The recently released Tomb Raider Definitive Edition has arrived on the Nintendo Switch 2, bringing the acclaimed 2013 reboot to a new generation of hardware. Despite launching twelve years after the PlayStation 4 version, the Switch 2 edition displays noticeable drawbacks, raising questions about the decisions behind this port. Although the game benefits from a higher resolution and a stable 60 frames per second, it still lags behind the visual quality seen on earlier consoles.
Tomb Raider Definitive Edition originally introduced players to a reimagined Lara Croft, following her transformation from an untested explorer into a resilient survivor after a shipwreck leaves her stranded on a perilous island. The game blends third-person combat, stealth, and survival, and its Definitive Edition package includes all previously released downloadable content. In a surprising move, the title launched without advance notice on November 18, 2025, arriving simultaneously for both the Nintendo Switch and the more powerful Switch 2 system.
While the Switch 2 version was expected to offer a clear technical leap due to the console’s stronger hardware, the results are mixed. The most striking compromises appear in the visual presentation. Hair rendering, shadow quality, vegetation density, and global lighting all show reduced fidelity when compared directly with the PS4 edition. There is, however, a small visual addition in the form of extra tree placements on Switch 2, though it does not meaningfully improve the overall presentation. Performance, on the other hand, is solid, with the game achieving a reliable 60fps that the PS4 release seldom maintained.
The port is still enjoyable to play, but it may not satisfy players who expected the Switch 2 to deliver a version that surpasses or even matches the standards set by the earlier console editions. It remains difficult to recommend this version, as it feels limited for hardware capable of running the game under far better conditions.
