Tomb Raider Level Editor Challenges
Even after all these years, fans are still producing custom levels. Some fans co-ordinate events at certain times of the year...
Easter
Official fansite https://www.aspidetr.com/ has been running an Easter competition for over a decade. For a week, Easter themed levels are released. These levels are available to download from TRLE.net and TRCustoms.org but the best place to download them from is the original website to support them.
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Classic Trilogy Competition
One of the newer events in the TRLE calendar. This challenge began in 2021 under the name '25 years Classic Engine Competition' in celebration of 25 years of the Tomb Raider franchise. It took on its new name in 2023, in its second year of running. The challenge is to build a level using only an engine from either Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider 2 or Tomb Raider 3.
To read about the 25 Years Classic Engine Competition, see this Tombraiderforums.com post. To check out those levels, head over to TRLE.net and search for 'Classic Engine'.
To read about the Classic Trilogy Competition, see this Tombraiderforums.com post. To check out those levels, head over to TRLE.net or TRCustoms.org and search for 'Classic Trilogy Competition'.
To read about the 25 Years Classic Engine Competition, see this Tombraiderforums.com post. To check out those levels, head over to TRLE.net and search for 'Classic Engine'.
To read about the Classic Trilogy Competition, see this Tombraiderforums.com post. To check out those levels, head over to TRLE.net or TRCustoms.org and search for 'Classic Trilogy Competition'.
Back to Basics / Beyond the Basics
This one began all the way back in 2005 and started (and remains) on TRLE.net. One of the oldest TRLE events in this list, a Back to Basics (abbreviated to BtB) challenge involves builders being given a theme or location and a WAD and textures to build a level with. Levels are then released anonymously, where players can then vote for their top 3 and guess who made which level.
Previous years' BtBs can be seen here.
In 2024, the challenge was renamed to Beyond the Basics, to allow for inclusion of modern tools. 2024's theme was Egypt and can be seen here.
Previous years' BtBs can be seen here.
In 2024, the challenge was renamed to Beyond the Basics, to allow for inclusion of modern tools. 2024's theme was Egypt and can be seen here.
One Room Challenge
This event doesn't run frequently, in fact, the last one was in 2015, having run only two times prior. It was set up by Tombraiderforums user MyRaider4Life in 2011, with the purpose of restricting gameplay to one 20x20 room. There was the allowance of one more room, placed above, which could be used for triggers and cutscenes, but not for gameplay. These restrictions allowed for some interesting levels.
Create a Classic
Beginning in 2016 during the 20th anniversary year of Tomb Raider, this challenge was a celebratory event, which then took place again in 2019 and in 2021, for the franchise's 25th anniversary. The rules were simple enough: builders could only use classic Tomb Raider textures and items to create nostalgic feeling levels.
Advent Calendar
Perhaps one of the most well-known events in the TRLE calendar and highly anticipated. Can you believe it started in 2002?! Not only do people create levels for the advent calendar but people can supply TRLE building goodies to download, or Xmas stories and recipes. It's a month-long event but in a few recent years, goodies were given out on select days.
TRLE 25th Anniversary Competition
This may be a one-off event but it just illustrates the staying power of the Tomb Raider Level Editor. This event allows builders to use any editor, any engine but they must only use community made assets (within reason. Builders can use generic WAD items, animations, SFX). Visit the official page: https://trcustoms.org/news/46 for more information. Winners will receive some really cool goodies.