Cheats & Secrets
Overview
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End does not contain traditional cheat codes (e.g., entering a button sequence for invincibility). However, the game offers a suite of unlockable cheats that become available after finishing the story on any difficulty. These are accessed via the Bonuses menu from the main screen. Additionally, the game is filled with developer-intended secrets, Easter eggs, and hidden content that reward exploration and curiosity.
Cheat Codes (None)
There are no cheat codes that can be entered during gameplay. All cheats must be unlocked through gameplay progression and toggled from the in-game pause menu under Options > Cheats. Only after completing the game once does this menu appear.
Unlockable Cheats (Bonuses)
After beating the story, you can purchase the following cheats using the in-game currency (you earn cash by completing chapters). Each cheat costs 10,000 points unless noted otherwise. They can be enabled or disabled individually in the Cheats menu.
| Cheat | Effect | Unlock Cost |
|---|---|---|
| One Shot Kill | Any shot from any weapon instantly kills opponents | 10,000 |
| Infinite Ammo | Weapons never run out of ammunition | 10,000 |
| Infinite Clip | No need to reload; magazines never empty | 10,000 |
| Bullet Speed | Weapons fire projectiles at a faster velocity | 10,000 |
| Slow Motion | Gameplay is significantly slowed down while aiming | 10,000 |
| Barrels of Fun | All red explosive barrels are replaced with confetti barrels that don't harm players | 10,000 |
| Mirror Mode | The entire world is horizontally mirrored (left/right swapped) | 10,000 |
| Silenced Weapons | All weapons come equipped with a suppressor (stealth bonus) | 10,000 |
| Weapons Unlimited | Spawns a full weapon locker at every checkpoint with all weapons unlocked | 10,000 |
| Explosive Melee | Every melee punch causes a small explosion | 10,000 |
| Headshots Explode | Headshots cause enemies to explode into confetti | 10,000 |
| Bouncy Mode | All edges and surfaces become bouncy (fun physics) | 10,000 |
Easter Eggs
Uncharted 4 contains numerous Easter eggs referencing previous Naughty Dog games, pop culture, and inside jokes. Here are the most notable:
1. The Last of Us reference (Chapter 5: Hector Alcazar): In a cracked wall near the beginning, you can find a note referencing The Last of Us outbreak. Interact with it for a dialogue prompt.
2. Crash Bandicoot playable (Chapter 5: Hector Alcazar): Inside the prison cell, you can find a cassette tape. Play it on the cassette player to get a prompt to play a mini-game level from Crash Bandicoot (original PS1). This is a full playable section.
3. Uncharted 2 Cursed Treasure (Chapter 7: Lights Out): In a cave, you can find a small statue that references the Cursed Treasure from Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Picking it up triggers a special journal entry.
4. Pizza Box (Chapter 9: Those Who Prove Worthy): In a forest, there is an abandoned pizza box that Nate comments on. It's a reference to a recurring pizza gag in the series.
5. Naughty Dog Logo (Chapter 11: Hidden in Plain Sight): Near a waterfall, if you look closely, the shape of rocks forms the Naughty Dog logo.
6. Sully's Lucky Coin (Chapter 12: At Sea): On the ship, you can find a coin that Sully mentions in dialogue. It's a callback to his lucky charm.
7. Elena's Photo (Chapter 15: The Thieves of Libertalia): In Avery's mansion, a framed photo resembles a famous historical painting.
8. Skeleton with a parrot (Chapter 17: For Better or Worse): A skeleton wearing a pirate hat with a parrot skeleton next to it—a humorous nod to pirate tropes.
9. Jak and Daxter reference (Chapter 20: No Escape): In the final chapter, you can find a plushie of Daxter in a cart.
10. Developer cameos (Multiple): Some developers appear as voice actors for non-player characters, and some graffiti in the game references Naughty Dog staff.
Hidden Content (Treasures & Optional Conversations)
Beyond the main plot, Uncharted 4 offers 109 hidden treasures to collect, nearly all of which are optional. They provide lore, currency, and a sense of completion. Additionally, there are optional conversations that can be triggered by following specific paths or examining certain objects. These reward players with extra dialogue and insight.
- Treasures: Found in every chapter except the prologue and epilogue. Some are visible, others require solving puzzles or backtracking.
- Optional Conversations: Look for glowing yellow interactions that prompt Nate or Sam to comment on the environment.
- Journal Entries: Nate's journal fills in with sketches if you photograph key landmarks with the camera mode (unlocked after Chapter 5).
- Photo Mode: Available from the pause menu. Allows you to hide UI, adjust filters, and capture scenic shots. It's not a cheat but a deliberate feature for creative players.
- Audio Logs: Some collectible audio logs provide backstory on pirate characters.
- Costumes: After beating the game, you can unlock costumes for Nathan, Elena, and Sam in the Bonuses menu (e.g., Young Nate, Pirate Sam). These are purely cosmetic.
- Speed Run Mode: After completing the game once, a Speed Run mode becomes available, timing your run and comparing it online.
- Chapter Select: After finishing, you can replay any chapter with all your unlocked cheats active.
Developer-Intended Secrets
Final Notes
While Uncharted 4 lacks traditional cheat codes, the unlockable cheats are developer-sanctioned and add replayability. The Easter eggs and hidden treasures are the true "secrets" of the game. No exploits or glitches are considered safe or recommended, as patches have fixed most game-breaking bugs. Always play on the latest patch for stability.