Finished Naughty Dog’s action-adventure game and are now looking for games like the Uncharted Series? It’s natural. Naughty Dog did such a phenomenal job with the games that we are still craving more. The games didn’t just nail the action sequences but also put emphasis on character development and emotions. This is exactly why fans are still hungry for more games like the Uncharted Series.
Thankfully, we have a couple of great games, like the Uncharted Series. Of course, they are not going to capture the full magic of Nathan Drake and his companions. However, all of these games are great in their own way. Many of the games offer action set pieces with plenty of witty dialogue. But we know the void left behind by Nathan can’t be filled easily.
Games Like the Uncharted Series
The Uncharted series had a winning formula. It had great action set pieces, followed by quieter sections, emotional connections between the characters, well-written dialogues, and equally good voice acting. The game also had great platforming action with pretty fluid shooting and hand-to-hand combat. Hopefully, the games like the Uncharted Series capture some of the magic.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Release Date: September 14, 2018
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, macOS, Windows, Linux
There was a time when Uncharted was called a Tomb Raider clone with a male protagonist. It was pretty evident where Naughty Dog got their inspiration from. These days, both modern games share certain elements but gameplay wise they are quite different. While Tomb Raider is equally focused on exploration and light RPG elements, Uncharted keeps things straightforward.
Unlike the Uncharted series, Tomb Raider introduced experience points, character levels, skill points, weapon customizations, and crafting. Stealth combat is also a big focus of Shadow of the Tomb Raider. So much so that we consider it one of the best stealth games in recent times. Apart from that, there are a lot of similarities between these two franchises. Platforming is still one of the biggest selling points of the Tomb Raider franchise.
Puzzles also play an important part in this game. Solving environmental puzzles, climbing impossible-to-reach areas, and discovering new treasures are the name of the game here. Lara Croft may not be as witty or charming as Nathan Drake, but she is equally brilliant and smart.
The graphics are phenomenal, the physics effects are beautiful, and the locations are just as grand as Uncharted. If you’re looking for games like the Uncharted series, then playing Shadow of the Tomb Raider is almost an obligation.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
Release Date: October 26, 2021
Platform: Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Some games simply sneak up on you and surprise you with their quality. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is one such game that did not get a lot of hype before release but quickly gathered favored reviews both from critics and players. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is a charming and fun game that has some of the best banter between characters.
If you love how Nathan Drake quipped with Sully or his brother, then you’ll love how Peter Quill and his gang communicate. It is a pleasant surprise to see developers put so much effort into in-game dialogues, some of which carry on without player input. There are 5 members of the team; Star-Lord, Gamora, Groot, Rocket, and Drax. All of them have unique personalities and are well-acted.
Gameplay-wise, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is a third-person action game. You control Star-Lord, and can order your teammates to attack certain enemies. There is a lot of exploration to be done and fast-paced combat to be had here.
You travel to different locations while following the plot, just like in the Uncharted series. Overall, Guardians of the Galaxy is a brilliant game, even if you don’t love superheroes. It is also one of the best superhero games to come out in recent times.
Control
Release Date: August 27, 2019
Platform: PS4, Windows, Xbox One, Amazon Luna, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Control is beautifully crafted with a thick atmosphere and detailed environments. The game is a third-person shooter with an emphasis on supernatural powers. You take control of Jesse Faden as she tries to find her brother in a building. That may sound simple enough, but the building in question is the Federal Bureau of Control. Think of Control as a supernatural mystery with a strong leading lady.
The FBC houses everything supernatural and has been invaded by a corruptive presence called the “Hiss”. Now it’s up to you to uncover why this presence is here and how to stop it from spreading further. The game uses a brilliant mix of narrative and action to pull you in and keep you there. There are other characters you meet along the ride too, employees of the Bureau that are stuck in the building.
If you loved how detailed the environments in the Uncharted series are, you’ll have a great time plaything through control. The shooting mechanics are solid, but Jesse also has access to supernatural powers. She can fly around and shoot telekinetic blasts from her hands.
