Rise of the Tomb Raider Switch 2 Physical Edition: Pre-Order Guide
The Rise of the Tomb Raider Switch 2 physical edition is now official, and you can reserve a copy from 9 October 2026. Limited Run Games announced the boxed release on 6 October, working with developer Aspyr. There are two versions: a standard edition at $49.99 and a collector’s edition at $99.99. The Limited Run Games pre-order window closes on 15 November 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
Quick answer: The Rise of the Tomb Raider Switch 2 physical edition is a cartridge release of Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, the full game with all of its extra content. It is sold only through Limited Run Games, and only during a pre-order window that runs from 9 October to 15 November 2026.
If you already own the game as a download, this is not a new version. Aspyr released the Switch 2 download on 9 June 2026. What is new is the chance to own it on a cartridge and keep it on a shelf. Limited Run Games says each of its releases is printed only once, so for Tomb Raider Switch 2 fans who like owning their games, this window is the moment to decide.
What is the Rise of the Tomb Raider Switch 2 physical edition?
Rise of the Tomb Raider is the second game in the modern Lara Croft trilogy. It first came out in November 2015. The Rise of the Tomb Raider 20 Year Celebration edition is the complete version of that game, with every piece of extra content added in later years. The name marks Lara’s 20th anniversary in 2016, when this edition first appeared on other consoles. That can sound odd today, because 2026 is the 30th anniversary of the whole Tomb Raider series, which began in 1996.
The story sends Lara to Siberia. She is looking for the lost city of Kitezh and a relic called the Divine Source, which is said to give people immortality. A secret group called Trinity wants it too, and she has to get there first. Along the way she hunts animals, scavenges for materials, climbs, fights and solves puzzles inside ancient tombs.
The Switch 2 version was made by Aspyr, using the original code from Crystal Dynamics. According to the announcement, both physical editions hold the full game plus the Season Pass content.
Here is what that adds up to:
- Blood Ties, a story chapter set in Croft Manor, Lara’s family home
- Lara’s Nightmare, where you defend the manor from a zombie attack
- Baba Yaga: The Temple of the Witch, a new tomb with a dark legend attached
- Cold Darkness Awakened, a survival mode against waves of infected enemies
- Endurance mode, which you can play online with a friend
- Extreme Survivor, a very hard difficulty setting
- Five classic Lara skins and an outfit and weapon inspired by Tomb Raider III
Rise of the Tomb Raider Switch 2 physical edition: editions and prices
Both editions come with a physical game card and a game case. The collector’s version adds a set of extras on top. Prices below are the suggested retail prices from the announcement.
| Edition | US | UK | Europe | Canada | In the box |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $49.99 | £45.00 | €55.95 | $70.99 CAD | Game card, game case, 8-page booklet |
| Collector’s | $99.99 | £90.00 | €110.95 | $140.99 CAD | Game card, game case, collector’s box, steelcase, Trinity cloth patch, light-up Divine Source replica desk ornament |
The Tomb Raider collector’s edition costs exactly $50 more than the standard copy in the US. For that you get the box, the steelcase, a cloth patch with the Trinity emblem and a desk ornament that lights up. The ornament is a replica of the Divine Source, the relic Lara chases in the story. The announcement does not list the booklet for the collector’s edition, so do not count on it being there.
How the Limited Run Games pre-order works for the Rise of the Tomb Raider Switch 2 physical edition
The pre-order opens on 9 October and closes on Sunday 15 November 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. On its own product page, Limited Run Games says the game is region-free and that there is no purchase limit. It also says the item is still being made and that the final artwork may change. That page shows the pre-production stage, and I could not find a delivery date for this release.
To set expectations, look at what happened with the earlier Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition for Switch 2. Limited Run Games listed delivery windows from November to December 2026 for the standard edition and April to June 2027 for the collector’s edition, after orders closed in early August. This new release may follow a similar pattern, but that is a guess, so plan for a wait.
One more detail for careful buyers: one outlet, Nintendo Everything, describes this release as a full cartridge, not a game-key card that needs a download. Limited Run’s own announcement only says “game card”. If this matters to you, read the product page again before you pay.
Is the Rise of the Tomb Raider Switch 2 physical edition better than the download?
