Tomb Raider Catalyst leaker shares open-world details reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda

Tomb Raider Catalyst was one of two new adventures starring Lara Croft revealed at The Game Awards 2025. It is set to release in 2027, and so far, all we’ve seen is a CG trailer, along with confirmation from Crystal Dynamics that it takes place in Northern India and is set after the events of Tomb Raider Underworld. Crystal Dynamics hasn’t explicitly confirmed that the game is open-world, but a leaker has shared details that sound reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda.

According to VScooper on X, Tomb Raider Catalyst is “fully open world,” meaning it features a “single continuous map, not isolated regions”. If true, this would mean the game offers a massive open world that can be seamlessly explored without loading screens, as opposed to isolated areas such as Geothermal Valley in Rise of the Tomb Raider and Paititi in Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

This shot alone already suggests TOMB RAIDER CATALYST is fully open world

As I previously reported, snowy mountains, jungles, and deserts coexist. They’re all visible on the horizon, with landmarks. This reads as a single continuous map, not isolated regions

What do you think? pic.twitter.com/Mb2sTKlHyj

— V SCOOPER (@thevscooper) January 26, 2026

In addition to taking place in one large open world, VScooper claims the landscape of Catalyst features “snowy mountains, jungles, and deserts,” adding that “they’re all visible on the horizon, with landmarks”.

VScooper is primarily a leaker for movies and television and has a verified track record of accurate leaks. While they don’t usually cover video games, they reported in 2024 that the next Tomb Raider game would take place in Northern India with Lara Croft in her prime, details that were ultimately confirmed during The Game Awards reveal on December 11, 2025.

While VScooper has proven reliable so far, it’s important to note that Crystal Dynamics has not explicitly labeled Tomb Raider Catalyst as open-world. However, the studio has seemingly hinted at it through the game’s description, “Powered by Unreal Engine 5, Tomb Raider Catalyst delivers the largest Tomb Raider world yet, where Lara will traverse a landscape full of secrets… [and] lost tombs”.

Tomb Raider Catalyst open-world leak is reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda

While the alleged open-world details for Tomb Raider Catalyst are not official, they are reminiscent of other open-world games, most notably The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom.

Beyond claims that Catalyst features a seamless open world, the reported inclusion of multiple biomes, such as snowy mountains, jungles, and deserts, does evoke similarities to Tears of the Kingdom, which features diverse regions like the arctic Hebra Mountains, the volcanic Death Mountain, and the scorching Gerudo Desert.

If VScooper’s leak proves accurate, it will be interesting to see whether Tomb Raider Catalyst adopts mechanics similar to Tears of the Kingdom, such as requiring cold-resistant armor in frigid environments and specialized gear in desert regions. This approach would fit well with Catalyst, as Lara Croft is famous for wearing a wide range of outfits, from her iconic tank top and cargo shorts to winter coats and swimsuits.

Beyond environmental variety, Tears of the Kingdom is also known for its verticality and Sky Islands. While VScooper did not discuss vertical traversal in detail, signs of verticality can already be seen in Catalyst’s trailer, with numerous climbable rock formations emerging from the ground following a cataclysm. There are also visible floating islands in the sky, which we’ll presumably be able to climb and explore.

Tears of the Kingdom also features a paraglider that allows you to freely glide across the map. As for Catalyst, VScooper claims Lara Croft will have a parachute, which could function in a similar way. The leaker also states that Lara will be able to traverse the open world using a motorcycle, serving as a suitable alternative to mounts like horses in Tears of the Kingdom.

It’s important to remember that details about the open world are not official. So far, the only confirmed information is that Tomb Raider Catalyst is set after Underworld, stars Alix Wilton Regan as the new voice actor for Lara Croft, takes place in Northern India, and features the voice actor for Sheva from Resident Evil 5 as a villain.

While Catalyst is scheduled for release in 2027, we will first be treated to Tomb Raider Legacy of Atlantis in 2026. This is a “reimagining” of Lara Croft’s 1996 debut, and it’s possible we could see the game again during the rumored State of Play event in February 2026.