Amazing Tomb Raider Mods That Make The Games Even Better

Tomb Raider is probably the most famous treasure-hunting explorer in video games. The original Tomb Raider games play a huge part in the rise of puzzle-based action-adventure video games. The series has spawned many sequels like Rise Of The Tomb Raider as well as inspired other original games like Uncharted. The popularity of Tomb Raider and fan support has always made it one of the most famous points of discussion among the gaming community.

This support is the reason people are always coming up with creative add-ons for Tomb Raider games even years after the release. Some of them are skin mods, and others are visual enhancements. While not all of these mods are must-haves, they bring something new to the table and are worth checking for fans who want to experience something new while playing through these action-packed games. As is the case with most PC games, these mods do a great job of personalizing the player’s experience and showing why so many people prefer gaming on a system that lets them tinker around with game files easily.

Updated January 10, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: The Survivor trilogy was a return to mainstream gaming for Tomb Raider, and was lauded for modernizing the character and letting Lara Croft become a popular gaming figure once again. While the hype for the series may have died down with each successive installment, there’s no denying that fans of Lara Croft loved solving puzzles and fighting enemies as she came into her own as a competent archaeologist. PC players can download a wealth of mods to customize the games as they see fit, letting them squeeze out more enjoyment from these games.

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How To Install Mods

The majority of the mods available for the Tomb Raider trilogy on Nexus provide detailed instructions on how players can install them. To use ReShade presets, for example, players will need to download a copy of ReShade and then extract it into the same folder as the game’s launcher together with the .ini preset.

For mods with custom assets or textures, on the other hand, players will often need to download a piece of software called Special K and extract it to the game’s directory together with all the mod’s assets. Although these mods and pieces of software should all be safe to use, it’s always worth scanning them with Antivirus software before installing them just in case.

As long as players are smart about the mods they download, check their compatibility with the latest version of their respective games, and follow the instructions for each mod diligently, most players won’t have any issues while modding each Tomb Raider game to make them perfect in their eyes.

Dualshock Button icons MOD for DX11+ (Tomb Raider 2013)

Downloads: 1,939

Without modding, those hoping to play Tomb Raider with a DS4 have a somewhat difficult decision to make. Playing the game in DirectX 9 mode will give them access to the correct button icons, though this will come at the expense of compatibility with HDR and some of the more recent versions of ReShade. Thanks to IcemanSR’s mod, however, they can now have the best of both worlds.

Given the high number of QTEs in the game, having the correct button prompts can be a real lifesaver, particularly for those unfamiliar with the layout of an Xbox pad. Likewise, with the game being almost a decade old now, features like high dynamic range can help to bring the visuals a little bit closer to modern standards, as too can some of the excellent ReShade presets found below.

Tomb Raider Enhance Graphic 2020 (Tomb Raider 2013)

Downloads: 3,472

The Tomb Raider Enhance Graphic 2020 mod is a Reshade preset that completely changes the look and feel of the game. Light sources become more vivid, colors more vibrant and Lara herself has never looked better. Ultimately though, it’s the preset’s handling of ambient light that makes it shine.

It may not have been downloaded quite as many times as some of the other Tomb Raider mods on Nexus, but it’s worth noting that this is one of the most recent mods released for the game. Installation is simple and causes no obvious frame rate issues either, making it a great way to explore the island of Yamatai.

Ellie TR2013 (Tomb Raider 2013)

Downloads: 2,243

Though the Ellie TR2013 mod doesn’t impact gameplay, being able to explore Yamatai as The Last of Us‘ leading lady does change the whole tone of the game. It would perhaps have been better had the creator opted for Ellie’s model from the second game instead, but it’s an enjoyable addition nonetheless.

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, Ellie isn’t the only character that can be added into the game. Among others, players can also switch Lara out for Ada Wong from the Resident Evil series, Clementine from Telltale’s excellent episodic adventure The Walking Dead, or Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn. It may be a superficial change at best, but something fans will love if they want to control one of their favorite heroines in this action-packed title.

Tomb Raider Turning Point Edition (Tomb Raider 2013)

Downloads: 16,706

Despite having been released in late 2020, the Tomb Raider Turning Point Edition mod has already been downloaded thousands of times. Looking at some of the images uploaded by the mod’s creator, it’s very easy to see why. As far as mods go, they don’t get much better than this.

The mod aims to make Lara look more like she does in the game’s promotional material, particularly the Turning Point trailer. The high-quality models help to create a cinematic vibe even during regular gameplay, while the cuts and scratches that Lara picks up throughout her adventure add some much-needed authenticity to the proceedings.

Care Package (Tomb Raider 2013)

Downloads: 1,780

Tomb Raider 2013 marked the rebirth of the series with a new Lara Croft design and a complete reboot of the story. With blockbuster ratings and critical acclaim, it seems fair to say that the team over at Crystal Dynamics outdid themselves when it came to building this AAA reboot.

The game was carefully crafted to look good on any hardware, with the PC version even featuring realistic hair physics. The Care Package Mod polishes some of those effects that came with the original game. The impact isn’t drastic when compared to the vanilla version of the game, but it is enough for players to notice a difference.

