You're standing in a cold, damp room beneath a Scottish graveyard. Rain is probably pouring down outside, but here, it’s just you, Sam Drake, and a wall of mechanisms that look like they were designed by a monk who had way too much free time and a grudge against intruders. The Uncharted 4 cross puzzle is one of those classic Naughty Dog moments where the pace shifts from "run and gun" to "stare at the screen until your eyes hurt." It’s located in Chapter 9, "Those Who Prove Worthy," and if you aren't careful, you’ll spend twenty minutes spinning wheels in circles.
Honestly, it’s not even the hardest puzzle in the series. That honor probably goes to the shadow puzzles in the third game. But this one? It’s finicky. It relies on a mix of Henry Avery’s obsession with pirate lore and some basic physics involving light and shadows. If you've been stuck here, don't worry. Most people mess it up because they try to overthink the alignment.
What the Uncharted 4 Cross Puzzle Is Actually Asking You to Do
The room features a large contraption with four distinct crosses. You've got a bucket of water, some levers, and a whole lot of gear-turning. Basically, the goal is to align these crosses so that the light shining through the wall hits the specific points on the door mechanism.
It sounds simple. It isn't.
Nathan Drake’s journal is your best friend here. You’ll see a sketch of the three crosses: the Cross of St. Peter (inverted), the Cross of Dismas, and the Cross of Gestas. The biggest cross in the center represents Jesus. The game doesn’t explicitly scream this at you, but the height and position of the crosses in the journal are a literal map for the physical puzzle in front of you.
The First Step: The Bucket
Before you can even touch the crosses, you need to handle the bucket. Grab it, walk over to the pool of water, fill it up, and bring it back to the pedestal. Once you place it, the light kicks in. This is the "Aha!" moment where the puzzle actually begins. If you’re playing on Crushing difficulty, the stakes feel higher, but the solution remains identical to the lower settings.
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Navigating the Wheels Without Getting Lost
There are four wheels at the base of the mural. Each wheel rotates a different set of crosses. This is where the frustration starts because moving one often shifts another you’ve already aligned. It’s a classic logic puzzle.
Here is the thing: you need to focus on the big center cross first.
- The far-left wheel handles the two smaller crosses on the left side.
- The second wheel from the left controls the large central cross and one of its neighbors.
- The third wheel is similar, twisting the center and the right-side crosses.
- The far-right wheel rotates the two crosses on the outer right edge.
You see the pattern? Everything overlaps. If you just spin things randomly, you’ll end up with a mess. You want to position the largest cross—the one representing Christ—upright in the center. Once that's locked in, you work your way outward.
Why People Get Stuck on the Light Points
The light isn't just hitting the crosses; it’s passing through them to hit specific "sensors" on the door frame. You’ll notice two points of light on the wall. The big cross needs to sit right between them, while the smaller crosses need to catch the light on their "arms."
I’ve seen players try to match the crosses to the shadows on the floor. Don’t do that. It’s a trap. Look at the wall. The wall tells the truth.
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The History Behind the Symbols
Naughty Dog didn't just pick these crosses out of a hat. Henry Avery, the "King of Pirates," was a real person, and while the game’s version of him is highly fictionalized, the use of religious iconography to hide pirate treasure is a trope the developers lean into heavily.
The two thieves, Dismas and Gestas, are central to the lore of the Uncharted 4 cross puzzle. Dismas is the "Good Thief" who repented, while Gestas is the "Impenitent Thief." In the puzzle, their crosses are usually smaller or positioned to the side of the central cross. This isn't just flavor text. It’s a hint. Avery was obsessed with the idea of "proving worthiness." Only those who understood the balance of sacrifice and greed (at least in his twisted mind) could move forward.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The biggest mistake is ignoring the journal. Nate’s sketches are literally the blueprint. If you look at the page, you’ll see the symbols for the three crosses. Note which way they are facing. St. Peter’s cross is upside down. If you try to put it right-side up, the mechanism won't trigger.
Another issue? Accidental double-turns. The controls are a bit sensitive. If you flick the analog stick too hard, you might skip a rotation. Go slow. One click at a time.
If you’ve completely botched the alignment and have no idea where you started, sometimes it’s faster to just reload the checkpoint. It puts the wheels back in their "zero" position. It feels like a defeat, but it saves you ten minutes of aimless spinning.
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Setting Up the Final Reveal
Once the light hits all the points correctly, a lever will pop out to the right of the door. Walk over, pull it, and the door opens. You’re done.
But wait. There’s a bit of narrative tension here. As soon as you finish the Uncharted 4 cross puzzle, the game reminds you that you aren't alone. Rafe and Nadine are hot on your trail. This puzzle serves as a breather before the next big set-piece, but it also reinforces the scale of Avery's traps.
A Quick Recap of the Rotation
If you want the "too long; didn't read" version of the rotations:
The goal is to get the big cross in the middle with the two points of light on either side of its vertical bar. The inverted cross (St. Peter) goes on the far left. The other two crosses go on the right.
- Use the inner wheels to get the center cross vertical.
- Use the outer wheels to swing the side crosses into the light.
- Check the wall. If the light isn't centered on the crossbars, you're off by one rotation.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Playthrough
- Open the Journal Immediately: Don't even look at the wheels until you’ve checked Nate's notes. It sets the visual goal in your head.
- Fill the Bucket First: You can't see the light points without the water weight. It sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people try to "solve" it in the dark.
- Work Center-Out: Lock that big cross in first. It’s the anchor for the entire mechanism.
- Watch for the Click: There is a subtle audio cue when a cross moves into a "major" position. Listen for the heavy thud of the gears.
- Don't Panic on Crushing: The puzzle doesn't get harder, but your patience might get thinner because you're worried about the combat encounter coming up. Take a breath.
The Uncharted 4 cross puzzle is a masterclass in environmental storytelling. It forces you to engage with the world the way Nathan Drake does—by looking at the history, the art, and the physical space all at once. It’s a brief moment of calm before the chaos of the later chapters, so enjoy the quiet of the Scottish crypt while it lasts.
Once you clear this room, make sure you're stocked up on ammo. The next section isn't nearly as quiet as this one was. Grab the collectible treasure in the corner of the next hallway before you move into the open area; it’s easy to miss if you’re rushing to catch up with Sam. Move forward, keep your eyes open, and remember that in Avery’s world, nothing is ever just a decoration.