The Best Moments In The 'Uncharted' Franchise 

When you discuss action-adventure in the video game industry, Uncharted is one of the first games that always pops up in conversation. Created by Naughty Dog, the Uncharted series is a masterpiece that focuses on the journey of Nathan Drake as he hunts down treasures across the globe. It’s filled with beautiful set pieces, accompanied by action sequences that few other games have rivaled, and some of the most emotionally compelling characters in the industry.

In just a few days we’ll be able to get our hands on Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, when we’ll experience the final chapter of Nathan Drake’s saga alongside more memorable moments. But, to prepare ourselves for the end, here’s a few of our favorite moments from the Uncharted franchise.

Uncharted: Finding the U-Boat

While Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune wasn’t filled with memorable moments around every corner like the other two titles that followed it, it was an important chapter in the franchise which set the precedent for the series. After being introduced to Nathan, Elena and Sully, I’ll personally never forget navigating my way through the jungle and witnessing my first discovery: the German U-Boat. It’s the first moment the franchise presented you with a sense of discovery and excitement as you progressed, and that’s something it can never take back.

Uncharted 2: Navigating the Train Through Nepal

One of the most frustrating and memorable moments from the franchise, Uncharted 2s train sequence was a triumph for action-adventure titles. This particular section of the game was actually so complicated that Naughty Dog had to create new technology to make it happen, with the amount of detail they desired at the time – and boy did it pay off. Known as the one standout moment from the franchise to many gamers, this section had players navigating an entire train rushing through Nepal while fighting against hordes of enemies with powerful weaponry. I swear, I’ll never forget how satisfying it was to take down that helicopter…

Uncharted 3: Escaping the Sinking Cruise Ship

The cruise ship sequence from Uncharted 3 is a perfect example of how platforming should be done in video games. While it doesn’t feature as many henchmen and gunfights as other major moments within the series, it did create a visual masterpiece which made you forget you were actually playing through a platforming sequence – instead forcing you to worry about cracking glass, giant waves and rushing water as you navigated the capsizing vessel.

Uncharted 3: Young Drake Flashback

When I first encountered a young Nathan Drake during the opening of Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, I’ll admit that I was a little frustrated that Naughty Dog had pulled me from the action of the present. But after witnessing the connection between Drake and Sullivan, I was willing to let that all go. Easily one of the most meaningful scenes in the franchise, the opening of Uncharted 3 gave us a heartwarming, chase-filled look at how Nathan Drake and Victor Sullivan became family before the events of the Uncharted franchise.

Uncharted 3: Surviving the Cargo Plane

Openly regarded as one of the best scenes from the franchise, the plane sequence in Uncharted 3 is a perfect example of how action-adventure games should be crafted. In true Naughty Dog fashion, the details in these sequence are pushed to the max while Nathan Drake fights his way through a burning plane filled with henchmen. Honestly, it’s a sequence straight out of a Bond movie complete with a reference to Indian Jones which ends in the cargo plane crashing into the desert and Drake snagging a lucky parachute to keep him alive.