GameTimeline

Release & story order

Spyro timeline

Spyro from Spyro the Dragon (1998) through The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon (2008)—US release dates, classic Dragon Realms continuity vs the 2006–2008 reboot trilogy, and FAQ for Reignited Trilogy remasters, handheld spin-offs, and Skylanders.

Updated July 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When Insomniac and later studios shipped each chapter—Spyro the Dragon (1998), Ripto's Rage! (1999), Year of the Dragon (2000), Enter the Dragonfly (2002), A Hero's Tail (2004), then the Legend of Spyro reboot trilogy (2006–2008). Reignited Trilogy, handheld adventures, and Skylanders are FAQ-only.

  • Classic saga → Story tab: 1 → 2 → 3 → Dragonfly → Hero's Tail
  • Release order → includes Legend of Spyro reboot after A Hero's Tail
  • Newcomers → Reignited Trilogy (1–3 remasters) then pick classic or reboot—FAQ
  • Handheld Season of Ice/Flame and Skylanders—FAQ only
Story order tips

Classic Dragon Realms saga: Spyro 1 → 2 → 3 → Enter the Dragonfly → A Hero's Tail. Release order includes the Legend of Spyro reboot trilogy as a separate branch—Story order excludes it.

  • Core canon: Spyro 1 → 2 → 3 → Enter the Dragonfly → A Hero's Tail
  • Legend of Spyro is a separate reboot—ignore on Story order
  • Enter the Dragonfly is skippable but continues classic lore—FAQ
  • On Story order, A Hero's Tail may be hidden—reveal when ready

Timeline

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Spyro the Dragon

    Spyro the Dragon

    PS1PlatformerMainline

    Spyro frees dragon eggs from Gnasty Gnorc.

    Overview
    Insomniac's PS1 mascot platformer—glide, flame, and charge across the Dragon Realms.
    In-game setting
    Story chapter one—Spyro becomes the realms' hero.
    Should you play it?
    Essential start—remastered in Reignited Trilogy—FAQ.
    Release date
    US PS1 launch September 9, 1998.
  2. Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!

    Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!

    PS1PlatformerMainline

    Avalar invaded by Ripto—talismans and orbs across homeworlds.

    Overview
    Skill points, headbash, and expanded hub worlds—series refinement.
    In-game setting
    Direct sequel to Spyro the Dragon.
    Should you play it?
    Play after Spyro 1 on any order.
    Release date
    US launch November 2, 1999.
  3. Spyro: Year of the Dragon

    Spyro: Year of the Dragon

    PS1PlatformerMainline

    Bianca and the Sorceress steal dragon eggs—playable Sheila, Sgt. Byrd, and Agent 9.

    Overview
    Playable side characters and multiple homeworld hubs—Insomniac trilogy finale.
    In-game setting
    Original trilogy end—classic continuity continues in Enter the Dragonfly.
    Should you play it?
    Reignited Trilogy remaster—FAQ.
    Release date
    US launch October 23, 2000.
  4. Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly

    Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly

    PS2GameCubePlatformerMainline

    Dragonfly magic and Ripto's return—post-Insomniac classic sequel.

    Overview
    First PS2 Spyro—shorter levels and dragonfly power-ups.
    In-game setting
    Continues classic cast after Year of the Dragon—mixed reception.
    Should you play it?
    Optional on Story order—FAQ.
    Release date
    US launch November 5, 2002.
  5. Spyro: A Hero's Tail

    Spyro: A Hero's Tail

    PS2GameCubeXboxPlatformerMainline

    Red and the Dark Master—open-ish hub return.

    Overview
    Eurocom sequel—hub exploration and minigames in classic universe.
    In-game setting
    Last classic-line chapter before Legend of Spyro reboot.
    Should you play it?
    Play before reboot branch on Release order.
    Release date
    US launch November 9, 2004.
  6. The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning

    The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning

    PS2GameCubeXboxGBAAction-adventureReboot

    Young Spyro origin—Ignitus and the dragon prophecy.

    Overview
    Krome Studios reboot—combat focus and darker tone.
    In-game setting
    Release row only—not classic Story order.
    Should you play it?
    Separate reboot arc—FAQ.
    Release date
    US launch October 10, 2006.
  7. The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night

    The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night

    PS2WiiAction-adventureReboot

    Cynder and the Night of Eternal Darkness.

    Overview
    Continues reboot trilogy—Ape King and dragon temple lore.
    In-game setting
    Middle chapter of Legend of Spyro reboot.
    Should you play it?
    Play after A New Beginning on reboot branch only.
    Release date
    US launch October 2, 2007.
  8. The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon

    The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon

    PS2WiiXbox 360PS3Action-adventureReboot

    Spyro and Cynder vs Malefor—reboot finale.

    Overview
    Co-op dragon combat—reboot trilogy conclusion.
    In-game setting
    Latest mainline Spyro platformer/adventure as of June 2026.
    Should you play it?
    End of reboot branch—Skylanders is separate—FAQ.
    Release date
    US launch October 14, 2008.

FAQ

Release vs story order, classic vs Legend of Spyro reboot, remasters, and spin-offs.

Release order

Release order follows US launch dates and includes the Legend of Spyro reboot trilogy (2006–2008) after A Hero's Tail. Story order is the classic Dragon Realms saga: Spyro 1 → 2 → 3 → Enter the Dragonfly → A Hero's Tail—excluding the Legend of Spyro reboot.

Modern classic: Spyro Reignited Trilogy (1–3 remasters) on PC/console → optional Enter the Dragonfly / A Hero's Tail via legacy stores. Reboot path: Legend of Spyro trilogy (2006–2008) as its own branch. Skip Skylanders unless you want toys-to-life—FAQ.

Story & canon

A New Beginning, The Eternal Night, and Dawn of the Dragon are a 2006–2008 reboot—younger Spyro, Cynder, and Malefor with a darker tone. They appear on Release order with a Reboot tag but not on Story order with the Insomniac classic line. Treat them as an optional alternate branch.

Yes if you only want the Insomniac trilogy—Year of the Dragon sets up enough for A Hero's Tail for most players. Story order includes Enter the Dragonfly as a short classic sequel; skip it if you dislike the PS2-era pivot—FAQ trade-off.

Remasters & ports

Spyro Reignited Trilogy (2018) remasters Spyro 1–3—same classic story, buy instead of PS1 originals. It is not a separate Release or Story row. Enter the Dragonfly and A Hero's Tail have no Reignited versions as of June 2026.

Optional & related

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.