IMPORTANT: Tombraiders.net is not responsible for anything that happens to your computer as a result of downloading these files or following advice given here. All of my files are safe and malware-free. Still, I recommend following these instructions step by step, especially the part about backing up your existing saves.

This page pertains to PC save files for the ORIGINAL Tomb Raiders 1 through 6 only. Save files for the newer games work a little differently. For detailed instructions, please see the separate sections for Legend, Anniversary, Underworld, TOMB RAIDER (2013), Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Classic Macintosh savegame instructions are also on a separate page.

If you already know what savegame files are and just want instructions on how to download and install them, you can skip down to the instructions.

What are savegame files?

Every time you save your game while playing Tomb Raider, a file is created containing all the information about your game so far—Lara's location, health status, inventory, items found and used, enemies killed, etc. These files are named 'savegame' with a number extension (e.g., savegame.0, savegame.1, etc.) and stored on your hard drive. There is one savegame file for each 'slot' on the Save/Load Game screen.

When you reload a game you have previously saved, your computer interprets the savegame file and restores Lara exactly where she was when you saved. You've probably done this hundreds of times. The only difference here is that we'll be moving these files from my game to yours.

What are .zip files?

All the PC save files on this site come in .zip files. A .zip file lets us group several files together in one convenient package, such as a collection of save files for a particular game level. Most of the .zip files here also include a text document describing the in-game location for each save.

How do I get the savegame files out of the .zip file?

Newer versions of Windows should open .zip files automatically when you double-click on them. If this doesn't happen, right-click the .zip file and choose 'Open with'. Then choose Windows Explorer or File Explorer. You can also use a stand-alone archive program like WinZip or WinRAR to open .zip files and extract the files inside.

Now how do I get them into my game?

This works a little differently depending on the game and the version of Windows you have. Start by following the instructions below. I know it's a lot of words, but not every section will apply to you. If you take it step by step, it's really not too difficult.

Can Windows users install saves made on a Macintosh and vice-versa?

No. Unfortunately, classic Tomb Raider Mac savegame files and Windows savegame files are incompatible. This site has a selection of both. These can be found on the savegame file pages for each game. For additional Mac saves, visit Sailmaker Software and MacRaider.

All of the following should be done when the Tomb Raider game is not running.

Part 1 - Downloading the .zip file:

1. Locate the saves you need on my savegame download pages. (There are also a few links to savegame files sprinkled throughout the walkthroughs.) Then click the download link(s).
2. Most newer web browsers will then automatically download the linked file into your Downloads folder. (Some browsers will pop up a dialog box asking if you want to open or save the file. Choose save.)
   
   If you prefer, you can right-click the download link and choose 'Save as' or 'Save link as'. This will allow you to choose another location, such as the Desktop, a folder you have created for save files, etc. Browse to the location you want then click the 'Save' button to download the file.

If you're having trouble, Windows Help and your particular web browser's Help function can provide more info about downloading files from the web.

Part 2 - Finding and Backing up your existing saves:

If you have been saving your game as you play, you will already have some savegame files of your own. Before you install the saves you downloaded, you will probably want to back up your own savegame files (i.e., move them into a new folder or save them on a thumb drive, disk, etc.).

It's also a good idea to do this every now and then while playing in case you accidentally save in a bad spot—like when Lara is about to die. Then, if necessary, you can restore your earlier saves.

Different versions of the TR games keep their save files in different locations.

For the Steam versions of Tomb Raiders 1-6:

1. Open Steam and go to your game LIBRARY.
2. Select the game you want and click the gear icon below and to the right of the game banner. Then select 'Properties'. (screenshot).
3. Click the 'Local Files' tab.
4. Click the 'Browse Local Files' button. You should now see a folder with various game files, including any saves you have made. These have names like savegame.0, savegame.1, savegame.2, etc. (or 1.TRAODSG, 2.TRAODSG, etc., for Angel of Darkness). For the Steam version of Tomb Raider 1, after browsing to the local files folder, you'll need to double-click the TOMBRAID folder to find the saves.

