Base game - 4/5
DLCs - 3.5/5
I feel like among this reboot of the big three, this game was kind of forgotten and underrated. I wouldn't say it's miles off of the other two, but it is noticeably better. Like the rest of the franchise, the game's scenery is nothing short of breathtaking. It's incredibly detailed, with a ton of challenges and side missions available. It probably has the best and the biggest tomb and crypt exploration levels this franchise has to offer, all of them having unique puzzles, which I found not too hard but they definitely got me thinking and they were really immersive too, challenging not just your thinking but knowledge of the mechanics as well.
The thing that sets this game apart much more is the story. The story and the narrative are much more interesting, captivating and intriguing. Lara's motives stem from a "feeling" that she is obliged to continue her father's discovery that got him killed, due to the humiliation and mockery her father received as an archaeologist, but her ultimately realizing that this is her own path and decides to shift her focus to help the natives and others she met along the way. This makes her quite a complex character and she's much more emotionally driven, but it also resonates more with the player. Also, this great character building doesn't just apply to her, Jacob is a really good character as well, with other characters such as Jonah, Ana and Konstantin being decent as well, but still considerably better than those in Tomb Raider 2013.
The mechanics are about what you'd expect from this franchise, but it ends up being noticeably harder compared to other games adding a couple of new pieces of equipment. It really tests out your reflexes and patience at times. Patience because at moments it feels so unresponsive. I've missed a simple jump tons of times just because I didn't feel like waiting for Lara to complete the animation, thinking it would be OK - and then I'd end up dead.
The combat is also a lot better. If you get caught in open fire, you're gonna go down in only a couple of shots, so going stealthy is pretty much the way for the most part. Because of this, the game introduces a couple of baits and craftable weapons like molotovs or grenades. The weapons are also pretty good. You've got a decent assortment of weapons to choose from, and they each have enough upgrades to make a difference in what you choose. Same goes for equipment and outfits, which also have perks of their own. This way, exploring outside of the main story line and finding weapons parts or outfits makes a difference further in your playthrough.
One thing I find weird is examining the relics. Most of the time you're looking straight at the clue but you just have to rotate it around until the game figures it out.
Also, the DLCs are great, both the Baba Yaga and the Croft Manor. I actually believe that if Croft Manor had more content, it would've been an easy 4/5. It's not that hard but doing some detective work is really fun in this one.
So yeah, I definitely recommend this one. It's an exciting and engaging game with beautiful landscapes, ancient ruins, challenging puzzles and quite intense combat.