for it?

6. Prince of Persia

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Do you remember the movie?

The beloved Prince of Persia franchise is an action-adventure game brought to you by Ubisoft, the creators of Assassin’s Creed. You may recognise its signature illustrative style, giving major cinematic animation vibes. With a unique and highly entertaining combat style, this game is an absolute blast.

If you were looking for games like Tomb Raider, Prince of Persia is probably the closest you’re gonna get. You’ll be scaling walls, swinging across buildings, and performing acrobatics. Not to mention the fact that it’s set in ruins! With the perfect balance of fighting, exploring and climbing things, you’ll get to relive those Lara Croft memories.

The goal of this game is to fight through the corrupted armies of Ahriman and restore light to even the darkest parts of the land. You’ll learn to master acrobatic skills and fighting techniques as you progress through the story. The acrobatics are super fun to play around with and perfect, keeping you entertained throughout your adventure.

Choose this game if you like:

• Non-linear adventures; Some games really seem to push you through the storyline. However, Prince of Persia lets you choose how you want the story to unfold. You'll be able to explore the open world at your own pace and decide where you want to start bringing the light to.
• Hollywood style; This game has a very specific art style, giving it a great cinematic feel. This style mixed with the artistic acrobatic movements and fight scenes, makes this game feel like a movie.
• Skills; Prince of Persia has a whole range of skills you’ll be able to master and play around with. From its unique fighting style to the acrobatics, there’s just so much to learn!

5. Horizon Zero Dawn

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What’s better than an apex predator? An apex predator made of metal.

Horizon Zero Dawn is an open-world action-adventure set in a dystopian future. Whilst society has reverted back to its primal structures, the robot beasts of the future still roam the earth. You play as Aloy, an outcast, as she desperately struggles to figure out who she is and what part she plays in the strange events that have been happening.

You’ll get to enjoy all the running, climbing and shooting of Tomb Raider as Aloy. You can choose a path of stealth or decide to cut down every machine in your path. You’ll get the chance to explore old ruins and discover old relics just like Lara.

The goal of Horizon Zero Dawn is to climb through the old, futuristic ruins as you try to piece together the past. The machines are becoming more aggressive by the day, and you have to find out what’s going on. You’ll slowly discover that your purpose in the world is a whole lot bigger than you thought.

Choose this game if you like;

• Open worlds; The world of Horizon Zero Dawn is absolutely huge. With bases to raid and Cauldrons to loot, there’s much to explore.
• Collectables; If you’re the type who loves to get every single collectable, then you’ll have a blast with this one. With items and information scattered across the map, you’ll be spending hours and hours searching for them all.
• Far Cry; From the base raiding to the open world, this game gives major Far Cry vibes. If you’re a fan of the franchise, it’s worth checking this out!

4. Horizon Forbidden West

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Like Zero Dawn but, you know, with beaches.

As the sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, Forbidden West is a fantastic instalment set in the warmer climates of the world. Tasked once again with saving the world, you must venture out further than you’ve ever gone before. With brand-new machines and a brilliant new story, it’s a must-play for fans of the original game.

Much like Tomb Raider, you’ll play as the badass one-woman army, Aloy. You’ll be fighting, exploring, and brutally cutting down anyone in your way. There are even more ruins to explore in this one, so your tomb-raiding urges are guaranteed to be satisfied here. Think Tomb Raider but in a vast open world!

If you haven’t already played the first game, I won’t give away any spoilers. But the goal of this game is to set out to deal with some unfinished business that could potentially destroy the entire world. You know, the usual. There are a lot of juicy plot twists in here and so much to do in terms of missions, side-missions and collectables. You’ll be entertained for days.

Choose this game if you like;

• Beautiful graphics; Forbidden West is a truly beautiful game. From the lighting to the environment, you could spend hours admiring it all.
• Slaying giant beasts; The machines are back. And they’re bigger and stronger than ever. With some challenging fights and super close calls, you’ll be on the edge of your seat during some of these missions.
• Challenges; A huge aspect of the game is completing side-quests and challenges. Through these, you can level up and get some powerful gear.

3. Far Cry

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Which one? All of them.

