- Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy takes roughly 37–46 hours for all three main stories
- Completionist runs across every tomb, collectible, and DLC can exceed 90–110 hours
- Rise of the Tomb Raider is the longest entry due to its hub regions and Expedition modes
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider adds the most side quests through the Hidden City of Paititi
- Play in release order for the smoothest story and gameplay progression
Trilogy Playtime at a Glance
The Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy bundles Lara Croft's complete origin story: Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. Because each game includes its Definitive Edition extras, total time varies widely depending on how deeply you explore optional tombs, collectibles, and DLC modes.
| Game | Main Story | Main + Extras | Completionist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition | 12–15 hours | 20–25 hours | 30–35 hours |
| Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration | 13–16 hours | 25–30 hours | 40–50 hours |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition | 12–15 hours | 25–30 hours | 40–50 hours |
| Trilogy Total | 37–46 hours | 70–85 hours | 110–135 hours |
Story-Only Player
- 37–46 hours total
- Follow main objectives
- Skip optional tombs and side quests
Balanced Explorer
- 70–85 hours total
- Clear challenge tombs
- Grab key collectibles and DLC story content
Completionist
- 110–135 hours total
- 100% maps in every game
- All DLC, modes, and achievements
Do not rush the first game. Tomb Raider teaches the traversal, stealth, and puzzle language the entire trilogy reuses, and skipping its optional tombs makes Rise and Shadow harder than necessary.
Playtime Breakdown by Game
Each entry contributes differently to your total runtime. The table below shows what actually drives hours up in each game.
| Game | Biggest Time Sink | Optional Content | DLC Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomb Raider | Collectibles and GPS caches | 7 optional challenge tombs | Tomb of the Lost Adventurer, outfits, weapons |
| Rise of the Tomb Raider | Hub exploration and tombs | 9 challenge tombs, crypts, missions | Baba Yaga, Blood Ties, Lara's Nightmare, Endurance |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | Paititi side quests | 8+ challenge tombs, crypts, monoliths | Full season of additional adventures |
Key points:
- Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration typically runs longest because its semi-open hubs (Geothermal Valley, Soviet Installation) reward repeated visits, and Endurance mode adds a separate survival loop.
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition packs the most side quests through the Hidden City of Paititi, plus underwater traversal sections that slow pacing considerably.
- The original Tomb Raider remains the most linear and fastest to complete, making it an efficient start.
Higher difficulties extend playtime significantly. Shadow of the Tomb Raider's Deadly Obsession mode requires manual campfire saving and scarce resources, which can add 5–10 hours to a story run alone.
Planning Your Trilogy Run: Step by Step
Estimate Your Playstyle First
Decide before starting whether you want story-only (37–46 hours), main plus extras (70–85 hours), or full completion (110+ hours). This determines whether optional tombs are worth clearing on your first visit.
Play Tomb Raider in 12–15 Hours
Follow the main chapters from the Coastal Forest through the Mountain Temple. Add 8–10 hours if you clear all challenge tombs and GPS caches as you go.
Budget the Most Time for Rise
Expect 13–16 hours for the story path from the Prophet's Tomb to Kitezh, and up to double that with hub exploration, Baba Yaga, and Blood Ties included in the 20 Year Celebration edition.
Finish with Shadow and Paititi
Plan 12–15 hours for the main story, but add substantial time for Paititi side quests, the Cenote, and the Definitive Edition's additional adventures.
Reserve a Completionist Pass
Use New Game Plus in Rise and Shadow to sweep missed collectibles, difficulty achievements, and challenge tombs without a fresh grind.
Some areas require equipment you unlock later. If a tomb or cache seems unreachable, mark it and move on instead of grinding—return after the story provides the wire spool, rebreather, or rope launcher.
Completionist Checklist
100% Trilogy Milestones:
- Complete all three main stories in release order
- Clear every optional challenge tomb in each game
- Finish Baba Yaga, Blood Ties, and Lara's Nightmare DLC in Rise
- Complete all Shadow of the Tomb Raider additional adventures
- Reach 100% map completion in every region
- Unlock New Game Plus paths and finish a high-difficulty run
Region-based collectible tracking is the fastest route to 100%. Group documents, relics, caches, and challenges by area rather than by type so each map needs only one or two visits.
What Changes Your Total Time
| Factor | Time Impact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty setting | +5–15 hours | Survivor and Deadly Obsession modes slow combat and restrict saves |
| Exploration style | +10–30 hours | Hub regions reward thorough sweeps |
| DLC content | +15–25 hours | Baba Yaga, Blood Ties, additional adventures |
| Replay modes | +10–20 hours | Endurance, Score Attack, New Game Plus |
| Puzzle familiarity | −5–10 hours | Experienced raiders solve challenge tombs much faster |
At roughly 10 hours per week, expect the trilogy's main stories to take about a month, while a completionist run spans two to three months of steady play.
FAQ
Q: How long is the Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy to beat?
Expect roughly 37–46 hours to finish all three main stories, 70–85 hours including major side content and DLC, and 110–135 hours for a full completionist run.
Q: Which game in the trilogy is the longest?
Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration usually takes the most time due to its semi-open hubs, nine challenge tombs, and included expansions like Baba Yaga and Blood Ties.
Q: Can I play the trilogy out of order?
You can, but release order is strongly recommended. Each game builds on traversal tools and story threads from the previous one, so playing Tomb Raider first provides the smoothest learning curve.
Q: Do the DLC and extras significantly add to playtime?
Yes. The Definitive Edition content—challenge tombs, story DLC, and replay modes like Endurance and New Game Plus—can add 15–25 hours or more beyond the base stories.