Some games age gracefully. Others feel trapped in the era that produced them. Rise of the Tomb Raider belongs firmly in the first category. Released in 2015, Crystal Dynamics’ second chapter in Lara Croft’s modern origin trilogy remains one of the strongest action-adventure games of its generation. Now, thanks to Aspyr’s excellent Nintendo Switch 2 port, a whole new audience can experience Lara’s Siberian expedition without the compromises that held back previous Nintendo hardware.
The result is more than just another port. It feels like a celebration of a game that deserves to be remembered. Rise of the Tomb Raider was always a confident sequel, building on the foundations laid by the 2013 reboot and expanding nearly every aspect of the experience. The Switch 2 version preserves that achievement beautifully, delivering a complete package packed with content and backed by surprisingly impressive technical performance.
For Nintendo players who missed Lara’s journey the first time around, this is an easy recommendation. For returning adventurers, it is a welcome opportunity to revisit one of gaming’s greatest treasure hunts.
A Search for Truth in a Frozen Wilderness
The story picks up roughly a year after the traumatic events in Yamatai. Lara is no longer the inexperienced survivor who stumbled into danger. She is driven, obsessed and determined to prove that the supernatural discoveries she witnessed were real. Her search leads her to Siberia, where the legendary city of Kitezh and the mysterious Divine Source may hold answers that could change history.
What makes Rise of the Tomb Raider’s narrative work so well is its balance of spectacle and character development. The hunt for immortality and ancient secrets provides a compelling backdrop, but the real focus remains on Lara herself. She is still wrestling with loss, doubt and the weight of her family’s legacy. Her determination often borders on recklessness, making her feel human even as she performs increasingly extraordinary feats.
The antagonistic organisation Trinity serves as a capable adversary throughout the campaign. While some of its villains can feel a little one-dimensional, their presence creates constant tension and motivates Lara’s journey deeper into the wilderness. The story may not reinvent the adventure genre, but it delivers enough intrigue, mystery and emotional investment to keep players engaged from beginning to end.
Tomb Raiding at Its Best
While combat and cinematic storytelling attract plenty of attention, the true star of the show remains the tombs themselves. Rise of the Tomb Raider understands something many modern action games forget. Exploration is most rewarding when players feel clever. The optional challenge tombs scattered across the world are masterclasses in environmental puzzle design. Each one asks players to study their surroundings, experiment with mechanics and gradually uncover solutions through observation rather than hand-holding.
The satisfaction of solving a particularly elaborate puzzle remains as powerful today as it was at release. Whether manipulating ancient machinery, navigating collapsing structures or discovering hidden chambers buried beneath the snow, these moments capture the spirit of classic Tomb Raider better than almost anything else in the modern trilogy.
The world itself encourages curiosity. Large hub regions reward players who venture off the beaten track, uncovering hidden relics, survival caches, documents and secrets that flesh out the game’s rich mythology. Exploration rarely feels like busywork because there is almost always something interesting around the next corner.
Survival, Crafting and Stealth
The survival mechanics introduced in the reboot return here in a more refined form. Hunting animals for resources, gathering crafting materials and upgrading equipment all contribute to a satisfying sense of progression throughout the campaign.
Lara gradually evolves from a capable explorer into a formidable adventurer. New skills unlock abilities across the combat, survival and movement trees, allowing players to tailor progression to their preferred style. Some may focus on stealth and resource efficiency, while others may invest heavily in combat effectiveness.
Combat itself strikes a comfortable balance between action and strategy. Lara’s bow remains one of the most satisfying weapons in the game, particularly in stealth encounters. Silently eliminating enemies from the shadows before disappearing back into dense foliage creates a rewarding, predator-like rhythm that never grows old.
When situations inevitably descend into chaos, the gunplay still holds up remarkably well. Encounters feel dynamic thanks to varied enemy types, destructible environments and multiple approaches to every situation. While the combat is not revolutionary, it remains consistently entertaining throughout the adventure.
A Wealth of Content
One of this package’s greatest strengths is the sheer volume of content included. The 20 Year Celebration edition bundles every major expansion and piece of downloadable content into a single comprehensive collection. Baba Yaga: The Temple of the Witch remains a standout, offering a memorable side story steeped in supernatural mystery and some of the game’s most visually striking moments. Its blend of folklore and psychological horror creates an experience that feels distinct from the main campaign while still fitting naturally within the larger narrative.
Blood Ties offers something completely different. Exploring Croft Manor provides a quieter, more personal glimpse into Lara’s history and family struggles. It slows the pace considerably, yet those reflective moments add welcome emotional depth to the overall package.
The Endurance modes add further longevity for players seeking additional challenges. While not everyone will spend extensive time with these extras, their inclusion significantly boosts the value of an already generous offering.
Switch 2 Finally Does Lara Justice
Perhaps the biggest surprise is how well Rise of the Tomb Raider runs on the Nintendo Switch 2. Previous attempts to bring large-scale modern adventures to Nintendo hardware often involved painful compromises. Lower resolutions, inconsistent performance and reduced visual quality were frequently accepted as the cost of portability. Here, however, the experience feels remarkably close to contemporary console versions.
The snowy landscapes of Siberia remain breathtaking. Dense forests sway in the wind, ancient ruins emerge dramatically from the wilderness, and dynamic weather adds atmosphere throughout the journey. Character models look sharp, animations remain fluid, and environmental detail holds up impressively whether playing docked or handheld.
Load times are quick, performance remains stable, and the visual presentation rarely distracts from the experience. It is difficult not to appreciate how far portable hardware has come when exploring these vast environments from the comfort of a handheld system.
There are still occasional reminders that this is an older game. Certain animations show their age, and some open-world design conventions feel rooted in the previous generation. Yet these minor issues hardly diminish the overall experience.
An Adventure Worth Rediscovering
What makes Rise of the Tomb Raider special is not any single feature. It is how everything comes together. The exploration, combat, puzzle-solving and storytelling complement one another, creating an adventure that rarely loses momentum.
Lara Croft’s journey through Siberia remains thrilling, emotional and endlessly entertaining. The challenge tombs are among the best in the genre, the progression systems provide meaningful rewards, and the world constantly invites exploration. Even years after its original release, the game retains a sense of wonder that many newer titles struggle to capture.
The Nintendo Switch 2 version ensures that none of that magic is lost. Instead, it presents one of Lara’s greatest adventures in a package that feels complete and remarkably polished.
Final Verdict
Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration remains a shining example of how to build a blockbuster action-adventure. It expands meaningfully on its predecessor, delivering stronger exploration, richer environments and some of the finest puzzle tombs the series has produced. More importantly, it never loses sight of the sense of discovery at the heart of Lara Croft’s adventures.
The Nintendo Switch 2 port finally allows Nintendo players to experience this modern classic without significant compromises. Packed with expansions, bonus modes and dozens of hours of content, it stands as one of the strongest adventure titles currently available on the platform. Whether you’re discovering Kitezh for the first time or returning for another expedition, this is a journey well worth taking.
