- Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy games include the 2013 reboot, Rise, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
- Each title ships as its Definitive Edition with included DLC, expansions, and bonus outfits.
- Play in release order for the smoothest story and equipment progression.
- Total main-story time runs roughly 37–46 hours across all three games.
- The trilogy released in 2021 on PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam.
What Is the Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy?
The Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy games bundle Lara Croft's complete origin story into one package, released in 2021 for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC via Steam. Confirmed by the official PlayStation store page and Xbox Wire announcement, the collection includes Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, each with their full slate of DLC — more than 20 expansions, challenge tombs, outfits, and missions in total.
The trilogy spans Lara's transformation from a shipwrecked, inexperienced archaeologist on Yamatai Island into the confident tomb raider who races Trinity through Siberia and the Peruvian jungle. The original games released between 2013 and 2018, and the bundle presents them at their most feature-complete.
If you have never played the rebooted series, the trilogy is the most cost-effective way to experience all three campaigns with every piece of post-launch content included. Owners of individual games should compare DLC lists before double-dipping.
| Game | Role in the Story | Main Setting | Edition Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomb Raider | Lara's origin as a survivor | Yamatai Island | Definitive Edition |
| Rise of the Tomb Raider | Lara becomes a determined relic hunter | Siberia and Kitezh | 20 Year Celebration |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | Lara faces the consequences of her actions | Peru, Cozumel, Paititi | Definitive Edition |
Recommended Play Order for the Survivor Trilogy Games
Play the Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy games in release order. Each game assumes familiarity with traversal tools introduced earlier — the climbing axe in Tomb Raider, rope and broadhead arrows in Rise, and the ascender plus rope launcher in Shadow. Story threads involving Jonah Maiava and the Trinity organization also build directly from one game to the next.
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
Learn the core systems: survival instinct, bow stealth, base camps, hunting, and the environmental puzzle language used throughout the trilogy. Expect roughly 12–15 hours for the main story.
Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration
Explore larger semi-open hubs, deeper crafting, and more elaborate challenge tombs. The 20 Year Celebration edition adds Blood Ties, Lara's Nightmare, Endurance mode, and the Baba Yaga expansion. Main story runs about 13–16 hours.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
Master the trilogy's strongest stealth, swimming, and underwater traversal. The Definitive Edition includes the full season of additional adventures, challenge tombs, and Croft Edition bonuses. Plan on 12–15 hours for the campaign.
Starting with Shadow of the Tomb Raider means missing key story beats about Trinity and Jonah, plus the gradual tutorialization of gear. New players should resist the urge to jump straight to the most polished entry.
| Game | Core Gameplay Focus | Story Playtime | Completionist Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomb Raider | Linear cinematic exploration, survival combat | 12–15 hours | Tombs, GPS caches, challenges |
| Rise of the Tomb Raider | Hub regions, crafting, elaborate tombs | 13–16 hours | Tombs, crypts, missions, Expeditions |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | Stealth, swimming, hub side quests | 12–15 hours | Challenge tombs, side quests, DLC adventures |
Skills and Weapons Across the Three Games
Each game expands Lara's toolkit. Early upgrades should improve reliable movement, resource efficiency, and silent damage before specializing in aggressive combat builds.
Exploration Build
- Priority: climbing axe, rope arrows, rebreather
- Survivor or Seeker skill lines
- Unlocks challenge tombs and hidden caches
- Best for completionists
Stealth Build
- Priority: bow damage and draw speed
- Poison arrows (Rise), fear arrows (Shadow)
- Mud walls and camouflage in Shadow
- Saves ammunition for forced fights
Combat Build
- Priority: rifle and shotgun upgrades
- Brawler or Warrior skill lines
- Explosive ammo for armored enemies
- Best for higher difficulties
Upgrade the bow and climbing tools before anything else. Ammunition capacity and crafting efficiency upgrades in Rise and Shadow pay off far more than early specialization in a single weapon type.
Difficulty Settings Compared
Difficulty names differ between the three games, but the underlying modifiers — enemy damage, resource scarcity, aim assistance, and save rules — follow the same pattern. Shadow of the Tomb Raider's Deadly Obsession mode is the most restrictive, combining scarce resources with manual campfire saving.
| Game | Easy Tier | Mid Tier | Top Tier | Save Rule at Max Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomb Raider | Easy | Normal / Hard | Survivor | Demanding checkpoints |
| Rise of the Tomb Raider | Adventurer | Tomb Raider / Seasoned Raider | Survivor / Extreme Survivor | Restricted campfire progression |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | Smart and Resourceful | Rite of Passage / One with the Jungle | Deadly Obsession | Manual campfire saving only |
Choose the middle tier — Normal, Tomb Raider, or Rite of Passage — for the intended balance. Save the highest modes for a New Game Plus run when gear and skills carry forward.
DLC, Unlocks, and Completion Checklist
The trilogy does not use traditional cheat codes. All bonus outfits, weapons, and modes are earned through campaign progression, challenge tombs, DLC content, New Game Plus, or replay modes like Expeditions and Score Attack.
| Game | Notable Included Content | Unlock Type |
|---|---|---|
| Tomb Raider | Tomb of the Lost Adventurer, outfits, weapons | Story and exploration |
| Rise of the Tomb Raider | Baba Yaga, Blood Ties, Endurance, Lara's Nightmare | Story, DLC, replay modes |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | Season of challenge tombs, story missions, Croft Edition bonuses | Story, DLC, NG+ paths |
Trilogy Completion Goals:
- Finish all three main campaigns in release order
- Complete every challenge tomb across the trilogy
- Unlock New Game Plus in Rise and Shadow
- Finish all collectible categories in each game
- Attempt one top-tier difficulty run
Ignore any source claiming universal code lists for the trilogy. Every unlock is tied to legitimate in-game progression, replay modes, or official DLC.
FAQ
Q: What games are in the Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy?
The collection includes Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, along with all associated DLC released through 2021.
Q: Which Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy game should I play first?
Start with Tomb Raider (2013). Release order preserves the story arc with Jonah and Trinity and introduces traversal tools progressively across the three games.
Q: Where can I buy the trilogy?
The bundle is available on the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and Steam. Check the official Tomb Raider website and store pages for current pricing in your region.
Q: Are there cheat codes in the trilogy?
No. There is no universal cheat-code system. Bonus content comes from story progression, challenge tombs, DLC, New Game Plus, and replay modes such as Expeditions and Score Attack.