Tomb Raider (2013) introduced 'Optional Tombs' for players to explore. As the name says, these tombs were not required for progression, but provided extra challenges and rewards upon completion. However, the critical path still contained puzzles that Lara had to solve to advance and unravel the mystery of escaping from Yamatai.  

Today, we'll rank both the Optional Tombs and Critical Path Puzzles by difficulty. 

14. Stormguard Sanctum (Optional Tomb) 

To reach the treasure chest at the end of the tomb, Lara must ignite a flammable gas and quickly reach the chest before the deadly gas reappears. 

13. Tomb of the Unworthy (Optional Tomb) 

To reach the treasure chest at the end of the tomb, Lara must manipulate the weight of the metal platform to reach the top of the room. 

12. Rescuing the Captured Endurance Crew (Critical Path Puzzle) 

Lara discovers the captured Endurance crew in the Geothermal Caverns, held in the cabin of a wrecked helicopter suspended from the ceiling. She must use flammable gas, along with fire arrows, to try to push the cabin towards safety, allowing the crew to escape. 

11. Temple of the Handmaidens (Optional Tomb) 

To reach the treasure chest at the end of the tomb, Lara must use a buoy to rotate poles in order to reach the top of the room. 

10. Well of Tears (Optional Tomb) 

To reach the treasure chest at the end of the tomb, Lara must use canisters to manipulate the weight of a scaffold so she can reach the top of the room. 

09. The Scavenger Den (Critical Path Puzzle) 

After Lara manages to free herself from a makeshift cocoon, she soon stumbles upon a blocked path. To clear it, she must set some floating debris on fire, then raise and dump it into a cage. This action avoids extinguishing the flames before they reach the mines and explosive barrels which open up a path for Lara to escape. 

08. Chasm Monastery Bell (Critical Path Puzzle) 

Lara finds herself trapped in a room in the Chasm Monastery. She must utilize the wind to break down three wooden beams which then cause a big bell to crash through the floor. 

07. Chamber of Judgment (Optional Tomb) 

To reach the treasure chest at the end of the tomb, Lara must first collect three canisters. She then needs to place them onto a metal platform, which acts as a teeter-totter to weigh one side down. This allows her to use it as a ramp to jump onto a climbable wall. 

06. Chasm Shrine (Critical Path Puzzle) 

Lara enters a room using her axe and discovers an ancient lift in the middle, controlled by two wheels in what appears to be a sacrificial room. She must manipulate the lift to the correct height to gain access to the shrine. 

05. Hall of Ascension (Optional Tomb) 

To reach the treasure chest at the end of the tomb, Lara must synchronize the timing of the shutters, which control a strong gust of wind, with the raising of a swinging platform to reach a ledge she can grab onto. 

04. Endurance (Critical Path Puzzle) 

Lara heads over to what’s left of the Endurance wreck to look for Alex and eventually finds him trapped in a room blocked by live wires. Lara needs to use the cargo hook to pull those wires and clear the way. 

03. Research Base Lift (Optional Tomb) 

Lara needs to find a way to break four elevator gears to make it crash through the floor, allowing her to enter a bunker. 

02. Flooded Vault (Optional Tomb) 

To reach the treasure chest at the end of the tomb, Lara must find a way to de-electrify the water by using a raft to attach the electric object and prevent it from touching the water. 

01. Tomb of the Lost Adventurer (Optional Tomb DLC) 

Lara discovers an old airplane wreck lodged between trees with a temple behind it. To reach the treasure chest at the end of the tomb, Lara must burn the branches using nearby lanterns or fire arrows. Then, she can use the plane wreckage to climb to the treasure. 

How does our ranking list stack up against yours? Sound off on social and let us know!  

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Video Games

Tomb Raider (2013)