TR Visual Redone Reshade (Tomb Raider 2013)

Downloads: 9,204

Tomb Raider 2013 is a beautiful game for its time. It checks all the boxes from good lighting to competent shading, but in the world of art and video games, there is always scope for improvement. That is the reason that the TR Visual Redone Reshade mod was created.

The mod is a graphical improvement add-on for the game, that impacts the lighting, color balance, tones, and much more. By improving the vibrancy of the game, the mod changes the whole visual experience for players. The fact that it doesn’t affect the performance of the game is a cherry on top.

Tomb Raider Definitive Edition New Lara Models From PS4 To PC (Tomb Raider 2013)

Downloads: 33,258

Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is the best way to experience this amazing title. Lara Croft’s adventures are a joy to experience in every way. Some may argue that this title tried to emulate Uncharted’s success with its focus on action and set pieces, but that isn’t necessarily bad. This enhanced version of the game also made Lara Croft’s model more emotive. However, this can only be seen in the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game.

This mod does the simple task of exporting Lara Croft’s higher-quality model over to the PC release of Tomb Raider, which should have been the norm from the get-go. It’s a shame that fans have to fix something that developers should have thought about all along, but most people are just happy that they can enjoy the best version of this game on the PC with a simple mod.

Angelina Jolie (Rise Of The Tomb Raider)

Downloads: 2,542

Much like TR2013, Rise of the Tomb Raider features its fair share of skin swaps. The pick of the bunch is arguably xRaq’s Angelina Jolie mod, which, as the name might suggest, replaces the default Lara model with an impressively lifelike model of the very first actress to portray the intrepid adventurer on the big screen: Angelina Jolie.

Though neither of the two movies in which Jolie portrayed Lara was particularly well-received, they did perform strongly at the box office and were enjoyed by many fans of the series. Those looking to see how the actress handles in video game form can now do so, with five unique outfits available. The mod is certainly a technical marvel, with Jolie’s likeness being absolutely spot on to the point where it looks like a bunch of professionals working on this character model as opposed to a bunch of passionate fans!

Pretty Eyes (Rise Of The Tomb Raider)

Downloads: 5,581

Rise of the Tomb Raider is vibrant and graphically better compared to its 2013 sibling, and the reason is pretty simple. It was released two years into the PS4 and Xbox One’s lifespan. Which meant the developers could go a high mile with the added boost in hardware. The new consoles redefined realism in games, but there was always a scope.

That’s why the modding community gave birth to the Pretty Eyes mod to tweak and change some of the minute details about Lara. Most people would argue that mods like this don’t add to the quality of the title in any way, which is true. However, a huge reason why mods are popular is because each fan-made piece of content resonates with certain players, so it would be unfair to discredit the needs of players who want Lara’s eyes to look good, as superficial as this change may be.

UHG Reshade (Rise Of The Tomb Raider)

Downloads: 7,079

UGH Reshade is one of the most popular graphical mods for Rise of the Tomb Raider and has been downloaded thousands of times. It enhances the already beautiful game to give players more variety in visuals. The main idea is to bring the game a little closer to its sequel.

The mod does impact the overall performance a little, but beefy modern PCs should easily be able to handle it. Based on the pictures, there are multiple color filters like warm, cool, and pure, and players can easily switch between them to find the look that they want. The simplicity of these reshade mods is what makes them so popular for any video game, and Rise of the Tomb Raider is no exception to this rule.

Tank Top Outfit Pack (Rise Of The Tomb Raider)

Downloads: 1,158

Tank Top Outfit Mod brings a lot of color to the drab outfits of Rise of the Tomb Raider. Most of Lara’s outfits in-game are dark, brown, or muddy, which fits the game, but there are always players looking to play the game with a twist. This mod contains extremely high-resolution textures that will be something to try out.

This colorfulness will make Lara look like she is coming right from a party that probably could have taken place somewhere in Sunset Overdrive. The mod is only 13MB in size too and is, therefore, a must-try for those looking for a little extra outfit variety as they play. The mod is nothing more than a simple, harmless tweak that most players won’t mind!

Lara Croft Classic Outfit (Rise Of The Tomb Raider)

Downloads: 35,589

While Lara Croft’s new outfits in Rise of the Tomb Raider are pretty great in their own right, many long-time fans miss the original outfits that this sassy archaeologist used to wear. Most people understand why the outfits have been removed, and the idea of shifting away from the male gaze is appreciated by fans and critics alike.

However, some people just want to see Lara’s classic outfit in the reboot, and this can be accomplished with a simple mod for Rise of the Tomb Raider. The outfit arrives in many colors, with players able to wear whatever they wish without too many issues.

Universal Holstered Gear Hider (Rise Of The Tomb Raider)

Downloads: 25,739

The gear that Lara equips is plentiful, letting her traverse areas and access locations that she wouldn’t be able to otherwise. Regardless of how functional this gear may be, some players don’t want their playable character to be cluttered by the various utility tools she keeps on her person at all times.

