Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is a 2018 action-adventure game developed by Eidos-Montréal and published by Square Enix. As the sequel to Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015), it is the twelfth mainline entry in the Tomb Raider series and the final installment of the Survivor trilogy. The story follows Lara Croft as she ventures through the tropical regions of the Americas to the legendary city of Paititi, battling the paramilitary organization Trinity while racing to stop a Mayan apocalypse she inadvertently unleashed. To survive, Lara must traverse treacherous environments and combat enemies using firearms and stealth across various semi-open hubs. In these areas, players can raid challenge tombs to unlock rewards, complete side missions, and scavenge for resources to craft essential gear. Because Crystal Dynamics shifted its focus to Marvel's Avengers (2020), Eidos-Montréal took over as the lead developer. Development began in 2015 following the completion of Rise of the Tomb Raider and lasted until July 2018. The game was designed to conclude the origin story that began in the 2013 reboot, centering on the theme of "descent"—both into the physical depths of the jungle and the darker aspects of Lara's personality. The setting and narrative were based on Mayan, Incan, and Aztec mythologies; the team consulted historians to authentically depict the architecture and people of Paititi, and conducted field trips to Machu Picchu and the Yucatán. Camilla Luddington returned to provide voice and motion-capture work for Lara. With an estimated budget of US$110–135 million, it remains one of the most expensive games ever made. The game was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in September 2018, followed by versions for Linux, macOS, and Stadia in November 2019. It received generally favorable reviews, though it was not as highly acclaimed as its predecessors. Critics praised the gameplay, level design, and the renewed emphasis on puzzles and challenge tombs, but some criticized the story, Lara’s characterization, the progression system, and a perceived lack of innovation. Despite a slow start, the game eventually sold over 8.9 million units worldwide and was expanded through several downloadable content releases. An animated television series, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, premiered on Netflix in 2024, and the next mainline entry, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is scheduled for release in 2027.