Once you've found them, follow the steps below to back up your files. If you can't find the savegame files using these instructions, check the troubleshooting section.

For the GOG (Good Old Games) versions of Tomb Raiders 1-6:

1. Open GOG Galaxy. You should then see the games you have installed along the left side of the GOG Galaxy window.
2. Click the TR game you want in order to display more information about it in the main window to the right.
   
   If you are playing Angel of Darkness, before going on to step 3, you should disable Cloud Saves. To do this, click the Gray 'More' button (next to the green 'Play' button) and choose 'Settings' from the drop-down list. Now uncheck the box for 'Sync local saves with GOG Galaxy Cloud'. You can re-enable this later if you like.
   
   
3. Click the gray 'More' button (next to the green 'Play' button).
4. From the drop-down list, select 'Manage Installation' then 'Show Folder'. You should now see a folder with various game files, including any saves you have made. These have names like savegame.0, savegame.1, savegame.2, etc. (or 1.TRAODSG, 2.TRAODSG, etc., for Angel of Darkness).

Once you've found them, follow the steps below to back up your files. If you can't find the savegame files using these instructions, check the troubleshooting section.

For the CD versions of Tomb Raiders 2-5:

1. Open 'My Computer' (Windows 95-XP), 'Computer' (Windows Vista/7), or 'This PC' (Windows 8/10).
2. Open the hard drive where the games are installed. This is usually (C:) but may be (D:) or some other letter if you have a partitioned hard drive or separate drives for your operating system and data storage.
3. Open 'Program Files' (Windows 95-Vista) or 'Program Files (x86)' (Windows 7 and later). Inside you should see folders for various programs you've installed.
4. Open 'Core Design'. Inside should be a subfolder for each of the Tomb Raider games you have installed. The exceptions are Tomb Raider 1 and Angel of Darkness (see below).
5. Open the folder for the game you want. Inside that folder you should see various game files, including any saves you have made. These have names like savegame.0, savegame.1, savegame.2, etc.

Follow the steps below to back up your files. If you can't find the savegame files using these instructions, check the troubleshooting section.

For the CD version of Tomb Raider 1:

Follow steps 1-3, in the section for Tomb Raiders 2-5, above.

4. Inside the Program Files folder, you should see a folder called 'TOMBRAID'. Open it to find various game files, including any saves you have made. These have names like savegame.0, savegame.1, savegame.2, etc.

Follow the steps below to back up your files. If you can't find the savegame files using these instructions, check the troubleshooting section.

For the CD version of Tomb Raider Angel of Darkness:

Follow steps 1-3, in the section for Tomb Raiders 2-5, above.

4. Inside the Program Files folder, you should see a folder called 'Eidos Interactive'. Open it.
5. Open the 'TRAOD' folder, then the 'SaveGame' folder. (Each folder is inside the previous one.) Inside the 'SaveGame' folder you should see any saves you have made so far. These have names like 1.TRAODSG, 2.TRAODSG, A.TRAODSG, etc.

Follow the steps below to back up your files. If you can't find the savegame files using these instructions, check the troubleshooting section.

Next steps for all games and all versions:

Once you have located your save files as described above,

1. Create a new folder to store your own savegames. This can be within the game folder, in another location on your hard drive, on a disk or thumb drive, etc.
   
   To create a new folder, right-click anywhere in the window except on the name of an existing file and choose New > Folder from the drop-down menu. Name the new folder whatever you want. (I like to keep a separate folder for each level, so I use the level name as the name of the folder. Do what works for you.)
   
   
2. Copy and paste or move (drag) your savegame files into the new folder. If you COPY the files, the saves will still be available when you play the game. If you MOVE the files, the game program will not be able to find them in the new location, so you won't be able to load them unless you copy or move them back into the game folder.
   
