If you mean “Tomb Raider: The 20th Anniversary Edition,” the game is Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration. It is not Tomb Raider: Anniversary, the separately titled 2007 game listed by the official Tomb Raider site (official game page).
This guide explains the documented Steam PC startup process and controls, how keyboard, mouse and gamepad play differ, what the Celebration package contains, and what to check before choosing a PlayStation or Xbox version. Store listings, prices and compatibility with newer console generations can change, so verify those details on the platform store where you intend to play.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Rise of the Tomb Raider - Xbox One - Xbox One Standard Edition | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Rise of the Tomb Raider - Xbox One (Renewed) | $17.43 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Microsoft Rise of the Tomb Raider, Xbox One | $82.93 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition - Xbox One | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Shadow of The Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition - Xbox One | $28.49 | Buy on Amazon |
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What game is the 20th Anniversary Edition?
Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration is the expanded edition of the sequel in which Lara Croft travels through remote, ancient regions while searching for the secret of immortality. Feral Interactive’s official manual covers the game’s “Getting Started” flow, controls and menus (Feral manual).
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The name is easy to confuse with Tomb Raider: Anniversary. That is a different title, released on June 5, 2007, rather than the edition discussed here. When searching a store, use the complete name Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration and confirm the product description before buying or downloading.
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- Awe-Inspiring Deadly Tombs - Explore huge ancient spaces littered with deadly traps, solve dramatic environmental puzzles
- Woman vs. Wild - Conquer a world fiercely protecting its secrets, endure perilous conditions and unstable landscapes
- Guerrilla Combat - Use the environment to your advantage, scale trees and dive underwater to avoid or takedown enemies
- Unprecedented Visual Fidelity - Utilizing the full power of the Xbox One, Rise of the Tomb Raider comes alive with deeply immersive and interactive spaces
Before you install or launch
- Confirm the exact edition: Look for “Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration,” not “Tomb Raider: Anniversary.”
- Use the account that owns the game: On PC this means the Steam account containing the game; on consoles it means the PlayStation Network or Xbox account with the entitlement.
- Check the platform listing directly: The documented sources establish historical releases and features, but they do not verify current prices, present-day store availability or compatibility with newer console generations.
- Choose your input method: The PC version documented by Feral supports keyboard and mouse or a gamepad. A controller is optional, not a requirement.
Also check whether the listing identifies the Celebration content as included or as a separate entitlement. The main campaign can be playable even when add-on activities have not finished installing. If you are sharing a console, make sure the profile launching the game can access the account that purchased the edition or season-pass content.
How to start on PC through Steam
The following sequence is the documented Steam PC flow. Other PC storefronts may use different launchers or labels.
- Open Steam and sign in if Steam asks you to.
- Open Library.
- Select Rise of the Tomb Raider.
- Choose Play. Steam opens the game’s pre-game Options window.
- Click Play in that Options window.
- At the main menu, choose New Game.
- Select a Combat Difficulty. The manual recommends Adventurer for someone playing a Tomb Raider game for the first time.
The opening sequence places Lara and Jonah on a snowy Siberian mountain while a storm approaches. If you want to change display, audio or input settings before starting, use the pre-game Options window or the in-game Options menu. The two Play buttons are intentional: the first starts the Steam launch process and the second confirms the game’s own startup options.
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The manual lists these main-menu areas: Continue, Load Game, New Game, Expeditions, Croft Manor, Leaderboards, Options and Marketplace. Their availability can depend on installed content and the edition attached to your account.
- Continue resumes the most recent save.
- Load Game lets you select an existing save.
- New Game begins the story and asks you to select combat difficulty.
- Expeditions replays story chapters or starts non-story missions.
- Croft Manor contains the Blood Ties and Lara’s Nightmare activities when that content is installed.
- Options contains settings, including keyboard-and-mouse bindings on PC.
- Marketplace is the menu area associated with available game content; what appears depends on your edition and platform.
Use Continue for a normal return to the campaign. Use Load Game when you need a particular save, and use Expeditions when you want to replay a chapter without restarting the entire story. Croft Manor is not simply another campaign level: it is the entry point for the manor-focused Celebration activities.
