16 Narrative games like Tomb Raider that you should try

The genre is the same as Tomb Raider’s, and with it strong narrative focus, a sandbox world and melee combat. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and multiplayer gameplay. The distance is in tone and progression — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere and open world exploration.

The genre is the same as Tomb Raider’s, and with it strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus. The common ground extends to a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is combat and tone: dark, oppressive atmosphere.

What carries over from Tomb Raider is strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on a third-person camera. The distance is in game mode — its own ground is first-person shooting.

Same family as Tomb Raider: strong narrative focus, a sandbox world and stealth mechanics. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in progression and game mode — its own ground is racing gameplay and open world exploration.

The genre is the same as Tomb Raider’s, and with it strong narrative focus, single-player focus and a third-person camera. The distance is in tone and game mode — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere and offline play.

The genre is the same as Tomb Raider’s, and with it strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. The distance is in progression and game mode — its own ground is first-person shooting and a mythological setting.

Held in common with Tomb Raider: strong narrative focus, single-player focus and a third-person camera. The distance is in game mode — its own ground is historical setting.

Held in common with Tomb Raider: strong narrative focus, single-player focus and a third-person camera. They part company on game mode: this one brings historical setting.

Same family as Tomb Raider: strong narrative focus, a sandbox world and single-player focus. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on progression and game mode: this one brings open world exploration.

Same family as Tomb Raider: strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus. To that it adds a third-person camera. They part company on game mode and visuals: this one brings a first-person view.

If Tomb Raider worked for you because of strong narrative focus, single-player focus and a third-person camera, the same is here. What it adds of its own: racing gameplay.

It meets Tomb Raider on strong narrative focus, single-player focus and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is tone: dark, oppressive atmosphere.

The genre is the same as Tomb Raider’s, and with it strong narrative focus, single-player focus and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is game mode and tone: dark, oppressive atmosphere.

On paper it is what Tomb Raider is — strong narrative focus, single-player focus and a third-person camera — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. Where the two diverge is tone and game mode: dark, oppressive atmosphere and offline play.

The thread back to Tomb Raider runs through strong narrative focus, single-player focus and a third-person camera. The distance is in game mode — its own ground is a sci-fi setting.