Nate Drake is basically the Indiana Jones of the PlayStation era, but let’s be real for a second: not every entry in the franchise is a masterpiece. People often look for a list of uncharted games thinking they can just jump in anywhere, but if you start with the wrong one, you’re gonna have a bad time. I’ve spent hundreds of hours climbing crumbling masonry and Narrowly escaping explosions to figure out which of these Naughty Dog gems still hold up in 2026.
Some of these games defined a generation. Others? They feel a little clunky now.
The Evolution of the List of Uncharted Games
If you look back at 2007, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune was a revelation. It wasn't just a game; it was a vibe. But honestly, playing it today feels like wrestling with a shopping cart that has one bad wheel. The shooting is floaty. The jet ski levels are—and I cannot stress this enough—legitimately frustrating. It laid the groundwork, sure, but the series didn't really find its soul until the sequel.
Most players forget that there are actually seven distinct entries if you count the handhelds and the weird spin-offs. You have the core tetralogy, the Vita prequel, the standalone expansion, and even a card-based game that most people pretend doesn't exist.
1. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
This is the peak. Ask anyone who played it on the PS3 back in 2009. That opening scene where you're dangling from a train car hanging off a Himalayan cliff? Absolute cinema. It solved every problem the first game had. The pacing is relentless, the chemistry between Nate and Chloe Frazer is electric, and it introduced the "urban warfare" feel that Naughty Dog would later perfect in The Last of Us. It’s the gold standard for how to do an action-adventure sequel.
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2. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
This one hits different. It’s a bit more "grown-up." You see Nate trying to live a normal life, doing dishes and playing crash bandicoot, before his long-lost brother Sam shows up and ruins everything. The graphics, even years later, are staggering. The Madagascar chase sequence is arguably the best-directed set piece in gaming history. However, some fans felt it was a bit too long. The pacing slows down significantly in the middle sections compared to the frantic energy of Among Thieves.
3. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
Initially planned as DLC, this became a full-blown standalone game. It swaps Nate for Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross. Honestly? It’s tighter than Uncharted 4. Because it’s shorter, there’s no filler. It captures that classic "pulp adventure" feel perfectly. Seeing the Western Ghats in India was a nice break from the usual jungle/desert rotation we’d seen for a decade.
What About the Ones Nobody Talks About?
When people search for a list of uncharted games, they usually miss Uncharted: Golden Abyss. It was a launch title for the PlayStation Vita. For a handheld game, it was a technical miracle. It used the Vita's touch screen for rubbing charcoal over ancient reliefs and the gyroscope for aiming. It’s a solid B-tier adventure, but because it’s stuck on dead hardware, it’s basically become digital archeology itself.
Then there is Uncharted: Fight for Fortune. It’s a turn-based card game. Yeah, you read 그게 right. It was weird. It didn't really capture the "climbing and shooting" essence of the brand, but it exists. If you're a completionist, it's on the list, but you're not missing much if you skip it.
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The Problem With Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
This is a hot take, but Uncharted 3 is kind of a mess narratively. It has the best set pieces—the cargo plane crash and the sinking cruise ship are incredible—but the story feels like it was written around those moments rather than being a cohesive tale. The villains, Talbot and Marlowe, have these supernatural undertones that never quite get explained. It feels like a "Greatest Hits" album rather than a new symphony.
How to Actually Play Them Today
If you’re looking to dive in, don’t just buy the old discs. The Nathan Drake Collection on PS4 (which is playable on PS5) remastered the first three games at 60fps. It makes the first game significantly more bearable because the input lag is gone.
For the modern stuff, the Legacy of Thieves Collection bundles Uncharted 4 and Lost Legacy. It’s the definitive way to experience the end of Nate’s journey.
Quick Reference for Release Order:
- Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (2007)
- Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009)
- Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (2011)
- Uncharted: Golden Abyss (2011 - Vita)
- Uncharted: Fight for Fortune (2012 - Card Game)
- Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (2016)
- Uncharted: The Lost Legacy (2017)
The Future: Is There an Uncharted 5?
There have been rumors for years about a reboot or a prequel involving Nate's daughter, Cassie, or a younger Victor Sullivan. Naughty Dog has been pretty vocal about being "done" with the series, but Sony isn't likely to let a massive IP like this sit on the shelf forever. Rumors of a remake of the first game have circulated in the industry, though nothing is official.
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The movie with Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg showed there's still a massive appetite for the brand, even if the film didn't quite capture the "magic" of the games for many long-term fans.
Actionable Next Steps for New Players
If you want to experience the list of uncharted games without burning out, here is exactly how to do it:
- Skip the First Game (Mostly): If you find the combat in Drake’s Fortune annoying after two hours, just watch a story recap on YouTube and move to Uncharted 2. You won’t lose much.
- Play the Remasters: The 60fps boost in the Nathan Drake Collection is non-negotiable for a good experience.
- Don't Ignore Lost Legacy: Many people think it's a "side story" and skip it. Don't. It's easily one of the top three entries in the entire franchise.
- Check the Settings: In Uncharted 4, turn on the "Photo Mode." The environments are some of the most detailed ever created in gaming, and it’s worth stopping to look at the textures.
The Uncharted series isn't just about shooting pirates; it's about the "Whoa" moments. It’s about the crumbling bridge, the narrow escape, and the witty banter. Even the "worst" game in this list is still better than 90% of the action-adventure games out there. Start with Among Thieves and you'll see why people are still obsessed with this series nearly twenty years later.