Tomb Raider vs Uncharted - [8 Aspects We Should Consider]
Two franchises face to face. Which is better? Tomb Raider or Uncharted? That is a tough question. In this Tomb Raider vs. Uncharted article, we decide which game brings us the most memorable thief, adventure, journey, and experience.
Remember that you can get Tomb Raider and Uncharted games on RoyalCDKeys at the best prices on the market!
Tomb Raider vs Uncharted - [8 Aspects We Should Consider]
What Is Tomb Raider?
Tomb Raider games are likely some of the most famous games in the story of video games. The franchise's first game was released in 1996 for the original PlayStation. The first Tomb Raider was one of the first 3D games for the 32 bits generation and one that established the foundations of the genre.
The original Tomb Raider game brought us the adventure of Lara Croft, a treasure hunter, and archaeologist-adventurer who crossed dangerous scenarios looking for valuable and ancient artifacts. Lara Croft is an exciting character inspired by Indiana Jones and other related heroes.
Since the first release, more than ten games have been released. The last chapter, Shadow of the Tomb Raider–part of the Tomb Raider reboot trilogy–was released in September 2018. We're excited and waiting for a new launch!
What Is Uncharted?
Uncharted games are already just a classic. They are one of the most famous games of recent times, and the reasons abound.
The first Uncharted game, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, released in December 2007, introduced us to Nathan Drake, a treasure and bounty hunter with great skills and abilities looking for an ancient treasure.
Nathan Drake is a mix between Indiana Jones, Han Solo, and Flynn Carsen (The Librarian), a character with a great personality and a delightful sense of humor. With the company of Victor Sullivan, Drake must discover the mystery of one of his ancestors: the privateer Francis Drake.
The first three games of the franchise, Drake's Fortune, Among Thieves, and Drake's Deception, were acclaimed by the critics for multiple reasons. We mention many of them below.
Gameplay
We're putting two of the most epic video game franchises against each other! And we have to start with one of the relevant aspects: the gameplay.
Of course, the Tomb Raider saga has multiple games for several consoles, and, in honor of the truth, the gameplay differs a bit in all of them. For this article's purposes, we'll focus on the reboot of the saga, the last trilogy published by Square Enix.
Both sagas have similar gameplay based on platforming, climbing, cover-based combat, shooting, and puzzle-solving. Still, the Tomb Raider franchise seems to be a bit more interesting since it includes some RPG and survival aspects.
For instance, in the Tomb Raider's adventures, you can return to previous locations to pick up items you forgot or solve puzzles you could not solve. Besides, you can also gather materials, craft gear, and improvements, and even gain experience points to learn new skills and abilities.
On the other hand, the Uncharted series by Naughty Dog features climbing and platforming across impressive scenarios. Furthermore, Uncharted is intensely focused on shooting and stealth, especially in puzzle-solving, which is a point in its favor.
Verdict: Lara's adventures have complete gameplay with many exciting features and aspects. In this case, we have to lean toward our favorite heroine.
Characters
Comparing each franchise's strong characters, we have to say that Uncharted has a better and more compelling protagonists than Tomb Raider. We know that Tomb Raider features Lara Crofts, but the Uncharted saga has multiple memorable characters.
Nathan Drake is an excellent main character and pop icon for his credits. He's brave, adventurous, sarcastic, intelligent, funny, and a rascal. But he's not the only character of the franchise with great potential.
Victor Sullivan, his mentor, companion, and best friend, is an unforgettable character with massive relevance in the original trilogy. In the film adaptation, Sully was interpreted by Mark Wahlberg. But that is not all. The female representation is also impressive.
Elena Fisher, the reporter, and Chloe Frazer, the bounty hunter, are strong characters with multiple layers of personality. The latter is a playable character in Uncharted: Lost Legacy. Besides, other characters like Nate's brother, Sam, and enemies are pretty impressive too.
Verdict: Undoubtedly, Uncharted wins in this battle since it has unique and memorable main characters.
Plot and Stories
From now we have to say that both sagas, Tomb Raider and Uncharted, have captivating and intriguing stories; not for nothing, both are memorable parts of the video game history. Besides, each chapter of both franchises tells a story from a different point of view.
Tomb Raider's latest trilogy tells the story of Lara Croft and how she became the heroine we love. This game series focuses on Lara's development and growth, especially Rise of the Tomb Raider, the second chapter of the trilogy. But still, the three introduce a fascinating element: horror. This way, Tomb Raider contains an additional layer with impressive scary moments.