The short answer is no, not for gameplay. Nothing in the announcement says the cartridge holds different game content from the download. Reports on the digital launch say Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration already includes all the extra content too. So you are paying for ownership and for the extras in the box, not for a better game.
| Digital | Physical | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (US) | $29.99 at launch, with a short 10% launch discount | $49.99 standard, $99.99 collector’s |
| When you get it | Available since 9 June 2026 | After pre-orders close and the game is made; no date announced |
| Game content | Full game with all extra content | Full game with Season Pass content |
| Frame rate | Locked 30 frames per second | Same game, so the same 30 frames per second |
| Extras | None | Booklet, or the collector’s set |
| Lending and selling | Tied to your Nintendo account | A cartridge can be lent or sold later |
The US prices above are the launch price of the download and the suggested price of the physical copy. Check the Nintendo eShop for today’s digital price before you decide, because it may have changed.
How the Rise of the Tomb Raider Switch 2 physical edition plays
The Tomb Raider Switch 2 port runs at 30 frames per second, both docked and in handheld mode. Some players hoped for 60. Aspyr told Nintendo Everything that it spent months trying to reach a steady 60, but the game asks a lot of the graphics chip. The team chose a smooth 30 over a 60 that stutters during busy fights. Reviewers have mixed feelings about that. Nintendo Life scored the port 8 out of 10, while another reviewer said they wished it ran more smoothly on the stronger hardware. It is a trade you should know about before you spend $50 on a cartridge.
One last practical point. Endurance mode with a friend is played online, and the Nintendo eShop page says online play on this game needs a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership. Factor that in if co-op is a big reason you want the game.
Who should pre-order the Rise of the Tomb Raider Switch 2 physical edition?
A simple example: choosing the Rise of the Tomb Raider Switch 2 physical edition
Imagine a player called Dev. He is made up, but his choice is a common one. Dev bought a Switch 2 this year, played the first Tomb Raider reboot on it and loved it. Now he wants the sequel. He has $50 set aside for games this month.
He opens the Nintendo eShop and sees the download at about $30. Then he sees the standard physical edition at $49.99. The $20 gap buys him a cartridge and an 8-page booklet. He asks himself three questions.
First, does he want a copy on the shelf? Dev keeps every game he has finished, so yes. Second, can he wait? Limited Run Games has not announced a delivery date, and its earlier Tomb Raider release lists delivery windows many months away, so he would not play this month. Third, does 30 frames per second bother him? He plays mostly in handheld mode on the train, so it does not.
Dev pre-orders the standard edition and skips the $99.99 box. The extra $50 would mostly pay for a desk ornament and a patch, and he has no desk space left. His friend Meera only wants to play the story this weekend, so she downloads it instead and saves $20. Both made a sensible choice, because they wanted different things.
A quick way to decide on the Rise of the Tomb Raider Switch 2 physical edition
- Pre-order the standard edition if you like owning games on a shelf, you are happy to wait, and the booklet is a nice bonus.
- Pre-order the Tomb Raider collector’s edition if you collect Tomb Raider items and the box, steelcase, patch and glowing ornament are worth $50 more to you.
- Download it instead if you want to play now, you care most about price, or you do not want to wait for a made-to-order release.
- Skip it for now if the 30 frames per second limit puts you off and you would rather wait for a possible future patch. I found no announcement of one.
How to place a Limited Run Games pre-order
- Open the Limited Run Games product page for Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration once pre-orders start on 9 October.
- Choose the Standard Edition or the Collector’s Edition.
- Read the total at checkout, because shipping and taxes may be added to the listed price.
- Order before Sunday 15 November 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Convert that to your own time zone and set a reminder a day early.
Rise of the Tomb Raider Switch 2 physical edition: quick questions
When can I pre-order it?
Pre-orders open on 9 October 2026 and close on 15 November 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
How much does the Rise of the Tomb Raider Switch 2 physical edition cost?
The standard edition is $49.99 in the US, £45.00 in the UK and €55.95 in Europe. The collector’s edition is $99.99, £90.00 and €110.95.
Is the physical edition the same game as the download?
Based on the announcement and launch coverage, yes. It is the full game with its extra content. The difference is the cartridge and the extras in the box.
Is it region-free?
Limited Run Games says on its product page that Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration is region-free.
Does it run at 60 frames per second?
No. The Switch 2 version is locked to 30 frames per second.
Is there a Switch 1 version?
This release is for Nintendo Switch 2. I found no sign of a Switch 1 version.
Where do I buy it?
The announcement points buyers to the Limited Run Games website.
The Rise of the Tomb Raider Switch 2 physical edition gives players a way to own the full game on a cartridge, but it costs $20 more than the download at launch pricing and will not arrive right away. Choose the standard edition if you want a shelf copy, the collector’s set if the extras appeal to you, and the download if you want to play today. Whichever you pick, remember the closing time on 15 November.
