Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration Review (Switch 2)

Key Points:

• Aspyr has surprise-released Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration on the Nintendo Switch 2 during the June Nintendo Direct, following their earlier shadow drop of the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot on Switch 1 & 2.
• The port offers a solid experience with refined gameplay combining exploration, puzzle-solving, and set-piece action, along with all original DLC included, though it suffers a slight performance hit due to advanced graphics.
• The narrative centers on Lara Croft's Siberian expedition to find the Divine Source while facing off against the shadowy organization Trinity, featuring a memorable villain and satisfying character development.
• Gameplay highlights include challenging optional tombs with Zelda-like puzzles, dense hubs filled with collectibles, and rewarding exploration, though combat controls are stiff and less satisfying, especially during shooting sections using Joy-Con.
• The game runs smoothly at 1080p and 30fps on Switch 2, showcasing impressive visuals and environmental detail, though it lacks a 60fps mode; additional DLC content and modes add replay value to this complete edition.