Rise of the Tomb Raider™ vs Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
Which one is worth buying now, with today's prices and each game's recommendation.
Rise of the Tomb Raider™ wins 12 of 14 head-to-head metrics. Rise of the Tomb Raider™ is $2.78 cheaper.
Metric by metric
The winner of each row gets a ✓. No row weighs more than another; the recommendation is calculated separately.
| Metric | Rise of the Tomb Raider™ | Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition |
|---|---|---|
| GameValio scoreRecommendation: Worth It × Worth It | 76 | 72 |
| Quality | 92 | 82 |
| Value | 76 | 76 |
| Popularity | 42 | 40 |
| Current Best Price (USD) | $3.11 | $4.56 |
| Steam Review Score | 94.2% positive | 84.8% positive |
| Average Concurrent Players (14 days) | 1.1K | 880 |
Where to buy
The 3 cheapest stores for each game
Rise of the Tomb Raider™
Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
Kinguin Cheapest Key marketplace$5.89−85%Buy 
Loaded Authorized reseller$6.69−83%Buy 
GAMIVO Key marketplace$6.78−83%Buy Side by side over time
Rise of the Tomb Raider™Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
Details and requirements
| Item | Rise of the Tomb Raider™ | Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | February 9, 2016 | September 14, 2018 |
| Developers | Crystal Dynamics, Eidos-Montréal | Eidos-Montréal, Crystal Dynamics |
| Publishers | Crystal Dynamics, Feral Interactive (Mac) | Crystal Dynamics, Feral Interactive (Mac) |
| Platforms | Linux, Windows, MacOs | Linux, Windows, MacOs |
| OS (minimum) | Windows 10 64 bit | Windows 10 64-bit |
| Processor (minimum) | Intel Core i7-3770K | Intel Core i7 4770K, 3.40 Ghz or AMD Ryzen 5 1600, 3.20 Ghz |
| Memory (minimum) | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics (minimum) | NVIDIA GTX 980Ti 2560x1440 or NVIDIA GTX 970 1920x1080 | Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB or AMD Radeon RX 480, 8GB |
| DirectX (minimum) | Version 11 | Version 12 |
| Storage (minimum) | 25 GB available space | 40 GB available space |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: Rise of the Tomb Raider™ or Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition?
Rise of the Tomb Raider™ won the comparison against Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition based on the head-to-head metric breakdown. Check the metrics table above for a full side-by-side analysis.
How is the comparison calculated?
The comparison winner is determined objectively by counting which game wins more individual metrics in the head-to-head table. No weighting is applied. The GameValio Recommendation shown separately is our own suggestion for each game, based on a weighted score that combines quality (reviews), popularity (player counts), and affordability (price vs value) into a score out of 100. These are two different things: the comparison is objective, the recommendation is GameValio's opinion.
Is Rise of the Tomb Raider™ worth buying over Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition?
Based on the metrics, Rise of the Tomb Raider™ won the direct comparison. However, also check the GameValio Recommendation for each game and the price comparison table to make the most informed purchase decision.
Which game has better player reviews?
Review score trends and volume over time are shown in the charts section above. The game with consistently higher positive ratios has stronger community reception.
Which game offers better value for money?
The affordability score and price comparison table above highlight the best deals. Too close to call currently scores better on value relative to its quality and price.
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Analysis updated: Oct 24, 2026, 12:19 PM UTC