   Take care not to accidentally move or delete any other game files in the process, only the savegame files (or .TRAODSG files in the case of Angel of Darkness).

Part 3 - Extracting the downloaded savegame files:

VERY IMPORTANT: If you haven't already backed up your own saves (as explained in PART 2, above), you should definitely do that before continuing. Otherwise, you may accidentally erase your own saves.

1. Locate the .zip file you downloaded in PART 1, above.
2. Double-click it to open the file.
3. Double-click the 'readme' text file (if there is one) to open it. This is a plain text document with details about each save, so you can choose the ones you want.
4. Open the game program folder, where the savegame files are stored. (It may already be open if you've been following these instructions. If not, see PART 2, above.)
5. Select the savegame file(s) you want and copy/paste or drag them out of the .zip file and into the game program folder. If you already have savegame files with the same names, Windows will ask if you want to replace your existing savegame files with the new files. Say yes but only if you have backed up your original saves or don't care if they're erased forever.

Part 4 – Loading the NEW save files:

Now that you've completed all of the steps above, your downloaded saves should be in the game program directory. Close all the windows and files you've opened and start the game as usual.

In the main menu, choose the 'Load Game' option to bring up your list of saved games. The downloaded saves should now be on that list. Select the save you want and press Enter (or Action) to load it, just as you would load your own saved game. Now you should be good to go!

If you've done everything as described and the saves won't load, first check the troubleshooting section below. A few common problems are addressed there. If you don't find the answer you need, feel free to ask for help.

I double-clicked the savegame file and the game won't load. Or, I opened the savegame file and it looks like a bunch of gibberish text. What am I doing wrong?

Savegame files are written by the game program and can only be read by the game program (or a savegame editor or hex editor...but those are topics for another page). Loading a savegame file by double-clicking it won't work. Instead, you need to move the savegame file into your game program directory, play the game, and load it from the Load Game screen—the same way you load your own saves while playing. The step-by-step instructions above explain how to do this.

I followed the instructions but I can't find the Tomb Raider game directory on my computer where you said it would be.

These instructions are based on the 'default' installation path—where the program would be installed if you didn't specify a different location when you first set up the game. If you chose a different location, then that is where the savegame files will be.

If you can't remember where you installed the game then you will need to search your computer to find it. If you're using Windows 7 or older, open the Start Menu and choose 'Find' or 'Search'. Then, in the box under 'Named' or 'Find files or folders named', enter the name of the program from the list below.

For newer versions of Windows, open File Explorer, select the hard drive where your games are installed, and type the name of the program file into the box at the top left corner of the window. Depending on how your hard drive is indexed you may need to browse to the Program Files or Program Files (x86) folder and then do the search.

The program files for each Tomb Raider game are:

tomb.exe (Tomb Raider 1)
tombub.exe (Tomb Raider Gold or Unfinished Business)
tomb2.exe (Tomb Raider 2)
tr2gold.exe (Golden Mask)
tomb3.exe (Tomb Raider 3)
tr3gold.exe (The Lost Artifact)
tomb4.exe (Last Revelation)
PCTomb5.exe (Chronicles)
TRAODSG (not the Angel of Darkness program file but the save files themselves)

If you can't find the game program, try searching for 'Core Design', 'Eidos', 'savegame', or even 'tomb'. The search may turn up other files with those names, so you will then have to sort through the results.

Once you've found the relevant file, right-click it and choose 'Open folder location', 'Open Containing Folder', or 'Open File Location' (depending on your Windows version) from the drop-down menu. Then follow the instructions above for installing the save files. Things should work smoothly.

Windows Vista: If you are not running the Tomb Raider game as an administrator, then the game will write the save files to a special 'Virtual Store' folder, rather than the folder with the game program. Look for this folder on your main hard drive, usually (C:) > Users > your actual username > AppData > Local > VirtualStore. If you don't see the AppData folder, it may be hidden. Try clicking the Start Menu, search for 'Folder Options' and open it. Click the View tab and then make sure the button for 'Show hidden files, folders and drives' is selected. Then repeat the steps above.

