Tomb Raider: Chronicles takes place a few days after the events of Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, where Lara Croft is presumed dead. Her friends recall her previous adventures, including searching for the Philosopher's Stone in Rome; preventing the Spear of Destiny from falling into the wrong hands; facing monsters on the Black Isle of Ireland as a child; and, finally, infiltrating a high-tech complex to get the Iris artefact.
The gameplay is similar to its predecessors, with action, puzzle-solving, and platforming elements. Lara can now perform new skills such as walking on tightropes, swinging on horizontal bars, and crouching somersaults. A grappling hook has been added to her inventory, along with a level editor that lets the player create new stages for Lara to explore.