Default PC keyboard and mouse controls
These are the documented default bindings in Feral’s manual. They are starting defaults, not permanent requirements. Custom bindings and a gamepad will change what you press.
| Action | Default input |
|---|---|
| Move | W, A, S and D |
| Sprint | Hold Shift while moving |
| Jump | Space |
| Dodge or drop | C |
| Interact | E |
| Attack or melee | F |
| Survival Instinct | Q |
| Heal | Hold V |
| Map | Tab |
| Pause | Escape |
| Aim | Hold the right mouse button |
| Primary fire | Left mouse button while aiming |
| Secondary fire | Middle mouse button while aiming |
| Reload | R |
| Zoom | Z |
| Shoulder swap | Shift |
| Bow | 1 |
| Pistol | 2 |
| Rifle | 3 |
| Shotgun | 4 |
Some commands require a right-click action, so check whether the game expects you to hold the button rather than tap it. To change a keyboard binding, open Options → Keyboard & Mouse → Key Binding. If a new assignment conflicts with another action, review the complete binding list before returning to the game.
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Keep one hand on W/A/S/D and use your thumb for Space. The most frequently needed combat sequence is to hold the right mouse button to aim, press the left mouse button to fire, and press R to reload. Q activates Survival Instinct for identifying useful objects and threats, while Tab opens the map. Hold V when Lara needs healing rather than tapping it once.
Shift has two documented uses: holding it while moving produces a sprint, while the same key is listed for shoulder swapping during aiming. If you remap either action, test the new arrangement in a safe area so sprinting and camera-side changes do not conflict. Weapon keys select bow, pistol, rifle and shotgun directly, which can be faster than cycling through equipment during a fight.
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- Awe-Inspiring Deadly Tombs – Explore huge ancient spaces littered with deadly traps, solve dramatic environmental puzzles, and decipher ancient texts to reveal crypts as you take on a world filled with secrets to discover.
- Woman vs. Wild - Conquer a world fiercely protecting its secrets, endure perilous conditions and unstable landscapes, face dangerous wildlife that act as guardians to ancient tombs, and explore huge interactive environments.
- Guerrilla Combat – Use the environment to your advantage, scale trees and dive underwater to avoid or takedown enemies, configure Lara’s gear, weapons, and ammo to suit your play style, craft explosives on the fly to sow chaos, and wield Lara’s signature
- Unprecedented Visual Fidelity – Utilizing the full power of the Xbox One, Rise of the Tomb Raider comes alive with deeply immersive and interactive spaces delivering the most visually stunning Tomb Raider game ever made.
Playing on PC with a gamepad
Feral’s manual states: “You can play Rise of the Tomb Raider™: 20 Year Celebration using either a keyboard and mouse or a gamepad.” The standard gamepad layout covers movement, camera control, jumping, dodging or dropping, interaction, melee, Survival Instinct, pausing, aiming, firing, reloading, weapon selection and healing.
Unlike keyboard bindings, the manual says gamepad controls cannot be customized. If a button feels inconvenient, switching to keyboard and mouse is the documented way to use a different input arrangement. A gamepad therefore makes sense when you prefer analog movement or sofa play, but it is not needed to access any part of the campaign or Celebration modes.
Controller compatibility caveat
Feral’s FAQ lists Logitech F310, F710 and RumblePad 2, official PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 DualShock controllers, Xbox 360 wired and wireless controllers, and official Xbox One and One S controllers as tested and supported for its Mac release. Some switchable controllers must be set to DirectInput mode (Feral FAQ).
That list is specific to the Mac build described by the FAQ. It is not a universal guarantee for every Windows driver, USB adapter, Bluetooth device, console edition or current controller. On Windows, check whether your controller is recognized by Steam and by the game itself; on a console, use the platform’s supported controller and pairing process.
If both keyboard and controller are connected, avoid changing devices while a menu prompt is open until you know which input the game is displaying. For a switchable pad, try the mode required by the device and reconnect it before launching. These steps address recognition issues without implying that every controller model has identical support.
Starting on PlayStation
On a PlayStation system, install or launch the edition associated with your account, then use the game’s main menu to choose New Game and a combat difficulty. Menu wording and installation prompts can vary by console generation and store version, so follow the labels shown on your system rather than assuming they match Steam exactly.
