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Uncharted 4 Review Roundup

All the review scores for Uncharted 4.

124 Comments

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, as the name implies, will bring Nathan Drake's treasure hunting days to a close. Given that, over the past few years, he's become a bona fide video game icon, it'll come as no surprise that there's a lot of excitement for the game. But does it deliver?

Ahead of Uncharted 4's release date, which is May 10, reviews answering that question have appeared online. As always, we've gathered a selection of them for your consideration. Take a look at the list below and by the time you reach the bottom, you'll have an overview of Uncharted 4's critical reception.

For a wider view on the game's critical reception, head to GameSpot sister site Metacritic.

  • Game: Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
  • Developer: Naughty Dog
  • Platform: PS4
  • Release Date: May 10
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GameSpot -- 10/10

"Uncharted 4 is a challenge to the medium. In its writing, in its design, in its understanding of what makes games unique, Uncharted 4 is something to aspire to. It's a shining example. And we'll be talking about it for years to come." -- Mike Mahardy [Full review]

IGN -- 8.8/10 (Review In Progress)

"Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is a remarkable achievement in blockbuster storytelling and graphical beauty. Though it's let down by a lack of imagination and some self-indulgence, especially in a third act that drags on far too long, Uncharted 4 carries on the series' proud tradition of peerless polish and style. Most importantly, it's a gentle sendoff to the rag-tag group of characters we've known for nine years. A worthy thief's end, indeed." -- Lucy O'Brien[Full review]

Eurogamer -- Recommended

"As accomplished as Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is--as heroically as it bests its predecessors, as gracefully as it sidesteps their pitfalls--it's not possible for it to have the seismic impact and far-reaching influence that Uncharted 2 did. Nor does it redefine the storytelling scope of the blockbuster action game like The Last of Us. It still does something remarkable for a major franchise video game, though: it doesn't overdo its exit. It doesn't immolate itself in a blaze of glory, it tells a story about people and finds peace in its resolution. It just ends. Fin." -- Oli Welsh [Full review]

Digital Spy -- 5/5

"It's the most appetising game smorgasbord we've ever had the good fortune to sample, with just the right blend of impactful storyline, cinematic cutscenes, explosive set pieces, exploration, discovery, puzzle solving and good old shootouts. Uncharted 4 is the perfect ending to this console-defining series." -- Sam Loveridge [Full review]

Polygon -- 9.0/10

"There is nothing cheap about how Naughty Dog has decided to retire this franchise--no door is left open for a crass surprise sequel--and there's nothing ambiguous about its resolution. Every other Uncharted game has, to varying degrees, posed a question--"can a thief be good?"--and summarily moved on without wagering a guess. In finding an answer, Uncharted 4's story soars, and presents a moving, fulfilling finale." -- Griffin McElroy [Full review]

VideoGamer -- 8/10

"So there goes Nathan Drake, off into the sunset, and with him a whole generation of memories and other lies. The first three games haven't aged well, and so it's a relief that Uncharted 4, base similarities aside, feels markedly different to them. It's a confident, assured, and rather more intelligent game than it first appears, and a strong end to the series." -- Burns [Full review]

Destructoid -- 9.5/10

"Stunning art direction; satisfying game feel; a willingness to shake up third-person action conventions, to know when to introduce variety, or let a foot up off the gas; excellent dialogue that reveals a lot without oversharing; and a heck of a conclusion. A thief couldn't ask for a better end." -- Steven Hansen[Full review]

Telegraph -- 5/5

"It is rip-roaring stuff. There is no great illusion here; any risk that may have been associated with Nathan Drake’s introduction a decade ago has long gone, swept away in a tide of crowd-pleasing spectacle. But Uncharted 4’s swagger makes it easy to succumb to the ride, its craftmanship, sense of adventure and willingness to open up to its players providing a potent sugar-rush of popcorn gaming pleasure." -- Tom Hoggins [Full review]

The Sixth Axis -- 10/10

"Uncharted 4 is more than masterful, bearing the hallmarks of a true system seller. What struck me most as an ardent fans of the series is how much it breaks away from the original blueprint yet manages to amaze on every level. Where many studios step safely from one sequel and into the next, Naughty Dog has taken a gigantic leap, proving yet again they’re the best in the business." -- Jim Hargreaves[Full review]

GamesRadar+ -- 4/5

"It's a good conclusion for the series overall. Sure, it's a little loose at the start, and tonally it tries hard to be so serious and grown up, but once it gets all that out of its system the Uncharted-ness comes through and we get to take Nate for one last spin, 'Oh Craps' and all." -- Leon Hurley [Full review]

Ars Technica -- No Score

"While Uncharted 4 is a beautiful and thrilling way to pass the time, it feels like an insubstantial experience in the end. What will probably be Nathan Drake's final tale feels mostly slick and forgettable, lacking the strong character drama or plotting that can make other cinematic games stick with you long after they're completed. I doubt I'll be spending much time working over the events of Uncharted 4 in my head the way I have for games like Dishonored, Bioshock Infinite, or even Naughty Dog's own The Last of Us. That doesn't matter when you're in the middle of a thrilling firefight, but it becomes apparent quickly once those credits begin to roll." -- Kyle Orland [Full review]

Shack News -- No Score

"Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is by far one of the best games I’ve played this year, and that list includes quite a few gems. It's a brilliant Act 3 to the series, and it works extremely well to tie up all the loose ends that the games have made over the years. But exactly whose end is it? Well, that’s something you'll have to figure out yourself, as I wouldn't want to spoil it for any of you reading this review. What I can say, however, is it is the best representation of the Uncharted series we have seen to date, and you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't experience it firsthand." -- Josh Hawkins[Full review]

A.V. Club -- No Score

"Aside from the occasionally tedious firefights, Uncharted 4 has a few other flaws. Intended as the conclusion to Nate's story, the game pushes a little too hard in its final chapters to provide definitive closure ... While the major villains are decently drawn, they're never all that threatening, and the final boss fight is a decent concept undone by some sloppy control decisions. But these issues are easy to overlook in favor of the game's pleasures: its grasp of narrative, its pacing, its sense of scope, and the charm of its heroes. They squabble and suffer and feel real in a way that makes every jump, dodge, and victory count." -- Zack Handlen [Full review]

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