Uncharted goes further. In addition to the four chapter of the saga, Uncharted: Thief's End, the original trilogy presents Nathan trying to discover some of the most incredible mysteries ever. He's also trying to find out his connection with Francis Drake.
These four main games of the series focus on Nathan Drake and how he and his friends explore the world for clues by discovering secrets. But Uncharted has a solid point to its favor: due to its multiple exciting characters, Uncharted's plot puts special attention on Drake's relationships with his companions.
This aspect gains particular relevance in the second game of the saga, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, where characters unfold their potential. New characters add color to the plot, even in the sequel and last chapter of Drake's story.
Verdict: Ok, regarding plot and stories, only some things have been said, and the battle is brutal. But, if we have to lean for one of them, we choose the Uncharted series due to its magnificent relations between characters.
Graphics
Fans of the franchises know this: both games present astonishing visuals and graphics. Tomb Raider and Uncharted series are children of the era, introducing entertaining, well-developed scenarios.
However, the debiut game of the Uncharted series was released in 2007. Besides, the first three games of the franchise were launched for PlayStation 3, then their graphics have aged, although they're still amazing. Later the three would be remastered, allowing new gamers to play them on new consoles.
On the other hand, the Tomb Raider series launched by Square Enix saw the light in 2013, so, understandably, their graphics are better than those seen in Uncharted. Besides, gaming and exploration gained a lot thanks to the impressive visuals of this last trilogy, providing an even more profound and immersive experience.
Videos and automatic sequences are also better in Tomb Raider, looking more realistic and contributing much to the narrative.
However, Uncharted four is gorgeous and presents high-quality graphics that will leave you open-mouthed. In this sense, Thief's End is has a special place in gamers’ hearts. You won’t forget the last adventure of our favorite explorer.
Verdict: Here, we have a draw. Although, Uncharted has an extra point to its favor since it has more colorful graphics, which are more pleasing to the eye.
Availability
In this section, the formula is simple: what series is available on more platforms? Then the answer is straightforward: Tomb Raider is the clear winner.
The first chapter of the reboot, Tomb Raider (2013), is available on nine platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, OS X, Linux, Stadia, and Shield TV. Besides, the last launch, Shadows of the Tomb Raider (2018), is available on eight platforms, including PlayStation 5.
On the other hand, the Uncharted series was always a PlayStation-exclusive game, at least until the release on PC of Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection in 2022. Furthermore, you can play the three first games on computers thanks to PS Plus Premium. But this option is only recommended if you have a powerful machine.
Verdict: Tomb Raider wins by far.
Legacy
Tomb Raider has been with us for over 20 years, giving us some of the best adventure games of all time. For instance, Tomb Raider III and Tomb Raider Chronicles. Besides, thanks to Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix, we've enjoyed these treasure-seeking games with high-quality graphics.
Tomb Raider also has three film adaptations and several appearances in comics and novels. Some games of this globe-trotting adventure franchise have been awarded for their music, ambiance, villains, graphics, and more. Lara has also received multiple applause as one of the best female characters in history.
But Uncharted is close. The idea behind the series is incredible and has been welcomed with open arms. Uncharted saga introduces gamers to an exciting journey full of tough missions and mechanics but with a great sense of adventure.
All the titles of the saga have a unique environment and perspective. And what to say about the hero, Nate Drake! No doubt he's one of the best characters created in recent times. He's a person with a big heart, brave and funny, a great example of how a game should build a character.
It's to be expected that other installments of the franchise will be released in the future. If you have never played an Uncharted installment, then it's your opportunity since, on RoyalCDKeys, we have reliable copies of Legacy of Thieves.
On the other hand, if you want to play the last trilogy of Tomb Raider and get hours and hours of fun, try Square Enix titles and dig into the past of Lara Croft.
Verdict: Regarding legacy, Tomb Raider is the clear winner since players have enjoyed this franchise for years and will likely continue to do it.
Conclusion
We've arrived at the end of this competition. No matter who the winner is, both franchises are great, presenting excellent storytelling, unique characters, and a plethora of emotions.
Still, the action-packed franchise of Naughty Dog has a slight advantage. Maybe it's our heart talking, but we really love this saga for the reasons we've explained in this article.
Remember you can get many games of both franchises here on RoyalCDKeys. Click the links in the text's body, get the games, and start to enjoy them. It's straightforward!