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// Shadow of the Tomb Raider(2018)

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About Shadow of the Tomb Raider
As Lara Croft races to save the world from a Maya apocalypse, she must become the Tomb Raider she is destined to be.
Release Date
Sep 14, 2018
Developers
Eidos Montréal
Publisher
Square Enix
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Shadow of the Tomb Raider FAQ & buying guide

Is Shadow of the Tomb Raider worth buying?

Steam
84.67% positive
'Very Positive', 86,233 reviews
Metacritic
77
Critics (IGDB)
80/100
17 critics

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What is Shadow of the Tomb Raider about?

In the two months since Rise of the Tomb Raider, Lara Croft and her friend Jonah Maiava have dedicated themselves to stopping the activities of paramilitary organization Trinity. The two track a cell to Cozumel in Mexico that is led by Pedro Dominguez, the head of Trinity's High Council. Slipping inside nearby tombs being excavated by Trinity, Lara discovers a temple containing the Dagger of Chak Chel and references to a hidden city. Murals adorning the walls allude to the Silver Box of Ix Chel and warn of "the Cleansing", a Mayan apocalypse culminating in a permanent solar eclipse. Lara ignores the warnings and takes the Dagger to prevent Trinity from acquiring it. Dominguez catches her and reveals that by taking the Dagger, Lara has triggered the Cleansing. He takes the Dagger, intending to unite it with the Box to stop the Cleansing and use the power it grants him to remake the world in his image. Lara and Jonah escape a tsunami that destroys Cozumel and foreshadows the coming apocalypse. Despite growing tensions between them over her actions, Lara and Jonah pursue Dominguez into the Amazon. Their plane crashes in the Peruvian jungle during the second cataclysm—a massive storm—and the two find their way to Paititi, the hidden city shown in the murals. Exploring local tombs reveals that piercing the Box with the Dagger will grant the user the power of the god Kukulkan, which must be used to halt the Cleansing. Lara witnesses Trinity soldiers being slaughtered by strange humanoid monsters later identified as the Yaaxil, guardians of the Box. When Lara saves a boy named Etzli, she and Jonah are brought into Paititi by his mother Unuratu, queen of the city. Lara sees Dominguez is the leader of a cult dedicated to Kukulkan and Unuratu reveals he is her brother-in-law Amaru, who was taken by Trinity as a child and raised to complete the ritual and reshape the world in their image. Unuratu directs Lara to the Box, but Lara finds it is missing. Believing the cult already has the Box, Lara, and Unuratu attempt to steal it, but Unuratu is captured. Lara also encounters the Yaaxil and their leader Crimson Fire. Lara infiltrates the cult's temple and overhears Amaru telling Unuratu that the Box was hidden by Andres Lopez, a missionary sent to Paititi by Trinity during the Spanish conquest of South America. Lara rescues Unuratu and realizes that Amaru does not fully understand the ritual; rather than merely imbuing Kukulkan's power, the ritual sacrifices it to stop the Cleansing. Unuratu is shot by Commander Rourke, Amaru's second in command. Before she dies, Unuratu implores Lara to complete the ritual but warns her not to let the Box influence her. Rourke attacks Lara and Jonah, who are separated as they leave Paititi to decipher the next clue. Thinking Jonah dead, Lara goes on a rampage that destroys an oil refinery and slaughters everyone there except Rourke, who escapes. She momentarily breaks down when she finds Jonah alive, but he manages to calm her, and they decipher the Box's location. Driven mad by the Box, Lopez established a mission near Paititi where he trained acolytes to complete the ritual. Lara and Jonah find a secret catacomb beneath the missiong leading to Lopez's tomb and the Box. Amaru finds them and forces Lara to surrender the Box. He admits that he ordered her father's death to prevent him from finding Paititi and revealing it to the world. Lara tries to persuade Amaru to use the ritual to benefit the world. He refuses, as the Cleansing will only affect Paititi. Amaru has used his position in Trinity to manipulate them into preventing it. He leaves Lara and Jonah to escape the third cataclysm, a massive earthquake that causes a landslide and destroys the mission. Back in Paititi, Lara and Jonah help the newly-crowned Etzli lead an assault on an underground temple complex at Paititi's center. They plan to disrupt Amaru's ceremony while avoiding the fourth cataclysm, a volcanic eruption threatening Paititi. Lara is forced to go on alone when Trinity cuts off Etzli's forces. She encounters the Yaaxil and Crimson Fire, convincing them to help her stop Amaru. Lara takes on the symbolic role of Ix Chel while Crimson Fire becomes Chak Chel. While the Yaaxil kill Rourke and the Trinity High Council, Lara makes it to the temple summit. She fails to stop Amaru from piercing the Box and absorbing Kukulkan's power as an eclipse blocks the sun. Lara overpowers Amaru after a lengthy battle; accepting defeat, he transfers Kukulkan's power to Lara as he dies. True to Unuratu's warning, she is tempted to use the Box to revive her parents, but instead lets Crimson Fire symbolically stab her, sacrificing Kukulkan's spirit and stopping the Cleansing. In the aftermath, Unuratu is laid to rest, and Jonah decides to take a vacation. Lara stays in Paititi to help Etzli restore the city to its former glory. A post-credits scene shows Lara planning her next adventure at Croft Manor, acknowledging that her role is not to solve the world's mysteries, but to protect them.

AdventureActionFemale ProtagonistSingleplayerOpen WorldThird PersonStory RichPuzzle

Game modes: Single player, Co-operative

Quick answers

What is the cheapest place to buy Shadow of the Tomb Raider?

Right now the lowest price for Shadow of the Tomb Raider we're tracking is $5.16 at Kinguin — 87% below Steam's $39.99. We compare 3 stores and prices refresh every few minutes.

What is the lowest price Shadow of the Tomb Raider has ever been?

The lowest price we've recorded for Shadow of the Tomb Raider is $2.41 at Instant Gaming on June 8, 2026. The current best price is about 114% above that low.

Is Shadow of the Tomb Raider worth buying?

85% of 86,233 Steam user reviews for Shadow of the Tomb Raider are positive ("Very Positive"). It also holds a Metacritic score of 77.

When was Shadow of the Tomb Raider released?

Shadow of the Tomb Raider released on September 14, 2018, developed by Eidos Montréal, Crystal Dynamics and published by Square Enix.

What platforms is Shadow of the Tomb Raider available on?

Shadow of the Tomb Raider is available on Google Stadia, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Mac, Xbox One. It supports single player, co-operative.

When do Shadow of the Tomb Raider prices drop?

Shadow of the Tomb Raider last hit a new low of $2.41 on June 8, 2026 at Instant Gaming. Current best price is $5.16. Prices on this page refresh every few minutes, so check back around seasonal sales for new lows.

Where's the cheapest place to buy Shadow of the Tomb Raider?

The cheapest Shadow of the Tomb Raider price right now is $5.16 at Kinguin, 87% below the Steam price.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider price comparison across stores
StoreDiscountPriceBuy link
KinguinBest price$5.16Buy Shadow of the Tomb Raider at Kinguin
Gamivo$5.34Buy Shadow of the Tomb Raider at Gamivo
Steam$39.99Buy Shadow of the Tomb Raider at Steam

All-time low: $2.41 at Instant Gaming on Jun 8, 2026 — the current best price is 114% above it.

Prices in USD, refreshed every few minutes. Switch currency on this page for EUR/GBP/BRL and more.