With the Uncharted series, Sony first-party developer Naughty Dog has crafted one of the most critically acclaimed and enduring action-adventure franchises of all time. Starring the enigmatic and charming Nathan Drake as he adventures across the globe in search of lost treasures and hidden histories, Uncharted is part Indiana Jones, part James Bond, and all fun. The games are all noteworthy for the sheer amount of spectacle and impressive action setpieces they present to players.
The Uncharted titles improved as the franchise continued, with many considering Uncharted 2 and Uncharted 4 the undisputed peaks of the series. In typical Naughty Dog fashion, the engaging and well-designed gameplay rests alongside some excellent writing and character development. By the time players finish Uncharted 4, it’s a satisfying conclusion to a tale a decade in the making and featuring characters you truly care about.
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (2007)
- Released for the PlayStation 3
Despite being a little rough around the edges, the first Uncharted is an excellent proof-of-concept and a great action game in its own right. The first game in the series pits series hero Nathan Drake against a nefarious group of criminals as they compete for the lost treasure of El Dorado. In addition to introducing players to our intrepid hero (and supposed descendant of Sir Francis Drake), Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune features the first appearances of series regulars like Elena Fisher and Victor “Sully” Sullivan.
Releasing in 2007 and quickly selling a million copies, Uncharted became synonymous with the PS3 almost immediately. Despite jokes labeling the game as “Dude Raider” (an obvious knock against the game’s similarities to Tomb Raider) critics and fans alike found much to enjoy about the game. Still, the shooting and platforming gameplay was somewhat unrefined and would see a massive improvement in future entries.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009)
- Released for the PlayStation 3
Following up the first game roughly 2 years later is the excellent Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Featuring what is perhaps the best opening sequence in any action game ever as Nathan Drake climbs a wrecked train dangling off a cliff, Uncharted 2 starts with a bang and doesn’t let up throughout its entire runtime. Everything from the first game is improved, including the aiming and shooting mechanics. The game’s story takes inspiration from the real-world exploits of explorer Marco Polo and his travels through southeast Asia.
In addition to having a better balance to the game’s difficulty and substantially improved combat, the setpiece moments and blockbuster movie-style action sequences of Uncharted 2 are still cited as some of the best in the entire series. Further, after introducing elements of the supernatural in the first game, the climax of Uncharted 2 leans fully into the paranormal. Development on the game began almost immediately following the release and reception of the first game, leading to the developers being able to make significant improvements over Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune based on feedback.
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (2011)
- Released for the PlayStation 3
After two titles set in Asia, Uncharted 3 switches things up to bring Nathan Drake and Sully to the deserts of the Middle East. Taking inspiration from the life and travels of T.E. Lawrence (“Lawrence of Arabia”), the game sees Drake and Sully searching for the lost city of Iram of the Pillars. Iram is a lost city mentioned in the Quran, and as Drake and Sully search for its ruins they are forced to contend with the private military of Sully’s former employer, Katherine Marlowe.
Uncharted 3 continues many of the gameplay aspects established by its predecessors. Action still takes place from a third-person perspective and features a heavy emphasis on gunplay and platforming. This time around, however, Nathan can equip two firearms and four grenades. In addition to an expanded and improved suite of mobility and traversal options, the new shooting combat mechanics make Uncharted 3 the most refined of the first three games, gameplay wise. After releasing in late 2011, the game quickly broke records as the fastest-selling PS3 game, with almost 4 million copies shipped on launch day.
Uncharted: Golden Abyss (2011)
- Released for the PlayStation Vita
Doing what many thought was impossible, Sony and Bend Studio successfully brought Nathan Drake to the company’s new handheld in 2011. Releasing in 2011 in Japan and the rest of the world in 2012, Golden Abyss still exists as a technical showpiece for the PlayStation Vita. The game was used heavily in the promotional materials leading up to the handheld’s release despite not being available at launch. Still, when the game was released, many praised it for its faithful adaptation of the Uncharted series’ core gameplay in a handheld format.
The events of Golden Abyss take place shortly before those of the first game, making it the first game in the series canonically. Critics and fans praise the game for both its impressive visuals and adherence to the Uncharted formula. Thanks to the Vita’s limitations in terms of available buttons, the game features unique controls and some touch-screen functionality. The game remains exclusive to the PS Vita.
Uncharted: Fight for Fortune (2012)
- Released for the PlayStation Vita
Bend Studio is also responsible for Uncharted: Fight for Fortune, the card-battling spin-off. Arriving for the PS Vita in 2012, players collect and deal digital cards to reduce the health of opponents. Bend Studio first conceived of the game during their work on Golden Abyss and successfully pitched as a spin-off follow-up to Sony. Each of the available cards have various attack and defense statistics, and players have a limited pool of points to draw from for playing cards.
