There's a strong argument to be made that were it not for the PlayStation 4's hugely impressive selection of exclusive titles, the console would not have performed anywhere near as well as it did. Microsoft did attempt to even the playing field in this respect and was able to secure plenty of big-budget titles exclusively for the Xbox One. Try as the tech giant might though, it never really managed to find a true competitor to Naughty Dog's excellent Uncharted series. That's not to say that one doesn't exist though.
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Nathan Drake's saga seems to have ended with Naughty Dog's Uncharted 4, but was A Thief's End a satisfying conclusion?
Lurking in the annals of gaming's recent history lay plenty of fantastic multi-platform adventure games; many of which share quite a few similarities with the Uncharted series. They may be lacking that signature Naughty Dog charm and some could have perhaps done with a bit more polish in places, but even in their current states, they offer an Uncharted-like experience even for those who opted against buying a PS4.
Updated February 12, 2024, by Tom Bowen: The genre may not be as popular as it was back in the nineties and early two-thousands, but there's still a pretty impressive selection of great adventure games for those who know where to look. Unfortunately for Xbox owners, many of these, like Naughty Dog's Uncharted series, are PlayStation exclusives, but that isn't to say that there aren't still plenty of great Xbox games like Uncharted for those who know where to look. In fact, thanks to the consoles' comprehensive backward compatibility, some might say that Xbox Series owners are a little spoiled for choice in this department.
Sea of Thieves
Metacritic Rating: 69 (Xbox One)
Though the oceanic setting may be a little different, Sea of Thieves is a game that is built around exploration and adventure; two things that define Nathan Drake and the Uncharted series. Both titles also feature some great humor in their writing and the characters in each series are incredibly memorable too.
This is perhaps where the similarities end, but, for most players, the ever-present sense of adventure on offer in Rare's pirate-themed title should be more than enough to scratch that Uncharted itch. The game itself is full to the brim with things to do as well, with new updates and crossovers being released on a fairly regular basis.
Sea of Thieves
- Released
- March 20, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Rare
- Publisher(s)
- Microsoft Game Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death
Metacritic Rating: 66 (Xbox 360)
Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death never came close to being a Game of the Year contender when it was released back in 2013, but that's not to say that it's completely bereft of charm. Marlow is, for the most part, at least, a wonderful character and at times feels like a modern-day reimagining of Indiana Jones.
Granted, there are times when he's a little more Crystal Skull than Raiders, but, on the whole, the game itself is a solid one that incorporates some interesting ideas. For those who hold an interest in the Mayan culture or are simply looking for a solid, albeit unspectacular adventure game, Zootfly's title is definitely worth checking out.
Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death
- Released
- September 20, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
Deadfall Adventures
Metacritic Rating: 43 (Xbox 360)
There were quite a few decent adventure games released for the Xbox 360 in late 2013, with Deadfall Adventures also making its debut around that time. Story-wise, this one is very Raiders-esque, with players taking on the role of James Lee Quatermain, a treasure hunter who finds himself fighting Nazi soldiers during World War 2.
Like the Uncharted series, the game takes players to some rich and varied locales, with Egypt, the Arctic, and South America all on the itinerary at various points. Unfortunately, the combat is far from perfect and some of the puzzles can be a little too easy at times, but these are things that Uncharted fans should be pretty used to by now.
Deadfall Adventures
- Released
- November 15, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
Metacritic Rating: 82 (Xbox 360)
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West may not be up to the same high standards as some of Ninja Theory's other games, but it still holds up pretty well today despite now being more than a decade old. Based loosely on Wu Cheng'en's novel, Journey to the West, the game takes place in a post-apocalyptic future where giant robots hunt down the remnants of humanity like animals.
Thematically, the game shares a lot more similarities with Horizon: Zero Dawn than it does with the Uncharted series, but its gameplay definitely ticks a lot of the same boxes. The game's exploration and platforming elements play a central role when it comes to how players interact with the game, while its many puzzles provide just the right amount of challenge.
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
- Released
- October 5, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb
Metacritic Rating: 73 (Xbox)
Nathan Drake and Lara Croft owe an awful lot to Indiana Jones. The intrepid adventurer wrote the book on treasure hunting and no doubt served as a huge inspiration to the developers at Naughty Dog and Core Design when they were fleshing out their respective protagonists. What some may not realize, however, is that Indy has had plenty of video game adventures of his own.