While Nathan never had any supernatural abilities, he certainly had some superhuman ability to swing around ropes and magnetically attack enemies. Control 2 is rumored to be next gen only, here is what we know about the game.
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
Release Date: October 28, 2003
Platform: Windows, PS3, PS2, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Xbox
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time released back in 2003, and it wasn’t even the first Prince of Persia. It was technically the second 3D game in the long-running franchise but the most significant one. It introduced movement-based gameplay that was revolutionary at the time. All the rope swinging and ledge-grabbing Nathan Drake does is nothing compared to the wall-running shenanigans of the Prince.
The Prince also has an ancient artifact called the Dagger of Time, which allows him to control the sands of time. The story involves an evil Vizier and a pretty brilliant companion called Farah. There are sand creatures to fight and buildings to scale in this classic platforming game. The graphics might be outdated, but the gameplay still holds up pretty well.
If you are a fan of quick traversal and stylish combat, then you’ll love how fluid Prince of Persia: Sands of Time is. However, the animations are a little stiff by today’s standards, especially if you compare it with the Uncharted series.
If you can overlook the age-based drawbacks, then Prince of Persia: Sands of Time is truly one of the best platforming games of all time. We just wish Ubisoft doesn’t mess up the inevitable reboot of the series, and no we don’t consider Assassin’s Creed Mirage a Prince of Persia successor.
Quantum Break
Release Date: April 5, 2016
Platform: Xbox One, Windows 10
Made by the original developers of Max Payne and the critically acclaimed Control, Quantum Break was a unique experience. The game also has elements of the supernatural, Remedy Games love to have those in their games, including Alan Wake. This time around, the powers are time-based. Two people obtain extraordinary powers when an experiment goes wrong.
The main character is played by Shawn Ashmore while the antagonist is played by Aidan Gillen. The facial animations and overall animations in the game are stellar. The physics-based destruction in the game also makes it a visual spectacle, especially during long shootouts. The third-person shooter mixes fast-paced combat with a pretty good narrative.
Your job is to stop the bad guy that’s hell-bent on time traveling before the fabric of time tears itself apart, dooming everyone. The unique thing about Quantum Break is that it is part traditional videogame and part live-action TV show.
The game moves from one scene to another seamlessly, and while some might find this approach great, some may dislike giving up control for almost hours at a time. However, if you are looking to change stuff up after ending Uncharted 4, this might be what the doctor ordered.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Release Date: November 15, 2019
Platform: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
What would you get if you mix Star Wars with Uncharted and a little dab of Dark Souls? You’ll get Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, a third-person action-adventure game that has Jedi powers and some hefty exploration to do. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is a surprising release from EA, as it is both a single-player narrative-driven adventure and not a live service game.
The game has some of the best gameplay we’ve played in a Star Wars game in a while. It is fast-paced and rewards you for timing your attacks and blocks. Just like Dark Souls, you need to parry at the right time and really nail down the timing of your attacks if you want to stand a chance against enemies. The enemies range from giant toads to Empire grunts, so you’ll need to switch your attacks up accordingly.
There is a lot of exploration to do as well. You can freely travel to planets and explore as you please. Some areas need new tools and keys to open up, encouraging you to revisit explored areas for more goodies. You also have loot to collect while exploring the areas.
Most areas are large semi-open levels that you can traverse at your own leisure. Overall, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is one of the best Star War games in recent times, a pure action filed third-person platformer, like the Uncharted series.
The Last of Us Part II
Release Date: June 19, 2020
Platform: PS4
We cannot leave The Last of Us Part II off the list, especially when we are talking about Naughty Dog. This game is also a third-person action game with an emphasis on stealth and survival. The game isn’t as fast-paced as Nathan’s adventures and doesn’t have any huge set pieces. What it offers is something else, a deep and interesting narrative combined with slow and methodical gameplay.
It is still a third-person shooter, so you’ll have plenty of action, especially if you ignore the stealth and go straight for the headshots. It’s hard to believe, but the gameplay is even more fluid than Uncharted. Naughty Dog has somehow made the character animation and movement silky smooth.
The way one animation blends into another seems natural and a technical marvel. The level of detail in each level is beyond anything we’ve seen in a long while.
