Uncharted 4: A Thief's End: Beginner's Guide

Getting Started in Uncharted 4

Uncharted 4 has a prologue, 22 chapters and an epilogue, and the story is linear with one ending. Early chapters include flashbacks, and the Panamanian prison is part of the opening. Gamepressure puts the main story at about 15 hours.

There are 193 collectibles: 109 treasures, 25 journal entries, 23 notes and 36 optional conversations. Treasures glitter in the world; journal entries are found by inspecting specific objects; notes are mostly on skeletons; optional conversations start by talking to your buddies, signalled by an icon over their heads.

Core Mechanics to Master

Nathan can jump, climb, swim, swing on a rope and use a grappling hook. Environments have multiple paths, so look for alternate routes before committing to a firefight.

Stealth: tall grass hides Nathan, and a takedown made in grass keeps you in stealth. You can sneak up on many enemies to eliminate them without using ammo or alerting others. Snipers are introduced in Madagascar.

Combat Tips

Use cover, watch for enemy grenades, aim for headshots (aim assist is available) and watch for sniper laser beams. Once enemies spot you, their behaviour becomes more coordinated.

Essential Tips

1. Collect between fights. None of the collectibles are found during enemy encounters.
2. Use Chapter Select to collect anything you missed; progress carries over to new playthroughs.
3. Use tall grass for quiet takedowns and to keep bodies hidden.
4. Talk to your buddies when you see the conversation icon; optional conversations are easy to miss.
5. Chapters with no collectibles are the Prologue and Chapters 1, 4, 5 and 7, so you can move through them quickly if you are hunting treasures.

Early Chapters: No Boss Fight

Uncharted 4 has no traditional boss fight early on. The opening sequence is a flashback in a Panamanian prison, where Nate, Sam and Rafe try to reach a hidden idol and the escape ends in a frantic chase. Madagascar (King's Bay) comes much later in the story. Throughout the game, use cover, the grappling hook and explosive barrels to manage firefights, and take stealth routes when they are available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to play Uncharted 1–3 before Uncharted 4?
A: It is set several years after Uncharted 3 and refers to the earlier games, but the story is self-contained enough to follow on its own.

Q: Is The Lost Legacy included?
A: The Lost Legacy was a standalone expansion released on PS4 in August 2017. The Legacy of Thieves Collection (PS5 and PC) includes remasters of both games.

Q: How long is Uncharted 4?
A: About 15 hours for the main story, plus roughly 2 to 3 hours for collectibles, according to Gamepressure.

Q: Which platforms is it on?
A: PS4 (10 May 2016), PS5 (28 January 2022) and Windows (19 October 2022).

Q: Is multiplayer included?
A: Online multiplayer (up to ten players, including the Survival co-op mode added in December 2016) is only in the PS4 version. It was omitted from the PS5 and Windows versions.