Best Uncharted games, Ranked

One of PlayStation's core pillars at the inception of the PS3, Sony has truly made a mark with its Uncharted series. There's not a single bad game in the series, but one stands out from the rest and remains unforgettable. Read on to find out about our ranking on the best Uncharted games and see if you agree.

Which Uncharted game is considered the best?

Sic Parvis Magna, the Latin inscription on Sir Francis Drake's ring in the game, is literally translated to: "thus great things from small things." Roughly, it means that greatness comes from small beginnings.

Indeed, the greatness of the Uncharted franchise arose from its small beginnings. From the older platforms like PS3 and the PS Vita to the game's unreal graphics translated into the latest platforms today, its developer Naughty Dog peaked every single time they released an Uncharted game sequel after sequel. Here are the best Uncharted games, ranked from great to the greatest of them all.

6. Uncharted: Golden Abyss

Whether you've played the prequel to the series or not, you can easily agree that it makes the bottom of the list simply because there are some limitations Uncharted: Golden Abyss inevitably has to cater to, as a game played on the now-defunct handheld device, PS Vita.

The touchscreen features of Vita did not fit the game well, and at times felt unnatural that it almost always interrupted the most thrilling parts of the gameplay. The story was interesting, but the game is much shorter. It leaves you wanting more, which shows just how legendary this series is, given that this game is at the bottom of the list.

Related: Uncharted 4 Pirate Founders Sigil Puzzle – How to solve

5. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune

If you were to play Uncharted: Drake's Fortune last in the series, you may find its gameplay monotonous. However, for its time, this game beautifully paved the way for what's yet to come in the series. Its cinematics and gameplay flow smoothly the way a film does, something not too common during its time. This aspect of the series will continue to improve in its sequels, and we can give its first chapter a lot of credit for that.

4. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

As a game created at a time when stunning graphics in a game are nothing new, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy still does not fail to take your breath away with how it masterfully depicts India and its culture. It also attempts to make the game feel a little more open-world with its setting, but it falls short with how there's no real incentive to poking and prod around the various areas on the map.

What this game does best is how well it builds the relationship between its two protagonists through quick dialogue exchanges while exploring the world, during the cutscenes, and eventually shown in the thrilling cinematic moments of its gameplay.

3. Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

It was a close battle between the third chapter in the sequel and The Lost Legacy for Top 3, but what makes Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception ultimately take the spot is how revolutionary it was for its time. The desert scene, which trips you up with its illusions and then eventually leads you to civilization before a fight scene quickly ensues definitely is one for the books. Then there's also the iconic bar brawl scene and the thrilling cinematic scene in the plane are just a few to mention.

The way this game also focuses on the relationship between Sully and our beloved adventurer Nathan Drake makes it one that you should not miss, as Sully continues to appear in the next games, and you can better appreciate it with the context provided in Uncharted 3.

Related: How to get the Uncharted 4 Trials and Tribulations trophy

2. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is when Naughty Dog began to perfect the series, propelling it to even greater heights. This game undeniably has the best combination of combat, puzzles, and set pieces, making for a great replay value.

It is filled with thrilling high-stake situations, and in several moments (if not all), you actually feel as if you are the one trying to get to the top of the train before it falls over a cliff. The villain here is also the most memorable in the series, but the story is so well done you cannot be mad at them for giving you such a hard time. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves undeniably set the standard of how a cinematic video game experience should be made.

1. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End masterfully finishes Drake's story on a high note. The game places a beautiful emphasis on relationships and characterization without skimping on the action. What makes this final game memorable and the best in the series is how it achieves what most cinematic adventure games cannot. 

The game clearly explains the characters' motivations throughout the series, especially Nathan Drake. He is not just some flat character who goes out on a limb stealing ancient artifacts, seeking out lost cities just for fun, fame, and fortune, but someone who's so artfully humanized as a video game character with complex motivations that aren't left unexplained. Ultimately, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End shows how a series should end–leaving no stone unturned and finishing the story at a point when it should rightfully end, wittingly avoiding the risk of letting a series monotonously ride on its hype for longer than it should.

Although it's a treat that it has now made the jump to being available on the PS5 and PC, the charm of the series was never its industry-leading graphics, no matter how great it improved sequel after sequel. Uncharted shows how story and gameplay go hand in hand to create a full-bodied action-adventure game.

For more coverage on Uncharted, check out How to run in Uncharted 4 and All Trophies for Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection here at Pro Game Guides.