Est. 1998
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Tomb Raider III
The Vault · 1998

Tomb Raider III

More globe-trotting, same old engine.
DeveloperCore Design
Released1998
Players1 Player
Tomb RaiderWindows 95/98ActionAdventure
3D AcceleratedCD-ROMDirect3D

Tomb Raider III is a 3D action-adventure game developed by Core Design and published by Eidos Interactive. It is the third main installment in the Tomb Raider series, following the massive success of the original Tomb Raider and the more combat-focused Tomb Raider II. The game stars archaeologist-adventurer Lara Croft as she searches for a set of ancient artifacts forged from a meteorite that crashed in Antarctica eons ago. The story takes Lara across five distinct regions: India, Nevada, London, the South Pacific, and Antarctica. For the first time in the series, players are given some freedom to choose the order in which they tackle the middle three areas, though the game remains linear overall. New gameplay moves such as crawling, sprinting, and swinging hand-over-hand were introduced, alongside vehicles like the quad-bike and a canoe. While the game retains the classic third-person perspective and puzzle-platforming gameplay, it was criticized for its aging engine, unwieldy camera, and lack of innovation. It was originally released in late 1998 for PC and PlayStation.

Screenshots1 shot
Tomb Raider III screenshot
In the News3 mentions
Feb 282000
Eidos Reports Lower Third Quarter Revenue But Leans On Big Franchises
Eidos posts lower third-quarter numbers while pointing to Tomb Raider, Thief 2, Commandos 2, and new platform support.
Industry
Dec 31998
Mike McHale Interview
Mike McHale Interview: ActionXtreme posted an interview with Mike McHale, who is the Quality Assurance Engineer for Eidos Interactive.
Release
Nov 171998
Tomb Raider III: Prima’s Official Strategy Guide
Prima Games, the world's leading publisher of strategy guides and Eidos Interactive, a worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment products, have collaborated to create and publish Tomb Raider III: Prima's Official Strategy Guide.Packed with strategy, tips, and walkthroughs, Prima's guide to Tomb Raider III will be available around Thanksgiving.
Physical
How to Play TodayYour options for running this game in 2026
Original Hardware
Original CD-ROM release for Windows 95/98 is common and cheap today. Requires a Pentium 200 MMX or better, a 4x CD-ROM drive, and a 3D accelerator card for best results. Make sure you run the setup utility before playing.
Modern Re-release
Sold on Steam and GOG; also remastered in the Tomb Raider I-III Remastered collection.
Emulation / Other Options
The PS1 version runs under emulators like DuckStation.
Game Record
PlatformWindows 95/98
DeveloperCore Design
PublisherEidos Interactive
GenreAction, Adventure
Players1 Player
SeriesTomb Raider
ReviewedJanuary 15, 1999
RestoredJune 5, 2026
Tomb Raider Series
Tomb Raider (1996)
Sega Saturn / PlayStation / PC (DOS)
Not Reviewed
Tomb Raider III (1998)
Windows 95/98
3.5
This
Tomb Raider (2013)
PC / PS3 / Xbox 360
Not Reviewed
Original PC Specs
OSWindows 95/98
CPUPentium 133 MHz (with 3D hardware), Pentium 166 MHz (without)
RAM16 MB (32 MB recommended)
GPU / Display4 MB SVGA, Direct3D compatible card recommended
StorageHard drive space for minimal install (game runs from CD)
Drive4x CD-ROM