Is it worth playing Uncharted 4 in 2025?

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is a thrilling gaming experience worth replaying this year. It was originally released on the PlayStation 4 in 2016, remastered for PlayStation 5, and was ported to PC as part of the Legacy of Thieves bundle. Naughty Dog did not hold back from giving Nathan Drake the final adventure he deserved and ended it on a high note.

While A Thief's End may not be perfect — its exceptional graphics, gameplay, and storytelling make it feel like a current-gen title to many fans. If you're looking for a globe-trotting adventure, a grounded story, and high-octane action, this Uncharted entry is for you.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's personal opinions about the game.

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Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is a great action-adventure experience

After a few life-changing treasure hunts, it was time for Nate to stop venturing into the Uncharted (Image via Naughty Dog)

Naughty Dog has struck gold with the Uncharted franchise and has contributed heavily during the PlayStation 3 era. After improving each major entry, the developers decided to take their sweet time with Nathan Drake's fourth and final chapter packed with an emotional story, great physics, and visuals.

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End was worth the wait and looked amazing even on the base PlayStation 4. Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley were given the director's chair after successfully releasing The Last of Us in 2013 — and they injected some aspects of what they have learned for this entry, such as the importance of family.

The Uncharted franchise never looked better (Image via Naughty Dog)

While the game is not necessarily hard, some combat encounters can be extremely challenging, especially if players adjust the settings to the higher difficulties. The shooting and gunplay feel much more realistic than in previous games — leading to some interesting combat scenarios. The replayability factor is high, especially once players master the balance between stealth and open combat.

Additionally, Nate's insane luck is one of the few unrealistic aspects of the series, and how he manages to escape death's clutches after each adventure. Uncharted 4: A Thief's End acknowledges that Nate may have pushed his luck too far but has no choice but to jump on the saddle again to save his brother, Sam.

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Naughty Dog went all out for this Uncharted story

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is pure adrenaline (Image via Naughty Dog)

The developers took advantage of the PlayStation 4's impressive horsepower, allowing them to add more realistic visuals and gameplay mechanics. Nate is given a grappling hook that could be useful in certain situations, such as solving environmental puzzles, platforming, and even during stealth and combat encounters.

Some fans noticed a massive decline in pacing during the late chapters; however, the combat sections and the witty banter between characters can keep players invested in seeing how it all unfolds.

While stealth is always an option — sometimes things don't go according to plan — leading to guns blazing. Nate and his allies can perform stealth and buddy takedowns, but once the cover is blown, the AI buddies are competent and can hold their own.

The series usually features a historical event or a hidden city full of treasure — however, Libertalia and Henry Avery's Gunsway Heist is more than just another archeological goldmine for the Drake brothers. This entry is a much more personal story for the main characters, who literally and figuratively shaped their futures as treasure hunters to honor their mother's unfinished work.

New faces like Sam Drake, Nadine Ross, and Rafe Adler were perfect additions to the cast, matching the charm of returning characters like Victor Sullivan, Nate's surrogate father and mentor, — and Elena Fisher — a former journalist and Nate's wife. Rafe Adler was a much more compelling villain than previous antagonists due to his insecurities, which perfectly mirror Nate's.

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Conclusion

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is the definition of a perfect ending (Image via Naughty Dog)

The gap between Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is unusually long — but the final product was worth the wait. Naughty Dog could have played it safe by reusing the same cookie-cutter formula from the older entries with minor improvements but opted to give the characters an emotional rollercoaster.

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is one of those first-party PlayStation titles that will be remembered for its visuals, gameplay, and storytelling. If players across the PlayStation and PC platforms are looking for a quick 15-hour gaming experience with pirate ships, gunfights, treasure hunting, and more — the Legacy of Thieves collection is up for grabs.