The game was the recipient of mixed reception, with many citing the game’s lack of balance and variety. Essentially, once players have participated in a handful of matches they’ve seen all the game has to offer. Still, the game did find enough of an audience to receive some DLC in the form of new card packs. The multiplayer servers for the game were shut down in 2019.
Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection (2015)
- Released for the PlayStation 4
Precluding the release of Uncharted 4, this collection includes the first three games in the series. Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection is a remaster and re-release of the first three Uncharted games for PS4, with development duties handled by Bluepoint Games. Known for their skillful re-imaginings of older games, Bluepoint completely overhauled the cutscenes and visuals of each game, as well as adding motion-blur effects to enhance the sense of movement and speed in each title. While the collection features all of the single-player campaigns of the PS3 Uncharted games, the multiplayer modes are missing.
Critical reception to the Nathan Drake Collection was overwhelmingly positive, with many praising Bluepoint for the improvements made to the visuals and controls. Notably, the version of Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune included in the collection is considered the definitive version of the first game in the series thanks to how improved it is over the original. In addition to bringing the entire Uncharted series at that point to the PS4, the collection introduced a whole new generation of fans to the franchise.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (2016)
- Released for the PlayStation 4
Arriving just a year after the Nathan Drake Collection on PS4 is the final game in the series, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. In addition to featuring a whole slew of gameplay refinements, Uncharted 4 includes what is perhaps the best narrative in the series and gives fans new insight into Nathan Drake’s personal history and relationship with his brother, Sam. Outside the story, however, the fourth Uncharted game has the best shooting combat and traversal options of any game in the series.
Uncharted 4 introduces the grappling hook, which in addition to providing some incredible new options for platforming also gives Nathan a distinct tactical advantage in combat. Beyond the new expanded combat options and improved gunplay, the enemy AI in Uncharted 4 is vastly improved, with foes reacting in real-time to the player’s actions. Uncharted 4 remains one of the best-selling PS4 games and is the fastest-selling first-party exclusive on the system.
Uncharted: Fortune Hunter (2016)
- Released for iOS and Android mobile devices
Fortune Hunter is the mobile spin-off title that acts as a companion game to Uncharted 4. Releasing in 2016 shortly after the arrival of Uncharted 4, Fortune Hunter has players navigate through over 200 unique puzzles. Successful completion of these puzzles nets rewards that can be used in Uncharted 4‘s multiplayer mode. The game utilized a free-to-play model, with players able to spend real-world currency on in-game advantages and upgrades.
While the title did have an audience on mobile, reviews for the game were not favorable and many criticized its monetization model. As of 2022, servers for the game have shut down and it is no longer playable.
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy (2017)
- Released for PlayStation 4
After featuring as a recurring side character throughout the series, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy sees Chloe Frazer finally take center stage. The Lost Legacy is the one and only DLC expansion for Uncharted 4 and builds on many of the improvements made to the series in its last mainline entry. Notably, Lost Legacy has a greater emphasis on stealth and introduces silenced weapons. Rather than always going in guns-blazing, Chloe can take a more measured and tactical approach to encounters.
Taking place before the events of Uncharted 4, The Lost Legacy features Chloe searching for the tusk of Ganesh. Her father died searching for the treasure years prior and Chloe wishes to honor his legacy by finding it herself. Fellow Uncharted 4 co-star Nadine Ross joins as a co-op partner and players can engage in conversations with dialogue trees that have varying outcomes. The Lost Legacy is a fantastic DLC expansion to Uncharted 4 and continues all of the gameplay improvements made to the series in that game.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection (2022)
- Released for PlayStation 5 and PC
Releasing just last year for both PlayStation 5 and PC this collection includes Uncharted 4 and its DLC, The Lost Legacy. Not content to simply port both experiences to modern platforms, both Uncharted 4 and The Lost Legacy received remasters as part of the collection, helping both titles still serve as some of the best-looking first-party Sony games. Both games are incredible experiences, but together they become an unmissable collection for action game fans.
The PC port of Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves holds a Very Positive aggregate score on Steam, making it one of the highest-rated PC versions of a PlayStation exclusive. With an incredible story, airtight gameplay, and some of the best action spectacles available, Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves packages two of the best experiences in the franchise together under one umbrella. An absolute must-play for anyone who has yet to experience Uncharted 4.