The Far Cry franchise is an insanely fun and well-known action-adventure FPS series. From blowing up military bases to mauling enemies with a bear named Cheeseburger, I’m certain you’ll love these ones. Showcasing vast open worlds and plenty of things to do, the Far Cry franchise is a brilliant collection of games to dedicate yourself to.

Far Cry provides all the fun of Tomb Raider but in first person. You’ll once again take the role of a one-person army and have fun taking down entire corrupted societies. Far Cry 3, in particular, gives huge Tomb Raider vibes as it’s set on a tribal island. Escaping vicious cults and taking on relentless enemies is a common theme in these games.

The main goal of every Far Cry game is fairly similar. There’s a corrupted government or leader. That leader has a few main henchmen that look over certain areas. You go through each area, clearing them and wreaking havoc on the bases. Core mission? Take down the big boss man.

Choose this game if you like;

• Open-world; The Far Cry franchise always delivers huge environments. Even better, these environments are absolutely filled with missions and side-quests, offering ages of gameplay.
• Co-op; A great aspect of these games is the co-op aspect, allowing you to venture through the main campaign with a buddy. A super useful mechanic is that a mission won’t restart unless both of you die, giving you time to respawn as long as your friend keeps on fighting.
• Comical scenarios; This game is full of highly-entertaining missions and scenes, including some really beloved pets that you can use to brutally kill enemies with. Have you ever seen a sausage dog in a little doggy wheelchair? Do you want to?

2. Assassin's Creed: Origins

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Have you ever wondered how the Brotherhood actually began?

Assassin’s Creed: Origins is an exciting instalment of the franchise set in Ancient Egypt. This action RPG is full of parkour, lethal kills, and giant armoured elephants. You’ll be exploring ancient secrets and discovering the origins of the Assassins Brotherhood.

Out of all the Assassin’s Creed games, I’d argue that Origins is the most similar to Lara’s adventures. Yes, there are tombs. Yes, you will be raiding them. Much like Tomb Raider, you’ll be able to perfect your stealth kills and climb pretty much anything to become death from above.

The main goal of Assassin’s Creed: Origins is to traverse through the ancient lands to unlock its secrets. There is a desperate and brutal struggle for power between factions, threatening the life of Egypt itself. But out of the darkness, a brotherhood is beginning to form…

Choose this game if you like;

• Parkour; The Assassin’s Creed games are known for their parkour mechanics. It’s time to run, jump, and climb your way through those tombs!
• Memorable characters; Another great aspect of this game is its characters. The story itself is incredibly gripping, introducing you to characters that you’ll quickly get attached to.
• Unique bosses; Out of all the Assassin’s Creed games, I’d argue that the bosses are the most entertaining to fight. When you’re in an ancient civilization, you could face any number of weird and powerful threats. Be prepared.

1. Uncharted

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Can you really call yourself a tomb raider if you haven’t got an organisation trying to kill you?

The Uncharted franchise is a genuinely great collection of action-adventure games. Playing as the adventurer Nathan Drake, you’ll be unlocking the mysteries of the past in a series of beautiful ancient environments. This game has a perfect balance of story, action, and puzzles, proving itself to be a big Tomb Raider competitor.

Okay, remember when I said Prince of Persia was the closest you were gonna get to a Tomb Raider game? I lied. Uncharted is one of the best games to play if you love Lara. You literally get to raid tombs. Not only that, but you’ll be solving puzzles in them too! Even better? Plenty of historical themes and collectables!

The main goal of the Uncharted franchise is to explore the rumours of ancient cities and treasures. You’ll be travelling all around the globe in your quests. However, it’s never that simple. There’s always someone else right on your tail, searching for the exact same thing. And they brought guns.

Choose this game if you like;

• Mythical cities; Uncharted explores plenty of well-known myths, including El Dorado. The lost city of gold. Providing plenty of mystery and adventure, it feels just like a movie.
• Lara-style climbing; One of the biggest similarities this game has to Tomb Raider is its climbing style. From scaling cliffs to ledge shimmying, Uncharted has it all.
• The perfect challenge; I’d say the fighting mechanics in this game are fairly balanced. With adjustable difficulty, it’s suitable for even the most seasoned players.

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