Shadow of the Tomb Raider is a classic action-adventure game that continues the 2015 Rise of the Tomb Raider narrative. Developed by Eidos-Montreal and published by Square Enix Europe, this game was released in 2019 for PlayStation 4, Windows, Linux, macOS, Stadia, and Xbox One. The story follows the main character, Lara Croft, as she explores the Americas to the city of Paititi. Lara must traverse semi-open environments and battle the Trinity. The Trinity is a paramilitary organization on a mission to stop a Mayan apocalypse.
Premise of Shadow of the Tomb Raider
As an action-adventure video game, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the player will combat enemies, hunt wild animals, and solve puzzles. The game is played through a third-person perspective and has had some revisions made from the previous titles in the series. A few additions and revisions include Lara’s ability to hold her breath for extended periods of time underwater. Lara can also now rappel down cliffs and camouflage herself from enemies. Compared to the other games, the gameplay mechanics are nearly identical, with players able to hunt, craft, and pursue side quests throughout the game.
Main Characters
Lara Croft: Marin character and archeologist in the midst of becoming a hardened survivalist and combatant.
Samantha Nishimura: Lara’s best friend and American filmmaker Samantha serves as a translator and director.
Jonah Maiava: American cook and ships dogsbody of the Endurance.
Jacob: Also called the deathless prophet of Constanople Jacob used the Divine Source to inspire a religious movement.
Ana: Senior agent of the Trinity
Yaaxil: Protector goddesses
Crimson Fire: A Yaaxil priestess.
Titles in the Tomb Raider Series
The list of Tomb Raider titles in the series is a long one, with each beautifully crafted.
- Tomb Raider (1996)
- Tomb Raider II (1997)
- Tomb Raider III (1998)
- Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)
- Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000)
- Tomb Raider: Curse of the Sword (2001)
- Tomb Raider: The Prophecy (2002)
- Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003)
- Tomb Raider: Legend (2006)
- Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007)
- Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008)
- Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (2010)
- Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris (2014)
- Lara Croft Go (2015)
- Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015)
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018)
- Tomb Raider Reloaded (2023)
- Lara Croft Collection (2023)
Shadow of the Tomb Raider Cheats
Getting the Lockpick and Rope Ascender
The Lockpick and Rope Ascender are unlockable gadgets. The Rope Ascender allows you to destroy heavy barriers. The lockpick allows you to open locked Conquistador treasure chests. These items are optional gear that you do not need to complete the main story. However, if you want to access every area and complete all puzzles, you will need them. To purchase both of them, play the “Find Takiy’s Dice” side mission in The Hidden City.
The side mission starts in The Hidden City (Paititi). There is a boy sitting at the foot of the hill, close to the market square. Talk to him (Takiy), and he will tell you a dead man stole his dice. Lara will agree to look out for the dead man and get back the dice from him. The side mission requires you to talk to five outcasts. After talking to the first four, the fifth one will get marked on the map. She is a vendor that sells the two gadgets. They can be bought from her for a total of 6,100 gold. You may have noticed locked treasure chests early in the game that required lockpicks. You can fast travel back to those locations after completing the story and unlock the treasure chests.
Getting the Reinforced Knife
The Reinforced Knife is an unlockable gadget upgrade that allows you to cut through rope barriers. This item is optional gear that you do not need to complete the main story. However, if you want to access every area and complete all puzzles, you will need it. You can buy it from a merchant in The Hidden City (Paititi). The vendor is found in the market square (north of the bridge to the Upper City). The item to buy from her is called “Knife Upgrade” and costs 2,900 gold. Alternately, find an NPC on some stairs in the Upper City to begin the “Stay of Execution” side quest. Successfully complete the quest to unlock the Reinforced Knife upgrade.
All story puzzle solutions
The following video shows a walkthrough of all puzzles in the main story. These are the ones you need to solve to progress in the main story.
All Challenge Tombs locations and solutions
The following video shows a walkthrough of all nine Challenge Tombs in the game. None of the tombs are missable. They can all be completed in free-roam mode after the story. No extra gadgets are required for them; they can all be done as soon as you reach their respective area through story progression. The goal is to reach the stele (small statue) at the end of the tombs. Each tomb unlocks a new skill — so they are also required to get all skills in one category for the “Specialized” trophy.
All outfits/costumes showcase
The video below shows what all outfits/costumes/armor sets in Shadow of The Tomb Raider look like, including Croft Edition, Vestige, and rewards for completing the previous Tomb Raider games. There are 34 total outfits in the base game. Three outfits are from buying the Croft Edition (the special version that includes the season pass). Ten are “Vestige Outfits” that you get from side quests, crypts, and merchants (need to be restored at base camps for resources). Seventeen are from completing previous Tomb Raider games and general story progression in Shadow of The Tomb Raider. One is from a wandering merchant. Three are from New Game+ mode.
