Tomb Raider Definitive Edition Walkthrough Guide

Introduction

If you own the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition or the Tomb Raider PS4 remaster and you want to make the most of Lara Croft’s dramatic origin story, this Tomb Raider Definitive Edition walkthrough is built for you. Whether you’re chasing every collectible, grinding for achievements, or just trying to survive the island’s brutal encounters, this guide blends clear step-by-step instructions, combat tips, puzzle solutions, and exploration strategies. Expect helpful examples, base camp tips, and a focus on the definitive edition features like improved graphics and controls so you can enjoy both the story and the challenge tombs.

1. What the Definitive Edition Adds — Quick Overview

The Definitive Edition brings Tomb Raider 2013 into modern shape. If you’re coming from the original release, the remaster offers:

• Graphics upgrade: polished textures, better lighting and smoother frame rates on PS4 and current platforms.
• Improved controls: refined aiming and camera behavior that benefits combat and platforming.
• All DLC and challenge tombs: extra maps, outfits and tombs included so you can go after collectibles and achievements in one package.

Using this walkthrough, you’ll learn how to use the definitive edition features to your advantage, especially when tackling the tougher combat encounters and environmental puzzles.

2. Getting Started — Controls, Base Camp, and Skill Tree Basics

Before you run headlong into battle, spend time with Lara’s base camp and the skill tree. The early hours shape your experience.

• Master the updated controls: practice climbing, mantle ledges, and quick-swap weapons in safe areas. The remaster smooths camera transitions, but timing is still crucial.
• Base camp priorities: use every base camp to craft ammo, upgrade your bow and firearms, and absorb story beats. Base camps are safe zones to respec or grind materials.
• Skill tree focus: prioritize survival and stealth early. Invest in health upgrades, composite bow skills, and stealth takedowns before heavy weaponry.

Tip: If you plan to collect everything, unlock skills that expand your exploration abilities early—like the rope tool and stamina boosts. These make reaching hidden collectibles and challenge tombs significantly easier.

3. Combat Tips and Survival Guide

Combat in Tomb Raider Definitive Edition is designed to be tense. You’re often outnumbered and need to combine stealth with aggressive play. Here’s a compact survival guide with combat tips:

• Use stealth where possible: perform stealth takedowns to thin groups before direct firefights. The cover system and tall grass remain your best friends.
• Bow first: the bow is silent and can be upgraded for explosive or fire arrows. Aim for headshots to down enemies quietly. Upgrading fire or explosive arrows helps clear clusters without wasting ammo.
• Environmental kills: lure enemies near destructible objects like wooden scaffolds or oil barrels. Triggering the environment saves ammo and counts toward scores in challenge tomb timed runs.
• Switch weapons smartly: keep a fast-firing weapon and a powerful single-shot sidearm. The remaster’s improved weapon balance rewards tactical switching.
• Heal smart: craft medkits at base camps and during fights when conditions allow. Don’t panic-heal; find cover first.

Example encounter strategy: When dealing with a mid-sized gang near a cliff, use the bow to take down snipers, stealth-takedown the isolated patrol, then use explosive arrows for groups by aiming at wooden supports. Finish with a shotgun blast from cover if enemies rush you.

4. Exploration, Collectibles, and Challenge Tombs

Exploration is one of Tomb Raider’s most rewarding elements. The Definitive Edition includes all ancient challenge tombs and collectibles from the DLC, so thorough exploration pays off.

• Collectibles to prioritize: relics, documents, maps, and inscriptions. Relics boost your research tier; documents unlock lore and side objectives that may reveal puzzle hints.
• How to find hidden areas: look for subtle visual cues—moss patterns, breakable walls, and light shafts. Use the focus mechanic to highlight climbable or destructible items.
• Challenge tomb strategies: these are smaller puzzle-combat hybrid areas with time or reward incentives. Practice the parkour sequence first, learn the puzzle pattern, then re-run for collectibles or challenge scores.
• Map use: keep an eye on the in-game map. Unvisited nodes often indicate side caves or tombs. Use the compass and the map’s zoom to mark probable locations for return visits when you have necessary tools.

Tip: Some collectibles are gated behind specific upgrades—rope arrows, longer stamina, or stronger bow. If you’re missing items on your first run, mark the area and return after a few skill investments.

5. Puzzle Solutions and Environmental Tricks

Puzzles in the Definitive Edition are logical but sometimes require precise timing or multi-step solutions. Here are common puzzle types and practical solutions.