Many will argue that his point-and-click adventures from the late eighties and early nineties are the picks of the bunch. Those people are probably right, but some of his more recent 3D titles have been pretty decent too. Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb is one of the best, though that could all change when Bethesda's as yet untitled Indiana Jones game arrives in the coming years.
Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb
- Released
- February 25, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- Publisher(s)
- LucasArts
- Developer
- The Collective
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS2, Xbox (Original)
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Adventure
Far Cry 3
Metacritic Rating: 91 (Xbox 360)
Those who have never played one of Ubisoft's Far Cry games are seriously missing out. They're a far cry from perfect, but typically contain most of the ingredients needed for a top-quality game and provide hours upon hours of fun. Their protagonists are usually fairly weak by design, but the Far Cry series has featured some truly fantastic villains over the years.
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There are some fantastic adventure games that have released over the years but some of them have been seemingly forgotten.
Anybody who enjoyed coming up against the likes of Rafe Adler and Harry Flynn will likely love what Pagan Min and Vaas have to offer; not to mention the intricate narratives that are woven around them. Throw in some great map traversal mechanics and some solid combat too and there are more than a few shades of Uncharted scattered throughout the Ubisoft series.
Far Cry 3
- Released
- November 29, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Open-World
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Metacritic Rating: 92 (Xbox)
Like Uncharted, the Prince of Persia series has been around for quite some time now; which has allowed developers to tweak and refine gameplay and flesh out the games' protagonists incredibly well. As a result, the titular prince makes for a strong Nathan Drake substitute and his games aren't too bad either.
A big part of what makes the Prince of Persia series so enjoyable is its excellent platforming and climbing mechanics and these aren't all that dissimilar to the ones found in the Uncharted games. Some of the themes and settings can be incredibly reminiscent too, making the series a great alternative for those looking for something other than Uncharted.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
- Released
- October 28, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft Montreal
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, Xbox (Original), Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, PC, Mobile
Quantum Break
Metacritic Rating: 77 (Xbox One)
Quantum Break and Uncharted 4 are both highly cinematic adventure games with likable male protagonists and plenty of high-octane action scenes. What's more, both are console exclusives, are fairly linear in their designs, and feature some of the best voice acting in gaming. There are a few differences, however.
Nathan Drake being a returning character helps ease players into the game a lot better than if Naughty Dog had been starting from scratch and his adventure is a lot longer too. Quantum Break makes up for this, however, by giving players some real choices to make throughout the game; helping to make it feel as though players are actually shaping the narrative rather than just watching it unfold. Ultimately, they're both great games, and those who enjoyed one of them will probably enjoy the other.
Quantum Break
- Released
- April 5, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
Tomb Raider
Metacritic Rating: 86 (Xbox 360)
Lara Croft was raiding tombs long before Nathan Drake had even left the orphanage and is arguably a far more capable treasure hunter as a result. Experience aside though, there are plenty of similarities between the two characters and so there's a high probability that anybody who likes Drake will find themselves just as enamored by the original tomb raider.
When it comes to games that are similar to Uncharted, none fit the bill quite as well as Square Enix's Tomb Raider trilogy. Both series are full of puzzles, historical artifacts, and compelling characters and each has a history of incorporating supernatural elements from time to time as well. If anything, the Tomb Raider games might just have the edge thanks to their superior combat mechanics, although this is something that was greatly improved in Uncharted 4.
Tomb Raider
- Released
- March 5, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Crystal Dynamics
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Xbox 360, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Action
Batman: Arkham Collection
Metacritic Rating: 94 (Xbox 360)
The Batman: Arkham games feature one of the best combat systems in gaming and also have a knack for delivering strong narrative experiences across multiple titles. Whether or not the Batman himself is a match for Nathan Drake, however, will likely come down to personal preferences.
Despite his gruff exterior and raspy voice, there is a real and noticeable depth to Bruce Wayne throughout the series and a fairly coherent character arc to boot. It could also be argued that he squares off against some much better villains, although they perhaps lack the realism and believability of some of the Uncharted series' past antagonists.
Batman: Arkham City
- Released
- October 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Rocksteady Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Games
- Platform(s)
- PS3, PC, Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Switch