Easy “Chain Gang” trophy
This trophy is missable because there are no enemies after the story, and it only works in certain story sections. Serpent’s Fury is a skill (green) that can be bought at base camps. First, buy “Serpent’s Strike” (one skill point), and then “Serpent’s Fury” (two skill points). To perform the move, you must stealth kill two enemies standing next to each other. Quickly press Triangle repeatedly and Lara will jump from the first enemy to the second, killing both of them. It is fine if other enemies spot you doing this, just to initiate the move you have to be unseen. Repeat this on three pairs of enemies to get the “Chain Gang” trophy.
Easy “First Blood” trophy
This trophy is missable because there are no enemies after the story, and it only works in certain story sections. Shortly after reaching Kuwaq Yaku (Mission: Path of The Living, Objective: Infiltrate the Porvenir Camp), during the second enemy encounter, there will be a mud patch on the floor with a tutorial text showing above it. Press Square to cover Lara in mud. Then, proceed to the next waypoint. There will be a group of enemies and a mud wall. Lean against the mud wall and kill one of the enemies walking by to get the “First Blood” trophy. This only works when Lara is covered Lara in mud.
Easy “Gunslinger” trophy
This trophy is missable because there are no enemies after the story, and it only works in certain story sections. A good place to do this at is the second enemy encounter in the game, shortly after escaping the big cave in Cozumel (Mission: Hunter’s Moon, Region: Cozumel, Objective: Get through the Dig Site). There are three enemies standing around a forklift. Equip the pistol and stand behind the single enemy near the bushes. Then, shoot them from right to left, all headshots within three seconds, to get the “Gunslinger” trophy. An autosave is created after killing them.
Therefore, it is highly recommended to keep a separate save slot before this section. This allows you to reload it from the main menu, in case you fail and need to try again. In that case, make sure after reloading a save to immediately save in another slot again (the game always overwrites the selected slot with an autosave). If you fail in this section, you can also move on to the next objective. Lara will slide down to an enemy base where three enemies stand in front of her. You can restart the checkpoint in this area to try again.
Easy “Como Te Llama” trophy
You can find five llamas in The Hidden City (Paititi). One is in front of “Unuratu’s Home” base camp. One is close to it at the hillside (corner of the map). Two are at the market square in town. Another is between the houses, up the hill southwest of the market square. You can also find two of them in the “Mission of San Juan” area in the stables. Press Triangle to pet them. It has to be five different llamas to get the “Como Te Llama” trophy.
Easy “Playing With Fire” trophy
This trophy is missable because there are no enemies after the story, and it only works in certain story sections. You need an enemy section with a bottle. The bottle can be picked up and crafted into a Molotov cocktail. Then, throw it at two enemies standing close together. A good place to do this at is the second enemy encounter in the game, shortly after escaping the big cave in Cozumel (Mission: Hunter’s Moon, Region: Cozumel, Objective: Get through the Dig Site). There are three enemies standing around a forklift. On the forklift are some bottles. Hold RB to craft one into a Molotov, then throw it at the two enemies standing close together to get the “Playing with Fire” trophy.
Easy “Surprise!” trophy
This trophy is missable because there are no enemies after the story, and it only works in certain story sections. You automatically unlock the Eagle’s Talon skill through story progression. You can then climb on tree branches and hold Y to fire a Rope Arrow into an unsuspecting enemy, hoisting them up and killing them. Only one body can be suspended from a branch. After you unlock the skill, you are forced to perform one kill with it. Do this in any stealth section with enemies. A good place to do this is during Mission: Path of The Living, Region: Kuwaq Yaku, Objective: Return to Kuwaq Yaku. You can farm kills using checkpoint restart.
Easy “Thanksgiving” trophy
First, buy the “Serpent’s Glint” (green) skill to unlock the Flare Round attachment for the pistol. Then, fast travel to the “Mission of San Juan”, Base Camp “Ruined Tower” region. There are four turkeys running around the base camp in this area. Search around the ruined tower, as you may have to walk around a little bit before they spawn (they are usually sitting in the bushes and start running when you go near). Shoot a turkey with the pistol’s flare round to get the “Thanksgiving” trophy. Note: When you acquire this skill, you automatically get a few flare rounds, but they can also be crafted. You can change your save slot before doing this and reload it to get the skill points back.
Easy “Total Party Kill” trophy
This trophy is missable because there are no enemies after the story, and it only works in certain story sections. This trophy requires the “Jaguar’s Fear” skill (Warrior skill tree). It is automatically unlocked during the story. After unlocking it, there will be a tutorial on how to use it. You can simply farm the kills during the tutorial using checkpoint restart. Use D-pad Up to select the bow and hold R1 to craft Fear Arrows. It requires a Silent Arrow, Cloth, and Dart Poison. These arrows cause enemies to frenzy and turn on each other. The enemy you hit with a Fear Arrow will start shooting other enemies around him, resulting in “friendly fire.”
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Edios Montreal.