• Weight and pressure puzzles: use movable objects to balance pressure plates. If a plate must remain engaged, use a crate or trigger an environmental event that keeps it down.
• Light and mirror puzzles: look for reflective surfaces and light sources. Rotate mirrors or reposition lenses by solving platforming segments or pulling levers in a specific order.
• Timed sequences: memorize the sequence, clear the area of enemies, then perform the run. Use checkpoints inside challenge tombs strategically to avoid repeating tricky platforming.
• Multi-room puzzles: complete smaller sub-puzzles to unlock the main mechanism. If stuck, backtrack to earlier rooms to check for missed switches or hidden pathways.

Example puzzle walkthrough: In a tomb where you must raise water to float a platform, first drain surrounding areas to expose valves, then climb to access the control wheel. If platforms move too fast, use timed jumps at the highest camera view to better judge distances.

6. Achievements, Challenges, and Endgame Tips

If you’re an achievement hunter or want 100% completion, follow these endgame tips. The Definitive Edition’s included challenge tombs and DLC mean more targets for completionists.

• Plan your playthrough: decide whether you want to complete everything in one run or reserve clean-up in New Game Plus. Some achievements require specific difficulty settings or must be done in a single playthrough.
• Replay tombs: use the map to replay challenge tombs. Many challenges reward optional collectibles and offer timed leaderboards; practice the route and optimize movement.
• Use New Game Plus: it’s useful for redoing the story with all upgrades retained, making it easier to reach unreachable collectibles or tackle challenges quickly.
• Watch for missable achievements: some collectibles are only available during certain story beats. Save before key moments if you want to avoid missing them.

Tip: If you want the best visuals while keeping performance, use the definitive edition’s balanced settings—prioritize steady frame rate over ultra-high fidelity for smoother combat.

7. Platform Notes and Troubleshooting

While this walkthrough focuses on gameplay, a few platform-specific notes help you avoid technical headaches.

• Tomb Raider PS4 and remasters: the PS4 version runs well but make sure your system is updated to reduce crashes. Save regularly, especially before entering large combat zones.
• Control sensitivity: tweak sensitivity in options to match your muscle memory—especially aim and camera speed. Definitive edition features refined input but personal preference matters.
• Performance fixes: if you encounter frame drops, lower shadow quality or motion blur. These adjustments can significantly improve responsiveness during combat and platforming.

Example fix: If aiming feels floaty during siege fights, reduce camera smoothing and increase aim assist slightly. This brings tactile feedback closer to classic Tomb Raider pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is this Tomb Raider Definitive Edition walkthrough suitable for beginners?

A1: Yes. The walkthrough explains basic controls, survival strategies, and puzzle logic in simple terms. Beginners will find step-by-step tips on stealth, bow usage, and base camp priorities to ease into the game.

Q2: Are all challenge tombs covered in the Definitive Edition?

A2: The Definitive Edition bundles the base game and all released DLC including challenge tombs. This walkthrough points out how to access them, when to revisit them, and strategies for completing timed runs and collecting hidden relics.

Q3: Which skills should I unlock first for a balanced run?

A3: For a balanced run, prioritize health upgrades, stealth takedown enhancements, bow damage and then weapon swap speed. Crafting skills that increase resource gain are also high priority for collectibles and survival.

Q4: Can I get all collectibles in one playthrough?

A4: Many collectibles are reachable in a single playthrough, but a few are gated behind specific tools or story beats. Use the map to mark areas you can’t access yet and return after unlocking essential skills or tools.

Q5: Do I need to play on a higher difficulty for full enjoyment?

A5: Difficulty is personal. Higher difficulty increases challenge and may unlock achievements, but the story and puzzle enjoyment remains strong on standard settings. If you like combat tests and perfecting runs for leaderboards, increase difficulty after your first run.

Conclusion

This Tomb Raider Definitive Edition walkthrough aims to be your practical companion while you experience Lara Croft’s origin: a mix of survival guide clarity, combat tips, exploration strategies, and puzzle solutions. Use the guide to prioritize base camp upgrades, master the improved controls, and methodically collect relics and challenge tomb rewards. Whether you’re chasing achievements, replaying the Tomb Raider PS4 remaster for the visuals upgrade, or tackling every puzzle, these tactics will streamline your progress and make the island feel less hostile and more conquerable. Happy hunting—Lara’s story rewards patience, creativity, and a little steady aim.