Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

Lore & Background

Nathan Drake, a self-taught treasure hunter and descendant of the famed explorer Sir Francis Drake, embarks on his first recorded adventure in Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. The story begins when Nate, alongside journalist Elena Fisher, recovers Sir Francis Drake's coffin from the Pacific Ocean, only to find a diary pointing to the lost treasure of El Dorado. This sets off a race against the clock, as a ruthless mercenary leader named Gabriel Roman and his right-hand man, Atoq Navarro, also seek the treasure.

In Their Own Story

The jungle of a remote Pacific island swallowed the sun. Nate wiped sweat from his brow, the old diary heavy in his pack. Elena's voice crackled over the radio: 'You sure about this?' He grinned, gripping the rusted railing of a long-abandoned fort. 'When have I ever been wrong?' A gunshot echoed—too close. Roman's men were closing in. The treasure wasn't just gold; it was a curse, and the island was hungry. It gnawed at the hulls of sunken U-boats, whispered through vine-choked ruins, and turned men into monsters. Nate had come for fortune—but the island had other plans.

Reader's Guide

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune follows Nathan Drake and Elena Fisher as they search for the lost treasure of El Dorado, using clues from Sir Francis Drake's diary. The central MacGuffin is the treasure itself, which is revealed to be a cursed golden idol that turns its guardians into monstrous, zombie-like creatures. Key turning points include Nate and Elena's escape from a sinking German U-boat, the betrayal of Victor Sullivan (who is shot but survives), and the discovery that the treasure is not gold but a biological weapon. The game sets up the broader Drake saga by establishing Nate's resourcefulness, his rivalry with Roman and Navarro, and his growing bond with Elena. It pays off with a final confrontation at a ruined temple, where Navarro is killed and the treasure is destroyed, leaving Nate and Elena to escape the island together.

Did You Know?

• The game's original title was 'Uncharted: The Lost Treasure of El Dorado' before being shortened.
• Nathan Drake's character model was based on actor Nolan North, who also provided his voice.
• The supernatural enemies in the game are called 'Descendants' and are mutated humans cursed by the treasure.
• The game's score was composed by Greg Edmonson, who also scored the rest of the original trilogy.