Ellie is agile, fast, and ruthless in The Last of Us Part II. You use stealth and cover to your advantage, just like in the Uncharted series. But when stuff hits the fan, you are capable of aiming fast and taking down enemies. There is also a pretty good melee combat system in place, so you are never defenseless in the game. If you liked the deep story and natural characters in Uncharted, you’ll love how well-written The Last of Us Part II is.
Mirror’s Edge
Release Date: November 11, 2008
Platform: Windows, iOS, PS3, Xbox 360, Windows Phone
Like the platforming action in Uncharted and want some more of it? Try out Mirror’s Edge. It has plenty of parkour and epic player-controlled action. The game is set in the near future and follows a courier named Faith. Your job is to deliver messages while evading government agents and surveillance.
This is a simple enough premise that quickly goes into the background while traveling across the city takes priority.
The game is played in the first-person mode, so some people may find it too in the face, especially doing complex parkour moves. However, if you are ok with that, you’ll have a ton of fun evading enemies while doing physics-defying stunts. Jumping between roofs, doing wall running, and using zip lines to quickly descend is the name of the game here.
The game also has a distinct look to it, with most buildings only using the white color. The primary colors are used to add flavor to the art design, however, the color green is missing. So you get a unique futuristic city that is somehow devoid of life and hope. A very clever art direction trick that absolutely adds to the experience. If you want to do epic parkour moves and love platforming, this classic game is a must-play.
Watch Dogs 2
Release Date: November 15, 2016
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, Windows, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Amazon Luna
A third-person action game set in the San Francisco Bay Area that’s seeing the tech revolution, Watch Dogs 2 has a unique premise. You play as Marcus Holloway, a young up-and-coming hacker that is going against the government surveillance system that is being used by bad players bent on controlling the population.
You get to play around with both lethal and non-lethal weapons, the choice is totally yours. Marcus is also great at parkour and can pull off some epic traversal moves on the run. The game also gives you access to hacking powers activated using your phone. The hacks allow you to take control of city infrastructure and use them to your advantage. The latest Watch Dogs, Watch Dogs Legion is rumored to come to Game Pass soon.
Your arsenal includes remote-controlled cars, 3D-printed weapons, and a quadcopter drone to keep an eye on your enemies. There are also new co-op modes, allowing you to play the game with your friends. Watch Dogs 2 is if Nathan wanted to become a thief of digital treasures instead of real ones.
The gunplay is good, and the melee fights are frantic. While you aren’t going to far-off places in search of loot here, the gameplay does give you goodies from time to time.
Just Cause 3
Release Date: December 1, 2015
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, Windows
Just Cause 3 is what you play when you are tired of everything. By everything, we mean everything, including buildings, cars, people, and even cows. If you are tired of Nathan just moving on from level to level without leveling the buildings, you need to play Just Cause 3. The game features a beautiful island to explore and explode, yes, you read that right.
Rico Rodriguez has come to Medici and wants to liberate it from its dictator by exploding everything in his path. The island is over 400 square miles, and you can explore it however you like, by road, by sea, or by air. You even have access to your trusty grappling hook and parachute from the previous games. This time around, you can seamlessly switch to a wingsuit too.
With beautiful graphics, great physics-based action, and a tendency to explode everything, Just Cause 3 is a relaxing game to play after a long day of work. Nathan’s adventure usually has scripted action set pieces, while Rico makes his own with an almost limitless supply of explosives.
If the beautiful locals of the Uncharted series call you, but you also love mayhem, Just Cause 3 is one of the best games like the Uncharted Series for you. The game regularly goes on sale on Steam, so you can nab it cheaply if you keep an eye out.
Conclusion
This ends our Games like the Uncharted series list. All the games here offer something unique to the players and are a great way to spend a weekend or two. These aren’t full-on copies of Uncharted, though, but they do have certain elements of the game we love.
What is your favorite moment in the whole Uncharted series? With Nathan’s story coming to a satisfying conclusion, what are you looking forward to in the inevitable next Uncharted? Tell us in the comments!
