Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, created by Naughty Dog fourteen years ago, is still regarded as one of the best adventure games of all time and eventually dethroned Tomb Raider from the top spot. By 2016, the series had solidified its position as one of the best video game franchises ever, with its protagonist Nathan Drake emerging as a well-known personality. Even now, when the stories are winding down and Drake is no longer involved, the captivating work continues to draw admirers from all around the world.
After fourteen years, we still go back to Uncharted and play through the game's various twisting paths just for enjoyment. And that is how we can tell if a franchise deserves all the awards in the book. Even if we are aware of what is around every bend, it pulls us to go back. And as far as Uncharted is concerned, Naughty Dog perfectly captured that feeling. But even so, we are compelled to remember the series in a right sequence based on both its global appeal and, perhaps, a dash of personal preference. Without further ado, here is a list of the top Uncharted games.
5. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune
It seems unfair to rank Naughty Dog's first Uncharted chapter last after building up the anticipation and heaping on the praise. Drake's Fortune has, sadly, been a little bit trodden on, especially in light of how far the brand has come since its first, astronomical success. But that doesn't mean the game is a dud. If anything, it's a remarkable piece of art. But we do need to give their sibling entries a bit more credit in light of Drake's Fortune and the unexplained Golden Abyss chapter on Vita.
The Croft Killer was made possible by Drake's Fortune, which also laid the way for a slew of excellent sequels that would eventually take the top rank in the genre. With a captivating environment to explore, a team that was well-balanced and with believable relationships and reasons, and an incredibly engaging story to follow, the PlayStation 3 hit was in a league of its own for its time. Overall, Drake's Fortune provided us with much to chew on, luring us onto the Uncharted ship for yet another voyage.
4. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
Drake's adventure came to an end in 2016, and Naughty Dog abandoned it in favor of an immensely bland void with no attempt to fill it. As the retired explorer was transferred to more favorable conditions, longtime admirers of the series wept in sorrow. Soon after, the roster shrank, effectively putting an end to the heritage of the Uncharted series. In 2017, though, there was a glimpse of hope. Draper had left. But Uncharted was returning in a completely new guise.
In spite of getting accustomed to the character wearing them, it took some time to become used to new shoes in The Lost Legacy. In order to decipher the code and achieve eternal fame, the outspoken Chloe and Drake's brother Sam joined forces to investigate yet another world wonder. Naturally, obstacles and perplexing challenges appeared along the route to prevent the crew from learning the Indian secrets, maintaining the winning formula from earlier games. Overall, the quest for the priceless Tusk was an exciting experience, but it couldn't quite compare to Nathan's tale arc. The Lost Legacy made an effort, for sure, but in all honesty it just felt like an addition to a much superior game.
3. Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
As the PlayStation 3 era was coming to an end, Naughty Dog and the team realized they wanted to celebrate the system with one big blockbuster chapter. Naturally, this resulted in Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, which effectively put an end to Nathan's travels for the foreseeable future. The franchise would then be completed by Naughty Dog with a collection, and eventually it would turn to new IPs. Or at the very least momentarily.
As the third book in the already successful series, Drake's Deception does an outstanding job of assembling all the necessary components to make one seriously hearty feast. The companion connections developed, the expansive sceneries were rich and distinctive, and the gameplay as a whole moved seamlessly from one plot point to the next. Every scene had some level of excellence throughout the entire episode, which was a long journey through puzzle after puzzle and ruin after devastation. Many of these moments went on to become the series' pinnacle moments.
2. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
While it is possible to argue that Drake's Deception was the original trilogy's most complete game, we believe that Among Thieves had the strongest overall plot, even without the game's polished gameplay. We were captivated by the story that followed as soon as we stepped into Drake's hefty shoes on a train that was about to fall off a precipice. We immediately had the impulse to press on and see out the finale, as though we had been put on a course towards imminent catastrophe. And for the most, if not the whole second chapter, that was something that stayed with us.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves undoubtedly had large shoes to fill. Even with Naughty Dog's expert hammer, the high job of leveling up and evolving it wouldn't have been simple after developing a complete game-changer only years earlier. Unfortunately, it dispelled any skepticism and went on to become not only a more improved entry in terms of gameplay but also an even more potent story-driven experience. And let's face it, Drake's Deception simply didn't meet the same standard of excellence.
1. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
After spending five years in limbo, Naughty Dog ultimately went back to the drawing board, which led to the release of our favorite Nathan Drake for one final adventure. And to be absolutely honest, Uncharted: A Thief's End knocked it out of the park, tenfold, in terms of a well-paced narrative. Finally, the main guns were assembled from the arsenal once more after we had to settle for a spin-off and a Vita chapter to get us through. Nathan Drake had returned.
We were able to tie up all the loose ends we had previously imagined would never come together in the fourth and final Uncharted game. Thief's End completed the picture like the missing pieces of a 10,000 piece puzzle, giving us the chance to see the series in all its beauty, both past and present. What about the gameplay itself? To be honest, there wasn't much Naughty Dog could have done to improve on what was already wonderful. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End was, in general, everything that set the series apart and more. And to be completely honest, even Naughty Dog won't be able to advance from there.
