- Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy on PS5 bundles all three Survivor-era games plus 20+ DLC packs.
- Three full campaigns: Tomb Raider, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
- Best value: One purchase covers Lara's complete origin story from Yamatai to the Mayan apocalypse.
- Performance: Each Definitive Edition runs at improved resolution and frame rate on PS5 hardware.
- Verdict: A strong buy for newcomers and a convenient repackaging for returning raiders.
Review Overview: What's in the Trilogy
The Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy collects Lara Croft's full reboot arc, originally released between 2013 and 2018, into a single 2021 bundle. On PS5, you get the Definitive Edition of each game, meaning the base campaigns arrive alongside their challenge tombs, story expansions, outfits, weapons, and extra modes.
| Game | Edition Included | Setting | Main Story Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomb Raider | Definitive Edition | Yamatai Island | 12-15 hours |
| Rise of the Tomb Raider | 20 Year Celebration | Siberia and Kitezh | 13-16 hours |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | Definitive Edition | Peru and Paititi | 12-15 hours |
The bundle includes more than 20 DLC items and expansions across the three games, such as Baba Yaga: The Temple of the Witch, Blood Ties, Lara's Nightmare, Endurance mode, and the full season of Shadow's additional adventures.
For context, Xbox Wire described the collection as the complete origin trilogy when it launched, and the official PlayStation product page confirms the same three-game lineup for Sony platforms.
Gameplay Review: How Each Game Holds Up
Each entry builds on the last, so playing in release order gives the smoothest progression of Lara's tools, skills, and story.
Tomb Raider (2013)
- Cinematic survival origin
- Linear exploration and early stealth
- Bow-focused combat and first challenge tombs
- Strongest horror-tinged atmosphere
Rise of the Tomb Raider
- Largest content package
- Semi-open hubs and deeper crafting
- Baba Yaga and Blood Ties expansions
- Endurance and Score Attack modes
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
- Best puzzles and traversal
- Peak stealth with mud camouflage
- Underwater exploration and Paititi hub
- Deadlier high-difficulty options
Across all three, the shared loop works: scan with Survival Instinct, gather resources, clear optional tombs for skills, and open encounters with stealth before committing to gunfire. It remains one of the most consistent action-adventure formulas on PlayStation.
Each game lets you adjust combat, puzzle, and exploration difficulty independently, so story-focused players and challenge seekers can tune the same campaign very differently.
| Difficulty Tier | Enemy Damage | Resources | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy / Smart and Resourceful | Low | Generous | First-time story players |
| Normal / Rite of Passage | Moderate | Balanced | Standard playthrough |
| Hard / One with the Jungle | High | Limited | Experienced raiders |
| Survivor / Deadly Obsession | Very high | Scarce | Veterans and trophy hunters |
PS5 Experience and Performance
The trilogy was built for the PS4 generation, but the Definitive Editions hold up well on PS5 hardware. Load times shrink noticeably, and the enhanced visuals in each game, denser foliage, improved lighting, and higher resolution textures, keep the cinematic presentation feeling modern.
Install and Launch
Download the trilogy from the PlayStation Store and launch each game directly; progress is tracked separately per title.
Adjust Difficulty Separately
Set combat, puzzle, and exploration difficulty to match your playstyle before leaving the first camp.
Use the Activity Cards
PS5 activity cards let you jump straight into chapters, challenge tombs, and completion targets without menu digging.
Sync Trophies Across Games
Each game keeps its own trophy list, so completionists can pursue three platinum targets from one purchase.
These are enhanced last-generation builds, not full PS5-native remasters. Expect polished 60 fps-class performance rather than ray-traced showcase visuals.
Value Assessment and Completion Checklist
At three full campaigns, 20+ DLC packs, dozens of challenge tombs, and hundreds of collectibles, the cost-per-hour is among the best in the genre. For players who skipped the reboot era, this is the simplest way to experience the entire arc.
Recommended Completion Path:
- Finish Tomb Raider main story
- Complete Rise of the Tomb Raider plus Baba Yaga
- Finish Shadow of the Tomb Raider main story
- Clear all challenge tombs across the trilogy
- Complete one New Game Plus run
| Value Factor | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Content volume | ★★★★★ | Three campaigns plus full DLC |
| Story quality | ★★★★ | Coherent origin arc with strong finale |
| Puzzle design | ★★★★ | Challenge tombs peak in Shadow |
| Visual age | ★★★☆ | Polished but last-generation |
| Replayability | ★★★★ | New Game Plus, Endurance, Score Attack |
The Definitive Survivor Trilogy earns a 4.5 out of 5 on PS5. It is an easy recommendation for newcomers, a solid re-purchase for fans who want everything in one place, and only a skip if you already own all three Definitive Editions.
FAQ
Q: Is the Tomb Raider Definitive Survivor Trilogy worth buying on PS5?
Yes, for most players. The bundle includes all three Survivor games and their DLC at a lower combined price than buying separately, and each game runs with improved load times and resolution on PS5.
Q: Do I need to play the trilogy in order?
Yes. The story follows Lara's growth from Yamatai through Siberia to Peru, and each game assumes familiarity with traversal tools introduced earlier, so release order gives the smoothest experience.
Q: Does the PS5 version include all DLC?
The collection includes the Definitive Edition content for each game, covering expansions like Baba Yaga, Blood Ties, Endurance mode, and Shadow's season of additional adventures.
Q: Is there a high-difficulty challenge for experienced players?
Yes. Rise offers Extreme Survivor, and Shadow features Deadly Obsession with manual campfire saving and very scarce resources, both aimed at veteran raiders.