Uncharted: A Beginner's Guide to the Series (2026)

What Is Uncharted

Uncharted is Naughty Dog’s flagship adventure series about treasure, cliffs, and wit. The protagonist of the first four games is Nathan Drake, a fortune hunter and descendant of Sir Francis Drake. The Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection (PC and PS5) is the perfect way to get started with the series today: it includes Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and the standalone adventure The Lost Legacy, starring Chloe Fraser. It’s a Hollywood blockbuster complete with cinematic direction, high-speed chases, collapsing bridges, and humor in every scene.

Where to Start with the Series

• If you’re short on time, start with Uncharted 4: it’s the series’ climax, with the best graphics and the most mature story.
• The Lost Legacy is a compact 7–9-hour adventure set in the semi-open region of the Western Ghats: an excellent second step.
• If you want the full story, start with Drake’s Fortune and play them in order: the characters and humor get better with each installment.
• Recommended difficulty for first-time players: “Moderate”—this series is about spectacle, not suffering.

Characters: The Heart of the Series

Uncharted isn’t about the shooting—it’s about the people. Their dialogue, banter, and chemistry are what make every adventure a must-play.

• Nathan Drake is a charming adventurer who can hang from a ledge with one hand while cracking jokes.
• Elena Fisher—a journalist and Drake’s wife—is the only person capable of reining Nathan in.
• Sully (Victor Sullivan) is Drake’s mentor and “bad uncle,” known for his cigars and having a Plan A, Plan B, and “run away.”
• Sam Drake — Nathan’s older brother, whose return sets the plot of the fourth installment in motion.
• Chloe Fraser — a feisty treasure hunter and the heroine of *The Lost Legacy*: she’s got as much charisma as Drake himself.
• Nadine Ross—a mercenary and Chloe’s partner: initially an antagonist, later the series’ best duo.

Gameplay: parkour, shootouts, puzzles

The Uncharted series is built around a rotation of three core elements. The basics of each:

1. Rock climbing — look for light-colored ledges and scratches on the walls; the grappling hook swings in the fourth installment: jump when it reaches the lowest point of the swing.
2. Shootouts—stay behind cover, flank enemies, and use grenades against shield-wielding enemies. Silencer Tip—a silenced pistol lets you take out patrols quietly.
3. Puzzles—All clues are in Drake’s notebook: if you’re stuck, open the journal (touchpad button/T).
4. Stealth sections—in the fourth part, you can clear almost any arena silently: mark enemies (L3) before they raise the alarm.

Treasure and Collectibles

Treasure is scattered throughout the levels—shiny dots in hard-to-reach places. They don’t affect the story, but they unlock bonuses, models, and modifiers. Tips for platinum hunters: look under waterfalls and behind destructible walls; return to arenas after battles—new areas become accessible there; and use photo mode: it highlights passages that aren’t visible at first glance.

Video: Uncharted 4 Story Trailer

Common beginner mistakes

• Shooting while standing still—in Uncharted, cover and rolling are essential.
• Ignoring the grappling hook and sliding—half of the platforming in the fourth game is built around them.
• Skipping “small talk” dialogue—the series’ best lines happen between firefights.
• Sticking strictly to the waypoints—treasures and optional conversations are hidden off the main path.

Conclusion

Uncharted is a vacation in game form: jungles, waterfalls, ancient tombs, and a crew that never lets you get bored for a single minute. Start with the fourth installment, continue with Lost Legacy—and when Nathan says “Oh, crap” for the last time, you’ll understand why people have loved this series for nearly twenty years.