Look, let’s be real. When Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics rebooted Lara Croft back in 2013, they didn't just give her a bow and some muddy pants. They created a gauntlet of quick-time events, brutal combat arenas, and environmental puzzles that still trip people up over a decade later. If you're looking for a walkthrough for tomb raider, you probably aren't stuck on the easy stuff. You’re likely stuck in the Shanty Town or wondering how the hell to get that last cache in Shipwreck Beach.
Yamatai is a nightmare. It’s a literal graveyard of ships and planes, and if you aren’t careful, Lara becomes part of the scenery. Most guides act like you’re a pro who never misses a headshot. I’m not gonna do that. We’re going to talk about the actual friction points—the stuff that makes you want to chuck your controller across the room.
The Early Game: Getting Your Bearings in the Coastal Forest
The beginning is basically one long cinematic tutorial. You’re cold, you’re bleeding, and you’ve just killed your first deer. Honestly, the biggest mistake players make here is rushing. You need salvage. You need a lot of it. See a crate? Smash it. See a hanging sack? Burn it.
The first real "wall" people hit is the Mountain Temple. This is where the stealth mechanics actually kick in. If you try to play this like Call of Duty, you’re going to die. A lot. The trick here isn't just killing the Solarii; it's understanding the verticality. Use the rooftops. The game wants you to feel desperate, but Lara is actually quite agile even this early on.
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Once you reach the Mountain Village, things open up. This is the central hub of the game. You'll return here several times with new gear, like the rope arrows or the climbing axe.
Pro Tip: Don't obsess over 100% completion on your first visit. You literally cannot get everything yet. You lack the gear. Just keep moving toward the radio tower.
Why the Radio Tower Climb is a Turning Point
The climb up the radio tower is one of those gaming moments people remember. It’s not hard mechanically—it's mostly just pushing "up"—but the atmosphere is heavy. This is where the walkthrough for tomb raider transitions from a survival horror vibe into a full-blown action blockbuster.
After the tower, everything goes sideways. The plane crash, the introduction of the Oni, and the realization that the Stormguard are real. This is where the combat difficulty spikes. You'll move into the Mountain Rendezvous, and suddenly, the enemies aren't just guys with machetes. They have armor. They have Molotovs.
Survival is About Upgrades, Not Just Skill
Let's talk about the gear. If you aren't prioritizing the right skills at the campfire, you're making the game twice as hard for yourself.
- Survivalist: Get this first. It gives you more rewards for looting animals and crates. It snowballs.
- Dodge Counter: Essential. Without this, the guys with shields in the later stages will absolutely wreck you.
- Paine Killer: Helps you take more damage. Self-explanatory.
Your bow is your best friend. Even after you get the rifle and the shotgun, the bow remains the most versatile tool in your kit. Fire arrows solve 90% of the puzzles and about 50% of your combat problems.
Navigating the Shanty Town Nightmare
If there is one place a walkthrough for tomb raider is truly needed, it’s the Shanty Town. This place is a mess. It’s an interconnected web of corrugated metal, mud, and traps. It’s also the first time the game throws massive waves of enemies at you in a non-linear space.
The ambush after you get the lighter is notorious.
You’ll be on a rooftop, and they’ll come from everywhere. Use the explosive barrels. Don't hoard your ammo here. Use the shotgun for anyone who gets close and the rifle to pick off the guys on the far platforms. The most annoying part of Shanty Town isn't the combat, though; it's the alarm traps. Keep your eyes on the ground. If you see a tripwire or a snare, shoot the trigger.
The "Grim" sequence—the guy who stays behind to hold off the Solarii—is a scripted combat arena. Stay behind cover. The game will try to flush you out with dynamite. When you hear the "fizzing" sound of a lit fuse, move. Don't wait.
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The Puzzles: Tombs of the Unworthy
You don’t have to do the optional tombs, but if you skip them, you’re missing out on the best weapon parts. Most of these puzzles rely on physics.
