Tomb Raider II (1997) similar games & best alternatives

Tomb Raider II (1997)

PlayStation 3, PlayStation, Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation Portable • 2012

Should you play it?

The second instalment in the Tomb Raider series invites you to join Lara as she travels around the globe to retrieve a precious artefact before it falls into the wrong hands. The legendary artefact, the Dagger of Xian, is said to give its possessor the power of a fire breathing dragon.

What works
  • Classic and nostalgic gameplay
  • Challenging puzzles and platforming
  • Diverse and atmospheric levels
  • Engaging exploration and secrets
  • Iconic character and soundtrack
Things to keep in mind
  • Dated graphics and controls
  • Clunky camera and tank controls
  • High difficulty and frustration
  • Lack of modern quality of life features
  • Steam version requires patches for best experience

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Tomb Raider III (1998)

  • Tomb Raider I (1996)

  • Tomb Raider: Underworld

  • The Evil Within

  • Shadow Warrior

  • Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams

  • Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation (1999)

  • Tomb Raider: Legend

  • Dead Space (2008)
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Eternal Evil

  • Zortch

  • Chronicles of the Wolf
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Exploration

    Tomb Raider: Underworld
  • Autonomy

    Tomb Raider: Legend
  • Competence

    CrossCode

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

Tomb Raider II (1997): A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Violence, Survival, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Exploration. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Relaxation, Leadership.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players have control over Lara's movements, exploration, puzzle solving, and combat with some freedom in approach, despite some linear level design."

    Capsule for Tomb Raider: Legend Tomb Raider: Legend

    "Players have control over Lara's movements, exploration, combat, and puzzle solving with some freedom in approach."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "The game requires skillful combat, puzzle solving, and platforming with increasing difficulty, providing strong feedback and mastery opportunities."

    Capsule for CrossCode CrossCode

    "The game requires skillful platforming, combat, and puzzle solving with challenging jumps and enemy encounters."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on solo exploration and personal progression without multiplayer or leaderboard competition."

    Capsule for Chronicles of the Wolf Chronicles of the Wolf

    "Focus is on solo exploration and personal challenge without multiplayer or leaderboards."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Many players report long play sessions, nostalgia-driven repeated playthroughs, and strong attachment to the game and series."

    Capsule for Tomb Raider: Underworld Tomb Raider: Underworld

    "Many players report long play sessions and repeated playthroughs driven by nostalgia and challenge."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative elements."

    Capsule for BPM: BULLETS PER MINUTE BPM: BULLETS PER MINUTE

    "Entirely single-player experience with no cooperative elements."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players engage creatively with puzzles and exploration, but within a fixed narrative and predefined environments."

    Capsule for Still Life Still Life

    "Players explore varied environments and solve puzzles, but follow a linear path with limited player-created content."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No multiplayer or social dominance features; interactions are individual."

    Capsule for Remember Me Remember Me

    "No multiplayer or social dominance features; interactions are solo."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Players use the game as a nostalgic, immersive escape with exploration and fantasy adventure."

    Capsule for Ashen Empires Ashen Empires

    "Players use the game as a nostalgic escape into adventurous exploration and fantasy."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and nostalgia rather than obligation."

    Capsule for RollerCoaster Tycoon® 3: Complete Edition RollerCoaster Tycoon® 3: Complete Edition

    "Players engage voluntarily out of personal interest and nostalgia rather than obligation."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    2

    "Exploration and puzzle-solving encourage some experimentation within the game’s systems."

    Capsule for The Abbey of Crime Extensum The Abbey of Crime Extensum

    "Some experimentation with puzzle solutions and exploration is encouraged, though within a fixed game structure."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on discovering new areas, secrets, and hidden collectibles across diverse and large environments."

    Capsule for Tomb Raider: Underworld Tomb Raider: Underworld

    "Strong emphasis on discovering new areas, secrets, and hidden items across diverse locations."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    2

    "Some character outfit changes and minor customization, but mostly standard presentation."

    Capsule for Tomb Raider III (1998) Tomb Raider III (1998)

    "Some character costume changes and minor customization, but mostly standardized presentation."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Game features imaginative fantasy elements like kings, magic, enchanted units, and mythical creatures."

    Capsule for 9 Kings 9 Kings

    "Game features mythical elements like dragons and ancient magic artifacts in an adventurous fictional world."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "No social or community features; purely individual gameplay."

    Capsule for KNIGHTS KNIGHTS

    "No social or community features; purely individual gameplay."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    3

    "Players develop skills in platforming, combat, and puzzle solving throughout the game."

    Capsule for Moss Moss

    "Players develop skills in platforming, combat, and puzzle solving through gameplay progression."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    Capsule for DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement due to challenging gameplay."

    Capsule for Super Bunny Man Super Bunny Man

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement due to challenging gameplay."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No social or emotional relationship-building elements."

    Capsule for Fairy Bloom Freesia Fairy Bloom Freesia

    "No social or emotional relationship-building elements."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management features."

    Capsule for Aim Hero Aim Hero

    "No leadership or group management features."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Players collect weapons, ammo, and power-ups; game features upgrades and secrets."

    Capsule for Shrine II Shrine II

    "Players collect weapons, ammo, and secrets to improve capabilities and advance."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -2

    "Gameplay is tense and challenging with frequent deaths and need for tactical awareness."

    Capsule for RUNNING WITH RIFLES RUNNING WITH RIFLES

    "Gameplay can be tense and challenging with frequent deaths and precise timing required."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    3

    "Atmospheric music, sound effects, and visual style provide sensory engagement."

    Capsule for Razenroth Razenroth

    "Atmospheric music and sound effects enhance sensory engagement despite dated graphics."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "No social recognition or ranking systems."

    Capsule for Trover Saves the Universe Trover Saves the Universe

    "No social recognition or ranking systems."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    2

    "Light narrative with character interactions and cutscenes, but story is not the main focus."

    Capsule for Hextech Mayhem: A League of Legends Story™ Hextech Mayhem: A League of Legends Story™

    "Simple narrative with cutscenes linking levels, but story is not the main focus."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    3

    "Players must plan jumps, use weapons tactically, and solve puzzles."

    Capsule for BattleBlock Theater® BattleBlock Theater®

    "Players must plan jumps, combat tactics, and puzzle solutions, requiring problem solving."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Game provides suspense and tension from survival challenges and combat encounters."

    Capsule for Soulash 2 Soulash 2

    "Game provides suspense and tension through traps, enemies, and timed challenges."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players perceive good value due to challenging gameplay, replayability, and nostalgic appeal."

    Capsule for Shadowgate Shadowgate

    "Players perceive good value due to nostalgia, length, and challenging gameplay."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Combat involves shooting and destroying enemies with various weapons and effects."

    Capsule for DubWars DubWars

    "Combat involves shooting and killing enemies, including humans and animals."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    3

    "Players must avoid death from traps and enemies, manage health and ammo to survive."

    Capsule for Tomb Raider I (1996) Tomb Raider I (1996)

    "Players must avoid death from traps and enemies, managing health and ammo."

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Last update: 01/06/2026