Tomb Raider III (1998) similar games & best alternatives

Tomb Raider III (1998)

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

Should you play it?

Thousands of years ago a meteor crashed into Antarctica and the shockwaves of its impact are being felt in the modern age. Lara Croft will follow clues leading to a deadly secret, boldly leaping chasms and blasting monsters that no one has leaped or blasted before. This time she faces a mystery that's from way out of this world.

What works
  • Challenging and rewarding gameplay
  • Nonlinear level design with exploration
  • Strong nostalgic appeal
  • Varied environments and puzzles
  • Atmospheric soundtrack and setting
Things to keep in mind
  • High difficulty can be frustrating
  • Outdated graphics and controls
  • Some levels are confusing or poorly designed
  • Technical issues and bugs reported
  • Lack of modern quality-of-life features

What to play next

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

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Tomb Raider II (1997)

  • Tomb Raider I (1996)

  • Dead Space (2008)

  • The Evil Within

  • Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation (1999)

  • Resident Evil Requiem

  • Cronos: The New Dawn

  • Resident Evil

  • Shadow Warrior
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Death to Spies: Moment of Truth

  • Evil Tonight

  • Realms of the Haunting
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Competence

    Hexcells Infinite
  • Exploration

    Garbanzo Quest
  • Autonomy

    Defunct

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 III (1998): Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. 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 freedom to choose paths and explore levels with multiple routes and approaches."

    Capsule for Defunct Defunct

    "Players have freedom to explore large, nonlinear levels and choose the order of locations to visit, with multiple routes and solutions."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    5

    "High skill and logical reasoning required to solve puzzles; difficulty ramps up with challenging handcrafted levels and infinite puzzles."

    Capsule for Hexcells Infinite Hexcells Infinite

    "High difficulty with challenging puzzles, precise platforming, and complex level design requiring skill and mastery of controls."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -3

    "Focus is on individual puzzle solving and personal progress rather than competing against others."

    Capsule for Mimic Logic Mimic Logic

    "Focus is on individual exploration and puzzle solving rather than competing against others."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    3

    "Players invest hundreds of hours to improve; the game encourages habitual play and long-term engagement despite frustration."

    Capsule for Ultra Street Fighter® IV Ultra Street Fighter® IV

    "Long playtime with some players investing many hours; challenging gameplay encourages repeated attempts and persistence."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    -5

    "Single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

    Capsule for Cookie Clicker Cookie Clicker

    "Single-player experience with no cooperative or multiplayer elements."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    2

    "Players can experiment with movement and routes, but level design and challenges are predefined."

    Capsule for BZZZT BZZZT

    "Players experiment with new moves and routes, but mostly work within predefined level structures and puzzles."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -5

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is solitary and non-competitive."

    Capsule for Ori and the Blind Forest Ori and the Blind Forest

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; gameplay is solitary and non-competitive."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

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

    Capsule for Tomb Raider II (1997) Tomb Raider II (1997)

    "Players use the game as a nostalgic escape into adventurous, mysterious environments and challenging gameplay."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by interest and nostalgia rather than obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for Tomb Raider: Anniversary Tomb Raider: Anniversary

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by interest and nostalgia rather than obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players try different paths and solutions; game encourages exploration of puzzle mechanics."

    Capsule for Akin Akin

    "Game encourages trying different paths, jumps, and puzzle solutions, though within a fixed game world."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    5

    "Strong emphasis on discovering secrets, hidden levels, and multiple paths."

    Capsule for Garbanzo Quest Garbanzo Quest

    "Strong emphasis on discovering secrets, exploring large, complex levels with multiple routes and hidden items."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    1

    "Some profile customization and character costume variations, but mostly standardized presentation."

    Capsule for NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 2 NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 2

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

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Strong fantasy setting with mythical creatures, epic raids, and imaginative story elements."

    Capsule for Lost Ark Lost Ark

    "Imaginative adventure with mythical elements, exotic locations, and improbable events."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    -5

    "Solo play experience with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

    Capsule for Fears to Fathom - Carson House Fears to Fathom - Carson House

    "Solo play experience with minimal social interaction or community involvement."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players develop skills in platforming, puzzle solving, and mastering complex controls and commands."

    Capsule for Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus® Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus®

    "Players develop skills in precise platforming, puzzle solving, and mastering complex controls."

  • 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 difficulty and complexity."

    Capsule for Psycho Patrol R Psycho Patrol R

    "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement due to difficulty and complex level design."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -5

    "No close social relationships or emotional sharing; purely individual experience."

    Capsule for Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy

    "No close social relationships or emotional sharing; purely individual experience."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    -5

    "No leadership or group management roles; single-player focused."

    Capsule for Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered

    "No leadership or group management roles; single-player focused."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    3

    "Players collect weapons and items, unlock levels and achievements, showing progression through the game."

    Capsule for Bullshot Bullshot

    "Players collect weapons, items, and secrets to progress through the game."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -3

    "High difficulty and repeated failures create tension rather than relaxation."

    Capsule for Tcheco in the Castle of Lucio Tcheco in the Castle of Lucio

    "High difficulty and frequent trial-and-error create tension rather than relaxation."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Atmospheric music and action provide sensory stimulation, though graphics are dated."

    Capsule for Rogue Trooper Rogue Trooper

    "Some sensory stimulation from atmospheric music and lighting, but graphics are dated and blocky."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -5

    "Achievements and progress are personal with no social recognition or ranking systems."

    Capsule for TUNIC TUNIC

    "Achievements and progress are personal with no social recognition or ranking."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    2

    "Narrative is present through environmental storytelling and lore, though minimal and secondary to gameplay."

    Capsule for Dino Trauma Dino Trauma

    "Narrative is present but simple and secondary to gameplay; some environmental storytelling."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Requires planning routes, managing resources, and solving puzzles strategically."

    Capsule for Resident Evil 2 Resident Evil 2

    "Requires planning routes, solving puzzles, and strategic use of weapons and items."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "Challenging combat and traps create suspense and adrenaline-inducing moments."

    Capsule for Blade of Darkness Blade of Darkness

    "Suspense from traps, ambushes, and challenging platforming creates moments of tension and relief."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    3

    "Players feel the game offers good value for time invested, especially given content and replayability."

    Capsule for FOUNDRY FOUNDRY

    "Long gameplay and nostalgic value provide good return on time invested."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Combat involves shooting and destruction, but balanced with puzzle and exploration."

    Capsule for ADACA ADACA

    "Combat against enemies and wildlife is present but balanced with exploration and puzzle solving."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    3

    "Players must avoid traps, manage health, and overcome threats to progress."

    Capsule for Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation (1999) Tomb Raider IV: The Last Revelation (1999)

    "Players must avoid traps, manage health, and overcome threats to survive and progress."

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Last update: 01/06/2026