Windows 7: The save files are usually written to the same folder as the game program, but if you don't see them at first click the 'Compatibility Files' button in the toolbar (as shown here). If you see your existing save files under 'Compatibility Files,' that's where you should place the downloaded saves.

Windows 8: Try looking inside 'Program Files (x86)' for a folder named 'Eidos Interactive' or 'Core Design. Within that folder there should be a subfolder for each TR game you have installed. If you find the game folder but don't see the savegame files, open the Start menu and type 'Folder Options'. Then click the entry for 'Folder Options' that appears in the search results at the top of the Start menu. This should open the 'Folder Options' dialog box. Click the 'View' tab. Under Advanced settings, select 'Show hidden files, folders, and drives'. Then click 'OK'.

Windows 10: Try looking inside 'Program Files (x86)' for a folder named 'Eidos Interactive' or 'Core Design. Within that folder there should be a subfolder for each TR game you have installed. If you find the game folder but don't see the savegame files, open the Start menu and type 'File Explorer Options'. Then click the entry for 'File Explorer Options' that appears in the search results at the top of the Start menu. This should open the 'File Explorer Options' dialog box. Click the 'View' tab to display a long list of settings. Make sure the button for 'Show hidden files, folders, and drives' is selected and the box for 'Hide extensions for known file types' is unchecked. Then click 'OK'.

Or, look for the 'VirtualStore' folder, as described under Windows Vista, above.

I found the savegame files in the game directory, but I don't see any number extensions (.0, .1, .2, etc., or in the case of Angel of Darkness, .TRAODSG).

This is easily fixed. You just need to adjust the way your files are displayed. Changing this setting works a little differently in each version of Windows. See here for instructions.

I followed all your instructions to the letter, but when I try to load the savegame I just downloaded, the game crashes.

In some cases, Tomb Raider saves made using one version of the game (e.g., original CD installation vs. patched game vs. Steam/GOG game) will not load in another version. Also, some Tomb Raider saves made using one version of Windows will not load using another version. In this case, you'll need to download compatible saves.

I am attempting to build a complete collection of save files, but there are still a few types I don't have. Check my savegame download pages to see what's available. If you don't find what you need, try posting a request on one or more of the Tomb Raider forums listed on my Community page. Perhaps another player will be able to help.

NOTE: A few of my saves described as 'patched' refer to edited saves where Lara is repositioned in an otherwise inaccessible spot, or where inventory items are added. This should not affect whether or not a save will load. If you're not sure which kind of 'patch' I'm talking about, feel free to ask.

I've decided I want my old saves back. How do I restore them?

If you followed these instructions, you should have backed up your original saves in a separate folder. (See Part 2 - Backing up your existing saves, above.) To restore them follow these steps:

1. Locate the folder in which you placed your original savegame files.
2. Copy or move the savegame files from that folder back into the game directory. (If you have trouble finding the game directory, follow the instructions in Part 2, above.)
3. If you already have files with the same names, Windows will ask if you want to replace those files with the ones you're trying to move. Click 'OK'.
4. Now play the game as usual and your original saves should be on the Load Game screen.

If you didn't back up your old saves as recommended, and they were overwritten by the downloaded saves, then there's no way to get them back. Sorry.

If your questions weren't answered on this page, or if you have suggestions for how to improve this savegame 'walkthrough', please feel free to contact me.

[Savegame Downloads | Main Page]

This page copyright © 2004- Stellalune. All rights reserved. You are welcome to link to this page but do not copy it. Special thanks to Sailmaker Software's Richard B. (for the Mac info), David V. for the Windows Vista info, and Steph and Sas for other help with this page. To give me your feedback, send email to or use my contact form. WinZip is a registered trademark of WinZip Computing, Inc. WinRAR is © Alexander Roshal and win.rar GmbH. All Rights Reserved.