Rise of the Tomb Raider remains one of the most discussed entries of the modern Tomb Raider era, and its 20 Year Celebration edition has now reached Nintendo's handheld audience.
Developed originally by Crystal Dynamics, Rise first launched as an Xbox timed exclusive on November 10, 2015, arrived on Windows in January 2016, and was released on PlayStation 4 as the 20 Year Celebration edition in October 2016.
Since Square Enix sold the Tomb Raider franchise to Embracer Group in 2022, publishers and studios have focused on bringing legacy Tomb Raider titles to current platforms and storefronts such as the Nintendo eShop.
The 20 Year Celebration edition bundles the main campaign with the single-player DLC that had been released up to the PlayStation 4 launch.
Reviewers of the Switch port note that the package preserves that content set: all previously released DLC is included, and the port closely mirrors the PlayStation 4 base-level visual presentation.
Critics writing on the release wrote that the port “delivers the full 20 Year Celebration package” while running at a consistent 30 frames per second in docked play and targeting a 1080p output when docked.
On features, the port adds system-specific touches reviewers highlighted: HD Rumble support, gyro-assisted controls for examining collectibles, and an option for enhanced pointer control using Joy-Con 2 Mouse functionality.
One review summarized this pragmatically, saying the port “gets the job done better than the earlier Switch definitive edition,” while also noting the team prioritized fidelity to the PS4-era presentation over chasing higher frame-rate modes.
Gameplay and content remain true to the title’s reputation.
Rise follows the 2013 reboot’s hub-and-spoke structure—moving between large set-piece locations, mixing action, stealth, puzzles, light survival and crafting systems, and enhanced character progression.
The Expeditions suite of modes is intact, with Score Attack and Remnant Resistance cited as meaningful post-campaign additions that extend replayability through challenge runs and user-created scenarios.
Verdict from the review coverage: for players who enjoyed Tomb Raider (2013) on Nintendo hardware, Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration is a worthwhile follow-up on Switch.
It represents the Survivor-era design at one of its stronger points and brings the full DLC roster to Nintendo players, even if some performance trade-offs were made to preserve visual quality.
Version tested: Nintendo Switch.
Review copy provided by Aspyr.
Developed originally by Crystal Dynamics, Rise first launched as an Xbox timed exclusive on November 10, 2015, arrived on Windows in January 2016, and was released on PlayStation 4 as the 20 Year Celebration edition in October 2016.
Since Square Enix sold the Tomb Raider franchise to Embracer Group in 2022, publishers and studios have focused on bringing legacy Tomb Raider titles to current platforms and storefronts such as the Nintendo eShop.
The 20 Year Celebration edition bundles the main campaign with the single-player DLC that had been released up to the PlayStation 4 launch.
Reviewers of the Switch port note that the package preserves that content set: all previously released DLC is included, and the port closely mirrors the PlayStation 4 base-level visual presentation.
Critics writing on the release wrote that the port “delivers the full 20 Year Celebration package” while running at a consistent 30 frames per second in docked play and targeting a 1080p output when docked.
On features, the port adds system-specific touches reviewers highlighted: HD Rumble support, gyro-assisted controls for examining collectibles, and an option for enhanced pointer control using Joy-Con 2 Mouse functionality.
One review summarized this pragmatically, saying the port “gets the job done better than the earlier Switch definitive edition,” while also noting the team prioritized fidelity to the PS4-era presentation over chasing higher frame-rate modes.
Gameplay and content remain true to the title’s reputation.
Rise follows the 2013 reboot’s hub-and-spoke structure—moving between large set-piece locations, mixing action, stealth, puzzles, light survival and crafting systems, and enhanced character progression.
The Expeditions suite of modes is intact, with Score Attack and Remnant Resistance cited as meaningful post-campaign additions that extend replayability through challenge runs and user-created scenarios.
Verdict from the review coverage: for players who enjoyed Tomb Raider (2013) on Nintendo hardware, Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration is a worthwhile follow-up on Switch.
It represents the Survivor-era design at one of its stronger points and brings the full DLC roster to Nintendo players, even if some performance trade-offs were made to preserve visual quality.
Version tested: Nintendo Switch.
Review copy provided by Aspyr.