The historically documented PS4 package is important if you are specifically interested in the Celebration extras. TIME reported on July 19, 2016 that the PS4 20 Year Celebration release included the base game, earlier downloadable content, new content and PlayStation VR support (TIME’s launch report). That is launch-era information; it does not establish current PS4 store stock, pricing, or support on a newer PlayStation generation.
PlayStation VR clarification
The historical PS4 release included the VR-related Croft Manor experience. Do not assume that a modern console version, a streaming version or a non-PS4 edition includes the same VR support. Confirm the exact product description and required headset support on the current PlayStation listing before purchasing.
If VR is your deciding factor, verify three separate details: that the product is the Celebration release rather than the base game, that the listing identifies the Croft Manor VR content, and that your console and headset are supported. The launch report does not establish present-day availability of any of those items.
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Starting on Xbox
Install the edition you own from your Xbox library or the current Xbox store listing, launch the game, and use New Game at the main menu to begin. Because current console-generation support and store entitlements can change, verify the listing for your specific Xbox hardware before downloading.
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TIME’s 2016 report said Xbox One owners could download the added Celebration content through the season pass, but without the PlayStation VR content. This describes the launch-era distribution arrangement, not a promise that a season pass is currently sold, included or transferable on every Xbox storefront.
For an Xbox purchase, read the included-content section rather than relying only on the product name. Confirm whether Blood Ties, Lara’s Nightmare, Baba Yaga, Endurance and the Celebration Pack are listed, and check whether your account already owns a season pass or separate add-on. The historical Xbox arrangement did not include the PS VR material.
What the 20 Year Celebration content adds
Feral’s FAQ identifies several activities and bonus items included in the Celebration package:
Blood Ties
Explore Croft Manor while investigating a family mystery. The manual places Blood Ties in the Croft Manor section of the main menu. It is an exploration-focused experience, so look there rather than in the ordinary chapter-replay list.
Lara’s Nightmare
Defend the manor against undead enemies. It is also accessed through Croft Manor when the content is available. This activity changes the manor setting into a combat encounter rather than the family-mystery exploration of Blood Ties.
Baba Yaga: The Temple of the Witch
This is a separate story-focused adventure built around the Baba Yaga storyline. It appears alongside the other installed activities rather than replacing the main campaign. If it is missing, check the edition’s add-on list and installation status.
Endurance Mode
Endurance is a survival mode in which Lara contends with environmental hazards and threats. It is distinct from replaying a normal story chapter and is designed around continuing to survive rather than simply following the campaign’s sequence.
20 Year Celebration Pack
The pack includes classic Lara skins, a Tomb Raider III-inspired outfit and weapon, and the Extreme Survivor difficulty. These bonuses affect appearance, equipment options or challenge level; they do not replace the main story.
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Difficulty, saves and replay modes
Choosing a difficulty
When starting a new game, select a combat difficulty. Adventurer is the manual’s recommendation for a first Tomb Raider game; experienced players can choose a higher setting if they want more demanding combat. The recommendation is about learning the series, not a requirement for accessing any mode.
Extreme Survivor save rules
Extreme Survivor changes the normal save behavior: saving is restricted to base camps. The manual contrasts this with the general save-game option available elsewhere. Plan your route around the next base camp instead of assuming that a checkpoint or menu save will always be available. Reaching a base camp before quitting is especially important if you are playing a long expedition or a difficult combat section.
Expeditions and leaderboards
Expeditions lets you replay story chapters or launch non-story missions. Leaderboards are a separate menu area for comparing results. These options are useful after completing a section or when you want a shorter activity rather than another full campaign run. They also give you a way to revisit content without selecting New Game and creating a new campaign.
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| Priority | Most suitable documented path | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| You already own the game on PC and want flexible input | Steam PC; use keyboard and mouse or a gamepad | Steam ownership, controller recognition and your preferred key bindings |
| You specifically want the historical PS4 VR Croft Manor content | PlayStation 4 Celebration release described at launch | Current listing, headset requirements and whether the edition is still available |
| You prefer playing from a sofa with a console controller | PlayStation or Xbox edition you already own | Your console generation, store entitlement and included downloadable content |
| You want to change individual controls | PC keyboard and mouse | Open Options → Keyboard & Mouse → Key Binding; gamepad bindings are not customizable in the manual |
| You want Celebration modes and bonus outfits | An edition or entitlement that includes the 20 Year Celebration content | Check the current product description for Blood Ties, Lara’s Nightmare, Baba Yaga, Endurance and the Celebration Pack |
The available evidence does not establish a reliable comparison of graphics quality, frame rate, performance, cross-save support, current price or present-day storefront status. Those are platform- and version-specific details to check before purchase.