Take the Hall of Ascension tomb. It’s all about timing the wind. You have to close the shutters, crank the platform up, and then wait for the shutters to blow open so the wind pushes the platform toward the climbing wall. It’s simple on paper but annoying in practice because the timing window is tight.
Then there’s the Well of Tears. You’re throwing yellow canisters onto a lift to weigh it down, then jumping on it, then jumping off and running to a ledge before the lift rises again. It’s a classic "weight and counterweight" puzzle that defines the series.
Shipwreck Beach and the Final Stretch
By the time you reach Shipwreck Beach, Lara is basically a superhero. You have the compound bow, the grenade launcher attachment, and probably most of your gear is fully upgraded.
This area is huge. It’s beautiful, but it’s also confusing to navigate. You’re looking for parts to fix the boat. This involves a lot of rope-arrow swinging and crane manipulation. The real challenge here is the Research Base.
The Research Base is where you learn the truth about Sun Queen Himiko. The combat here is tight and claustrophobic. You'll be fighting in hallways and small rooms. Switch to the shotgun. The "trench gun" upgrade makes short work of the Stormguard.
The Chasm Monastery and the Oni
The final act takes place in the Chasm Monastery. This is where the game stops pretending to be a grounded survival story and leans fully into supernatural horror. You'll face the Oni Stalker—the big guy with the club.
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Do not try to melee him.
He’s a bullet sponge. The trick is to wait for him to swing, dodge behind him, and shoot the unarmored spot on his back. Repeat this until his helmet falls off, then go for the head. It’s a dance. If you get greedy, he’ll one-shot you.
The Final Ritual: How to Finish
The climb to the top of the Ziggurat is the end of the walkthrough for tomb raider. It’s a gauntlet. You will use every single weapon in your arsenal. The wind will be blowing, making your jumps feel floaty.
When you reach the ritual site where Sam is being held, it’s a boss rush. You’ll have waves of Solarii coming at you, followed by the heavy Oni. Use your grenades. Use your fire arrows. There is ammo scattered everywhere, so don't hold back.
The final "boss" isn't a traditional fight; it's a series of Quick Time Events (QTEs). If you’re playing on PC, be ready for the E and F keys. If you’re on a controller, it’s usually the face buttons. It’s a bit of an anticlimax mechanically, but narratively, it’s the moment Lara Croft truly becomes the Tomb Raider.
Important Mechanics People Miss
Honestly, even after finishing the game, some people don't realize how the "Survival Instinct" works. It's not just for finding objectives. If you use it while looking at enemies, it will highlight them.
- Red glow: Someone can see this enemy. If you kill them, you’ll alert the camp.
- Yellow glow: This enemy is isolated. You can take them out silently without anyone noticing.
This is the difference between a frustrating hour-long stealth segment and a two-minute breeze. Also, remember to backtrack. Fast travel is available at every base camp. If you just got the grenade launcher, go back to the earlier areas. There are metal barriers you couldn't break before that hide the final weapon parts for the Bow and the Pistol.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
To get the most out of your time on Yamatai, follow this logical progression for Lara’s development.
- Upgrade the Axe first. The "Axe Man" skill allows you to use it in combat, which is a lifesave when you run out of ammo.
- Master the Dodge Roll. Double-tap the jump or crouch button (depending on your platform) to get out of the way of unblockable attacks.
- Loot every body. Solarii often carry arrows and salvage that won't show up in crates.
- Ignore the "Point of No Return" warning. The game tells you when you're entering the final act. You can still go back and finish everything else after the credits roll, so don't feel pressured to find every relic before the final boss.
- Use Environmental Kills. See a hanging lantern? Shoot it when an enemy is underneath. It saves ammo and looks cool.
The 2013 reboot is a masterpiece of pacing, but it can be overwhelming if you try to do everything at once. Focus on the story, keep your weapons upgraded, and don't let the Oni scare you. They bleed just like the rest of them.