Samuel Drake

Lore & Background

Samuel Drake grew up alongside his younger brother Nathan in a series of orphanages and foster homes, where they first developed their skills in thievery and escapology. The brothers shared a dream of finding the legendary treasure of Henry Avery, a quest that would define much of their adult lives. Sam's apparent death in a Panamanian prison—a story he himself perpetuated—left Nathan haunted for years, shaping the cautious, settled life he later built with Elena Fisher.

In truth, Sam survived the prison break but was captured by the wealthy and ruthless Rafe Adler, who used Sam's freedom as leverage to force Nathan's participation in the hunt for Avery's treasure. Sam's return reveals a man shaped by desperation and a willingness to bend or break rules, often clashing with Nathan's more grounded morality. Despite this, his loyalty to his brother is genuine, and their shared history gives their partnership a deep, if fraught, foundation.

Sam's personality is marked by a roguish charm and a tendency toward reckless optimism, often dragging Nathan into danger. He is a skilled fighter and a resourceful survivor, but his impulsiveness and obsession with Avery's treasure lead to critical mistakes. By the end of *Uncharted 4*, Sam finds a new purpose, working with Nathan's friend Victor Sullivan to start a legitimate salvage business, suggesting a path toward redemption and stability.

In Their Own Story

The salt air of King's Bay stung Sam's nostrils as he leaned against a shipping crate, watching the *S.S. Riddick* bob at anchor. Ten years of silence, of lies, of a prison cell that never was—all of it boiled down to this moment. He saw Nate's face, older now, softer, and felt a pang of guilt for the life he'd stolen from his brother. But the map in his pocket, the one with Avery's cross etched in faded ink, burned hotter than any regret. 'I need your help, little brother,' he whispered, the words swallowed by the harbor's din. 'One last job.' He could almost taste the gunmetal and rot of that Panamanian hole he'd talked his way out of—a story he'd polished into a tombstone for Nate's peace of mind. Now, with Rafe's leash still tight around his throat, Sam knew this wasn't just a treasure hunt. It was a resurrection he couldn't afford to fail.

Reader's Guide

Samuel Drake is a major character and recurring ally in *Uncharted 4: A Thief's End*, serving as the catalyst for the game's plot. As Nathan's older brother, Sam's arc explores themes of family, loyalty, and the cost of obsession. He appears as a playable character in certain flashback sequences, where players control a younger Sam alongside Nate, and later as an AI companion in the present-day story.

Sam's relationship with Nathan is the emotional core of the game, contrasting his impulsive greed with Nate's more cautious, family-oriented perspective. His dynamic with Rafe Adler is one of mutual manipulation, while his interactions with Elena and Sully reveal his outsider status within Nate's found family. Key moments include the prison break from Panama, the tense reunion in Nate's garage, and the final confrontation with Rafe on Avery's ship.

Voice actor Troy Baker brings Sam to life with a performance that balances roguish charm and emotional depth. Design-wise, Sam's appearance—leather jacket, stubble, and a confident smirk—visually echoes a slightly older, more weathered version of Nathan, reinforcing their brotherly connection. Sam's arc concludes with him joining Sully's salvage business, hinting at a more stable future without fully abandoning his adventurous spirit.

Did You Know?

• Samuel Drake was originally conceived as a villain in early drafts of *Uncharted 4*, but the story was rewritten to make him a more sympathetic figure.
• Troy Baker, Sam's voice actor, also provided motion capture for the character, a common practice in Naughty Dog's productions.
• Sam's full name is Samuel Drake, but he sometimes uses the alias 'Sam Morgan' to avoid attention, a nod to his criminal past.
• The scar on Sam's face is from a separate fight in prison, not from the staged shooting of his faked death.