After last year’s Tomb Raider (2013) port for Nintendo’s hybrid consoles, Aspyr has surprise-dropped Rise of the Tomb Raider on Nintendo Switch 2. How does the flashier sequel fare?
Back in 2016, Rise of the Tomb Raider immediately felt like a technological jump when compared to the first entry in Lara Croft’s ‘Survivor Trilogy’, which makes this re-release a more interesting one to look into. This time around, the first Switch console has been left out (even if there was a 360 version of Rise that could’ve been adapted nicely), and Aspyr squarely focused on delivering a graphically stunning action-adventure game that holds up a decade later to Switch 2.
Overall, it’s a perfectly fine port which launches in a better state than Tomb Raider’s conversion (which has received improvements since its launch), but on the technical side, many players will probably feel it’s a tad too conservative. Scroll down for our hands-on impressions of Rise of the Tomb Raider’s Switch 2 performance, graphics, and unique features.
Rise of the Tomb Raider Switch 2 performance
The good news is that Rise of the Tomb Raider holds steady at 30 FPS on Nintendo Switch 2 even if there are occasional stutters during some transitions that are likely tied to the engine, as they’re also present on other versions of the game, especially the PS4 and Xbox One releases, which are the ones being adapted here.
This alone is a more satisfying and consistent output than the game’s original console release. Think of Rise of the Tomb Raider’s Switch 2 port as a more refined and sturdier version of what you got on last-gen consoles. Load times are super fast, too.
The “but” here is there’s no option to uncap the framerate or target even 40 FPS on the console’s 120Hz screen and TVs up to the task. We know Steam Deck can consistently deliver a 60 FPS experience on the PC version’s Medium preset, yet it appears Aspyr prioritised visuals and solid 30 FPS over the ability to reach higher targets with more visual cutbacks. The game handles perfectly fine in its current state, but everyone will agree shooting (especially without aim assistance) would shine with a Performance mode of sorts that dials things down a bit in exchange for at least 40 FPS.
Rise of the Tomb Raider Switch 2 graphics
Fortunately, Rise of the Tomb Raider’s presentation on Switch 2 generally makes up for the lack of a more ambitious mode. Even more than ten years later, the character models look nice, the lighting inside caves impresses, and the work done on ruined environments rivals that of the Uncharted series. Crystal Dynamics did a stellar job with Rise’s presentation, and it doesn’t take a hit in its Switch 2 release, which runs at 1080p both docked and in handheld mode, albeit without an HDR option.
Another key detail that’s been perfectly preserved is the hair TressFX tech which was recently added to Tomb Raider ‘13 (only on Switch 2). In Rise, it was more extensively used, and it still impresses after all these years with no visual oddities.
Not as impressive is the snow tech (particularly noticeable during the game’s opening section), which appears to be dialled down from the original presentation, or the aliasing which makes the more detailed distant environments appear jagged when in motion. I wouldn’t be surprised to see snow get an upgrade in a future patch, and the latter issue could be cleaned up with DLSS implementation that replaces the port’s basic anti-aliasing or upscaling solution; DLSS could also help it reach a higher framerate target.
Rise of the Tomb Raider Switch 2 content & unique features
Rise of the Tomb Raider on Switch 2 is selling for $29.99 (same recommended price as on other platforms currently), but it’s a loaded package that hasn’t sacrified anything from the previous 20 Year Celebration edition:
- All Season Pass Content & DLCs: Baba Yaga: The Temple of the Witch, Cold Darkness Awakened, Blood Ties, Lara’s Nightmare, Endurance Mode, and Co-op Endurance
- All Exclusives: 8 DLC Outfits and 7 DLC Weapons
- All Extras: 35 Expansion Cards, Extreme Survivor Difficulty, 5 Classic Lara Skins, and Tomb Raider III Reimagined “Antarctica” Outfit
The game has fully functional online features for leaderboards and challenges, as well as the co-op mode. Moreover, the full collection of additional content makes it the more replayable entry of the trilogy, all under 20GB on Nintendo Switch 2.
Perhaps the most satisfying and unique part of this version of Rise of the Tomb Raider is the addition of HD Rumble 2, which makes the hair-raising action stand out even when playing in portable mode, gyro aiming (as reliable as usual), and even Joy-Con 2 mouse controls (which would feel better with a higher framerate target, of course). There’s also a very limited touchscreen functionality, but it’s nice that Aspyr put as many option possibilities as possible into its second ‘Survivor Trilogy’ port.
While it’s clear Aspyr has taken some notes and put in more effort since Tomb Raider’s so-so late 2025 launch, Rise of the Tomb Raider’s conservative and ambition-less approach to its visuals and performance put it below the best Nintendo Switch 2 ports currently available. Anyone jumping in shouldn’t be disappointed, especially if they’re looking for all-new ways to enjoy a modern classic, but this is one of those releases a couple of chunky patches away from true greatness before Shadow of the Tomb Raider inevitably arrives.
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