- Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy PS5 bundles all three Survivor-era games plus 20+ DLC packs.
- Backward compatibility: The PS4 trilogy release runs on PS5 via Sony's official store listing.
- Best play order: Tomb Raider (2013), then Rise, then Shadow for Lara's full origin arc.
- Difficulty tip: Start on Normal or Adventurer; save Deadlier Obsession-style modes for a second run.
- No cheat codes: All bonus outfits and weapons unlock through progression, not codes.
What Is the Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy on PS5?
The Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy collects Lara Croft's complete origin story in a single bundle: Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. Originally released in 2021, the trilogy launched for PlayStation 4 and remains playable on PS5 through the console's backward compatibility, as confirmed on the official PlayStation Store page.
Each game arrives in its most feature-complete form, including challenge tombs, story expansions like Baba Yaga: The Temple of the Witch, Blood Ties, and the full season of Shadow's additional adventures. The official Tomb Raider site still lists the trilogy as a flagship product entry.
You do not need to buy the three games separately on PlayStation. The trilogy bundle includes every Definitive Edition extra, outfits, weapons, and DLC mission content in one purchase.
Trilogy at a Glance
| Game | Setting | Story Role | Main Story Length | Edition Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition | Yamatai Island | Lara becomes a survivor | 12–15 hours | Outfits, weapons, Tomb of the Lost Adventurer |
| Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration | Siberia and Kitezh | Lara the determined relic hunter | 13–16 hours | Blood Ties, Lara's Nightmare, Baba Yaga, Endurance mode |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition | Peru and Paititi | Lara faces consequences | 12–15 hours | Full season of challenge tombs and story missions |
Best Play Order and Story Flow
Play the trilogy in release order. Each game assumes familiarity with traversal tools introduced earlier, and the emotional throughline, Lara's growth alongside Jonah Maiava and her evolving conflict with Trinity, only lands properly in sequence.
Tomb Raider (2013): The Origin
Lara survives the Endurance shipwreck on Yamatai, learns stealth, bow combat, and camp-based progression, and confronts Mathias and the Solarii cult.
Rise of the Tomb Raider: The Hunt
Lara pursues the Divine Source across Siberia, the Soviet Installation, and the lost city of Kitezh while racing the Trinity organization.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider: The Reckoning
Lara triggers a Mayan apocalypse prophecy in Cozumel and must undo the damage in Paititi, the Hidden City, culminating in the final battle with Dominguez.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider's ending resolves the entire Trinity storyline. Avoid story summaries and ending discussions until you finish the final chapter.
Skills and Weapons by Playstyle
Each game splits skills across exploration, stealth, and combat branches. Early upgrades should improve movement, resource efficiency, and silent damage before specializing.
Stealth Build
- Bow damage and draw speed first
- Poison arrows in Rise
- Fear arrows and mud camouflage in Shadow
- Silent takedowns save ammunition
Combat Build
- Rifle for mid-range consistency
- Shotgun for close-range crowds
- Brawler/Warrior skills for resistance
- Explosive ammo for armored enemies
Explorer Build
- Climbing axe upgrades early
- Resource and crafting skills
- Wire spool, rebreather, rope tools
- Return to old areas with new gear
Weapon Roles Across the Trilogy
| Weapon | Best Use | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bow | Silent openings, hunting | Silent kills, special arrows | Low burst damage |
| Pistol/Rifle | Mid-range fights | Reliable, fast handling | Draws attention |
| Shotgun | Close encounters | Strong stagger, crowd control | Short range |
| Climbing Axe | Traversal, melee | Dual-purpose tool | Limited combat reach |
Upgrade the bow and climbing tools before anything else in all three games. They improve both combat and exploration, giving the best return on limited early resources.
Difficulty Settings Compared
Difficulty names differ between games, but the modifiers follow the same pattern: higher settings increase enemy damage, reduce resources, and cut aiming assistance.
| Game | Easiest | Balanced | Hard | Hardest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomb Raider | Easy | Normal | Hard | Survivor |
| Rise of the Tomb Raider | Adventurer | Tomb Raider | Seasoned Raider | Extreme Survivor |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | Smart and Resourceful | Rite of Passage | One with the Jungle | Deadly Obsession |
Shadow's Deadly Obsession mode is the most restrictive in the trilogy: it combines scarce resources with manual campfire saving only, making it a genuine veteran challenge best attempted on a second playthrough.
On the highest modes, save at campfires deliberately. A death after long unsaved progress can cost significant time, especially in Shadow's underwater sections.
Collectibles and Completion Checklist
Full completion across the trilogy means tracking documents, relics, GPS caches, murals, monoliths, survival caches, and challenge items organized by region.
Trilogy Completion Targets:
- Finish all main story campaigns in order
- Complete every optional challenge tomb in all three games
- Collect all documents, relics, and GPS caches on Yamatai
- Find archivist maps and explorer satchels in Siberia
- Clear all Paititi side quests and monolith caches
- Unlock New Game Plus in Rise and Shadow
- Finish a Deadly Obsession run in Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Never force an area that needs equipment you lack. Mark it mentally, then return after the story unlocks the rope launcher, rebreather, or wire spool to reach blocked caches and tombs.
FAQ
Q: Is the Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy available natively on PS5?
The trilogy was released as a PS4 bundle in 2021 and is playable on PS5 through backward compatibility via the PlayStation Store listing. It includes all three Definitive Edition games with their DLC.
Q: Does the trilogy include all DLC?
Yes. The bundle includes each game's Definitive Edition content, such as Baba Yaga: The Temple of the Witch, Blood Ties, Lara's Nightmare, Endurance mode, extra outfits and weapons, and Shadow's full season of challenge tombs and missions.
Q: Are there cheat codes in the Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy?
No. There is no universal cheat-code system. Bonus outfits, weapons, and New Game Plus content unlock through campaign progression, challenge tomb completion, and official DLC.
Q: Can I play the three games out of order?
You can, but release order is strongly recommended. Each game builds on Lara's equipment and relationships, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider's ending assumes knowledge of the full Trinity storyline.