Tomb Raider Definitive Edition is a surprise port that recently arrived on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Since it was released quietly, many of us expected it to be a mess. Instead, it turned out to be a competent port with solid performance. Even so, there are a few drawbacks worth pointing out.
While Tomb Raider Definitive Edition runs fine on the Switch 1 because it is an older game, more than a decade old, originally released on PS3 and Xbox 360, it does not get much benefit from the jump to Switch 2. The developers upgraded the visuals on PS4 years ago, and we have already seen several Switch 2 titles that look far more impressive, including Cyberpunk 2077. Tomb Raider Definitive Edition ends up somewhere in the middle. It is better than the PS3 version in some ways, but it is also clearly below the PS4 release.
The most noticeable visual change is the hair simulation. The original TressFX hair seen on AMD hardware has been scaled back to the older, simpler hair model on both Switch systems. Other visual settings have also been reduced, including shadows, overall resolution, and post-processing effects. The upside is that the game now runs at a locked 60 FPS, which makes the experience much smoother.
Tomb Raider Definitive Edition was essentially a full reboot of the series, placing Lara Croft on a deserted island where she faces both supernatural threats and human enemies. It was a standout release at the time and still holds up today. The gameplay combines platforming with third-person action similar to Uncharted, and it delivers on both fronts. This gameplay translates well to the Nintendo Switch 2.
One part of the game that confused me was the mouse mode hint. The game suggests that mouse controls are supported, which caught me off guard, but it only works in the menus. There is no mouse support for aiming or weapons, which feels like an odd decision. They either should have removed the feature or made it fully functional. Still, this is something that could be corrected with a future patch.
The main progression system in the game is built around a skill tree. The story includes plenty of QTEs, but it is a strictly linear adventure. Failing some of these quick time events often leads to brutal death scenes for Lara, and I was glad to see the violence was not toned down. There are also a few puzzles that blend platforming with combat, and they reminded me a lot of the Uncharted series.
One pleasant surprise is the inclusion of the multiplayer mode. It was part of the original release, but I did not expect it to return in the Switch and Switch 2 versions. It is a very simple take on Uncharted-style multiplayer with a small set of maps, yet it is still a fun way to spend some time. Matchmaking worked smoothly, though there was some lag with other players, but I still enjoyed revisiting it after more than a decade.
Overall, this is a decent port, but not without flaws. The good news is that the core game is still a lot of fun, and the multiplayer mode adds extra replay value. The launch discount also makes the price appealing. If you have never played the Tomb Raider series before, this is a good place to start, and I am sure the other entries will make their way to the system as well.
Tomb Raider Definitive Edition on Switch 2 delivers a buttery 60 FPS but baffles with "definitive" downgrades. Missing TressFX hair and broken mouse support make it feel less like a next-gen showcase and more like a confused, albeit playable, relic. It’s a competent port that tragically underutilizes the new hardware.
