Summary
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortunewas a landmark title forSony;a cornerstone of the bar of quality they established in the seventh console generation that made them an industry leader and comfortably leftMicrosoft’s Xboxplaying catch up. Its release in 2007 spawned a critically acclaimed series of games and a dedicated fanbase to further thatPlayStationbrand.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s Endwrapped up the overarching story in 2016, and theUnchartedseries was put on ice after the spin-off game,Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, the following year. Many fans arestill awaiting a revival of the series, but a fewPS5games have been released since that can somewhat scratch that itch. Consider these great PS5 games that share common narrative or gameplay structure with theUnchartedgames.
It’s impossible to ignorethe influence theTomb Raiderseries hadonUncharted,so Lara deserves her flowers in this recent remaster of the three originalTomb Raidergames. It’s fair to note this is essentially an upscale of games that are the better part of three decades old, and more could have been done to modernize the control scheme.
It’s also fair to say the controls ofUncharted: Drake’s Fortunehaven’t aged as well as fans probably remember. For that nostalgia hit and good old treasure hunting in lost ruins,Tomb Raider 1-3 Remasteredis still a great option.
Probably the most divisive entry on this list, and it certainly did land with a bit of a thud, but its main gameplay failings were being derivative of older-generation action adventure games where one might find a certain series being discussed here. It certainly has the cinematic scope and pacing of theUnchartedseries, and there is still plenty of fun to be found withUnknown 9: Awakening.
As part of a very ambitious multimedia franchise, there were bound to be missteps with too many corporate cooks around the pot.Bandai Namcois still pressing ahead with the larger series, so there’s time forUnknown 9: Awakeningto find an audience with proper post-launch support.
Many gameplay elements define theUnchartedseries, but the thing that really elevated above its contemporaries was a meaningful story with relatable characters.That lasting legacy in AAA gamingis the key connecting point toBanishers: Ghost of New Eden, which weaves a supernatural tale about grief and moving on.
There’s less connective tissue in the gameplay elements, butBanishers: Ghosts of New Edendoes successfully set itself aside from other narrative-driven adventure titles as the player conducts investigations around hauntings and ultimately decides whether to banish the ghost or condemn their inhabitants.
For all his endearing qualities, Nathan Drake was certainly a man with a fault or two, especially in the earlier games, being arrogant, cocky, and sticky-fingered. Few modern video game characters better embody those lovable rogue qualities than Kay Vess fromStar Wars Outlaws.
Granted, Han Solo was a more direct inspiration, but there are definite parallels to draw. Beyond that,Star Wars Outlawsis the closest game toUnchartedon this listin terms of combat, both in cover shooting and firing straight from the hip.
Kena: Bridge of Spiritsis cinematic in a very different way, more like a playablePixarmovie with its striking visuals. It’s the 3D action platforming sections that draw comparison toUncharted, in particular when scaling cliff faces with some very familiar white paint.
Kena’s controls are a blast, offering a little more freedom than the more prescribed platforming of theUnchartedseries, and there’s even a treasure or two to find throughout the world for those seeking archaeological exploration.
A Plague Tale: Requiemis the follow-up toA Plague Tale: Innocence, expanding and improving on its predecessor with more stealth-based puzzle action set in the grimdark fantasy world. It’s another that borrows from the slow, compelling narrative format and also blends elements of familiar gameplay.
Environmental puzzles are central to both series, withA Plague Tale: Requiem’soften consisting of manipulating light sources to avoid hordes of plague rats. The game also features playable cinematic sequences very reminiscent ofUncharted —in particular,Naughty Dog’strademark running toward the camera as chaos chases from behind.
The second entry on this list from the ever-expandingStar Warsuniverse,Star Wars Jedi: Survivor(along with its predecessor,Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order) clearly takes inspiration fromSony’sjuggernaut hit. All the elements are there — puzzle solving, 3D action platforming, compelling narrative, and the aforementioned playable cinematic sequences where chaos ensues.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivorreally feels like anUnchartedgame set in theStar Warsuniverse, with the added benefit of decades of lore and a satisfyingly complex combat system that bares more semblance to the popular soulslike genre.
God of War Ragnarokis still one of the best games available on the console. WhenSonyrebooted theGod of Warseries, they took reference fromUncharted, crafting a more mellow and somber tale complete with cinematic high points.God of War Ragnarokputs a prominent focus on puzzle solving, hidden treasure, and storytelling — three of the core tenets to meet the criteria here.
This wasn’t simply a one-and-done reboot though, withGod of War Ragnarokbringing plenty of its own brilliant gameplay and combat to the table to stand tall not just as a contemporary but as anothercore pillar of thePlayStationbrand.