With this simple mod, players can remove what they perceive to be ugly-looking gear from Lara, making her look more pleasing to the eyes. It’s not the most critical mod to augment the experience, but this visual change is a welcome one for some fans regardless.

Universal Holstered Weapons Hider (Rise Of The Tomb Raider)

Downloads: 9,565

Lara carries around a bevy of weapons to help her out in any given situation. From a bow that can take down targets silently to powerful firearms for when a situation becomes dire, Lara knows exactly how to even the playing field.

These weapons look great, but some players might want their version of Lara to not be bogged down by these firearms every step of the way. A simple mod removes these weapons from Lara’s back while traversing the world, which makes for a simple yet welcome visual change.

No Mud And Dirt On Lara (Shadow Of The Tomb Raider)

Downloads: 3,116

In all three installments of Crystal Dynamics’ reboot trilogy, Lara gets dirtier and dirtier as she makes her way through the games. It’s a nice touch that helps to capture the physical toll that the experience has on her body and also provides an additional layer of realism. Some may feel, however, that the developers took this concept just a little too far in Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Lara spends the vast majority of the game completely caked in mud, which may not be to everybody’s tastes. 1Mrp1’s mod looks to rectify this issue, providing players with a cleaner character model with only the slightest signs of dirt. It still feels weathered, with all of Lara’s cuts and bruises remaining intact, but should be a lot more visually pleasing to those with an aversion to dirt and mud.

Canonical Lara (Shadow Of The Tomb Raider)

Downloads: 3,625

Lara has changed a lot since first debuting on the Sega Saturn back in the late nineties. While there can be no denying that she looks a lot more lifelike these days, some may not be too happy about the drastic changes made to Lara’s face. As is so often the case though, there’s a mod for that.

The Canonical Lara mod aims to make the game’s heroine look a bit more like her former self without clashing with the game’s realistic art style. For the most part, it works incredibly well, replacing Lara’s facial texture with one that much more closely resembles her nineties and early two-thousands look.

Apex Photorealistic Reshade (Shadow Of The Tomb Raider)

Downloads: 12,776

Released in late 2018, the Apex Photorealistic Reshade mod is one of the more popular Reshade presets for Shadow of the Tomb Raider and has now been downloaded almost ten thousand times. Once installed, everything looks noticeably sharper, and ambient lighting looks considerably better too.

The preset is a must-try for anyone looking for realistic visuals and is particularly impressive when combined with ray tracing technology. That said, it still looks incredible without it and is arguably the next best thing for those whose rigs aren’t yet capable of delivering ray tracing at decent frame rates.

Outfit Mod (Shadow Of The Tomb Raider)

Downloads: 99,376

Outfit Mod for Shadow Of The Tomb Raider is the best clothing mod for this game on the internet. As most new Tomb Raider games natively do not support modding tools, this is a texture mod for the outfits that are already in the game, similar to the Rise Of The Tomb Raider outfit mods.

Even with certain restrictions though, the players can now modify how Lara looks in all of her costumes providing certain conditions have been met. To access all the outfits that are available on the mod page, players will need their counterparts unlocked in-game.

4k Diffuse And Specular Maps (Shadow Of The Tomb Raider)

Downloads: 15,167

These diffuse and specular maps in 4k resolution are for players looking to make Lara Croft from Shadow Of The Tomb Raider look similar to its prequel. As the new game looks pretty different and dark compared to Rise of the Tomb Raider, this mod is an attempt to blend the line in between both games.

With this mod, the texture on Lara’s face is replaced with 4k textures from the previous game, with completely redone specular maps. Thanks to this texture replacement mod, Lara can therefore look a lot more similar to how she does in Rise of the Tomb Raider.

Shadow Reshade (Shadow Of The Tomb Raider)

Downloads: 1,149

Shadow of The Tomb Raider looks genuinely good in its vanilla form, but Shadow Reshade allows players to take this one step further. The mod makes the already beautiful world of the game truly awe-inspiring. It is a shader upgrade that works as a filter in-game and improves the overall visual fidelity.

Shadow Reshade is light, easy to use, and comes with all the clear-cut instructions on-page. Graphics enthusiasts can now enjoy a better-looking game without having to push their GPUs to their absolute limits. It looks fantastic, particularly in darker scenes, and helps to put the “Shadow” into the game’s title.

Baddie Raider – The Emancipation of Lara Croft (Shadow Of The Tomb Raider)

Downloads: 4,366

There’s no doubt that Lara Croft’s redesign has been appreciated across the board by fans. This look served her well in the first Tomb Raider game, where she looked innocent and had not even killed a person before. It fits well into the idea of someone without any knowledge of the real world turning into an accomplished archaeologist, who can take on countless threats and traverse hazardous environments with relative ease.

However, this facial redesign loses its impact in a game like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, where Lara is already a seasoned veteran when it comes to exploring tombs and dealing with any threats that come her way. This mod ensures that her experience is reflected in a face that is redone to look more stoic and fierce. It elicits memories of the character’s past when her sass and experience were visible from her visual design alone.