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Troubleshooting common setup problems
Steam launches the wrong screen
Return to the Steam Library, select the game and press Play. If the pre-game Options window appears, press its Play button as well. The documented Steam flow uses two Play selections: one in Steam and one in the game’s pre-game window.
You cannot find the Celebration activities
Check the main menu’s Croft Manor and Expeditions sections. Then verify that your account owns and has installed the Celebration content. The menu can show the base campaign even when an add-on is not installed. On a console, review the game’s manage-content screen; on Steam, check the title’s downloadable-content entries and installation state.
The controller is not responding on PC
- Confirm that the operating system and Steam recognize the controller before launching the game.
- If the controller has an input-mode switch, test the mode required by your device; Feral’s Mac FAQ specifically notes DirectInput for some switchable pads.
- Try a documented supported controller for the relevant build, remembering that Feral’s compatibility list is for Mac and is not a universal Windows guarantee.
- If you need remappable individual actions, use keyboard and mouse because the manual says gamepad controls cannot be customized.
A key does not perform the expected action
Open Options → Keyboard & Mouse → Key Binding and confirm the current assignment. The table above lists defaults only; a previous customization or a different input device can produce different behavior. Pay particular attention to commands that require holding the right mouse button.
You cannot save in Extreme Survivor
This is an intended rule of the mode, not necessarily a malfunction. Extreme Survivor saves are restricted to base camps, so continue until you reach one before expecting a manual save opportunity.
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The menu does not show a mode you expected
First confirm which menu owns the activity. Blood Ties and Lara’s Nightmare are under Croft Manor, while chapter replays and non-story missions are under Expeditions. If neither menu contains the item, check the edition, account entitlement and installation status before reinstalling the entire game.
A quick checklist for your first session
- Confirm that the title is Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration.
- Verify the current platform listing and edition-specific content.
- On Steam, follow Library → game → Play → pre-game Play → New Game.
- Choose Adventurer if this is your first Tomb Raider game.
- Review keyboard bindings or connect your controller before starting the campaign.
- Use Croft Manor and Expeditions to locate the Celebration activities.
- Remember that Extreme Survivor saves only at base camps.
- If VR matters, confirm that the listing is the historical PS4 Celebration release and identifies the required headset support.
- Keep the account that purchased the game or add-ons signed in when launching on console.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration the same game as Tomb Raider: Anniversary?
No. Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration is the expanded sequel. Tomb Raider: Anniversary is a separate game released on June 5, 2007.
Can I play the PC version without a controller?
Yes. Feral’s manual supports both keyboard and mouse and a gamepad. A controller is optional.
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The manual says gamepad controls cannot be customized. PC keyboard bindings can be changed under Options → Keyboard & Mouse → Key Binding.
What difficulty should a first-time Tomb Raider player choose?
The manual recommends Adventurer when starting your first Tomb Raider game.
Where are Blood Ties and Lara’s Nightmare?
When installed and included with your entitlement, both appear in the Croft Manor section of the main menu.
Does Extreme Survivor allow normal manual saves?
No. In Extreme Survivor, saving is restricted to base camps.
Did the Xbox version include PlayStation VR content?
No. TIME’s July 19, 2016 launch report said the added Xbox One and PC content did not include the PlayStation VR material.
Which controllers are officially tested on PC?
The manual supports gamepad play on PC, while Feral’s detailed tested list covers its Mac release: Logitech F310, F710 and RumblePad 2, official PS3 and PS4 DualShock controllers, Xbox 360 controllers, and Xbox One and One S controllers. Do not treat that Mac list as a universal Windows guarantee.
The Bottom Line
For the clearest documented setup, Steam PC offers keyboard-and-mouse customization plus gamepad support. PlayStation and Xbox versions provide the same core adventure, while the historically documented PS4 launch package uniquely included PlayStation VR content. Confirm the exact current store edition, included Celebration activities and compatibility for your hardware before buying.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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