If you blasted through the Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection on Steam treating it purely as a high-octane cover shooter, you missed more than half the fun. Naughty Dog packed both Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy with intricate secret locations, clever pop-culture tributes, and devious environmental gags that won't show up on your objective compass. From a fully playable 1996 PlayStation classic tucked inside Nate's living room and a hidden pirate founder paying homage to Monkey Island, to an entire monkey sanctuary hidden behind an optional token puzzle in India, the PC port gives you the visual clarity and framerate freedom to track down every single hidden gem.
Whether you are an achievement hunter chasing 100% completion or an explorer who loves stumbling into tucked-away lore rooms, this definitive breakdown spotlights the greatest secret locations, narrative Easter eggs, and franchise crossovers hiding across both campaigns on Steam.
The High-Value Easter Eggs Hiding in Plain Sight
Naughty Dog has a legendary habit of honoring their own studio history, and Uncharted 4 takes that tradition to staggering heights. You don't need to dig through obscure file directories to witness these; you just need to resist the urge to sprint toward the next yellow climbing ledge.
1. The Playable Crash Bandicoot Level (Chapter 4: A Normal Life)
During the quiet domestic opening of Chapter 4, Nathan Drake unwinds in his attic before heading downstairs to chat with Elena. When she challenges you to beat her high score on the original gray PlayStation, you actually grab the in-game controller and play through "Boulders" from the 1996 platformer Crash Bandicoot. Nate gets three lives, complete with vintage CRT scanline distortion and period-accurate polygonal hitboxes.
The Pro Tip: If you want the rare dialogue exchange and the "Best Friend!" achievement, you need to score over 3,500 points. Collect every single Wumpa fruit, avoid losing any lives to the rolling boulder, and smash every crate. Elena playfully rubs her victory in your face if you fail, but beating her score changes the banter and triggers an alternate conversation later in the campaign.
2. Guybrush Threepwood Joins Avery's Pirate Council (Chapter 11)
When Nate and Sully enter the founder's chamber beneath the Libertalia clocktower, you must solve the massive sigil puzzle involving famous historical buccaneers like Thomas Tew, Christopher Condent, and Henry Avery himself. Take a close look at the final portrait on the right wall—the one whose nameplate is completely defaced.
The portrait depicts Guybrush Threepwood, the bumbling protagonist of LucasArts' legendary adventure series The Secret of Monkey Island. His sigil is a monkey wearing an eyepatch. Nate stares directly at the canvas and mutters, "I don't recognize this guy's sigil at all..." It is a brilliant nod from Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley to the point-and-click adventure games that inspired cinematic treasure hunting in the first place. If you enjoy diving into forgotten lore and secret zones, check out our guide on hidden collectibles and secret rewards worth hunting.
3. The E3 2015 Live Glitch Reenactment: "Stage Fright"
During Sony's E3 2015 press conference, Naughty Dog experienced an infamous live gameplay nightmare: when the live demo for Uncharted 4 began, the controller synced to the wrong console, leaving Nathan Drake standing completely motionless in a bustling market while Sully repeatedly urged him to move. The internet turned it into an instant meme.
Naughty Dog immortalized their embarrassment in the final code. As soon as you step out of the clocktower into the crowded market square in Chapter 11, do not touch your keyboard or analog stick. Stand completely still for 30 full seconds while Sully asks you what you're waiting for. The game will ping the hidden Steam achievement "Stage Fright".
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View on Steammoz Store →Deep Dive: The Lost Legacy's Hidden Hoysala Tokens and Secret Primate Sanctuary
While Uncharted 4 is largely linear with wide-linear combat arenas, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy introduces Chapter 4 (The Western Ghats), an enormous open-world sandbox packed with muddy waterfalls, ancient ruins, and zero hand-holding. Most players clear the three main fortress towers (Trident, Axe, and Bow) and immediately move on, completely bypassing the Western Ghats' most rewarding secret zone: the Primate Sanctuary.
Scattered across the map are 11 Hoysala Tokens—carved stone discs locked behind physics puzzles, timed bell chimes, and hidden destructible walls. Returning all 11 tokens to the central ruin in the northeast corner rewards Chloe with the Queen's Ruby, an invaluable passive accessory that vibrates your controller and emits an audible chime whenever a collectible treasure is nearby. Finding these secret areas requires the same methodical map exploration you need when tackling secret areas and hidden exploration caches in massive open-world titles.
| Map Location | Puzzle / Obstacle Type | Enemy Threat Level | Secret Unlock / Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Ruins (Main Shrine) | Token Altar & Map Dial | None (Safe Hub) | Reveals all token markers; opens Monkey Sanctuary |
| Central Riverbed Cave | Grapple Swing to High Ledge | Low (Passing Patrol) | Hidden behind foliage wall; breakable wooden gate |
| Northwest Cliff Face | Five Chime Bell Sequence | None | Shoot all 5 bells within 8 seconds before doors reset |
| Southwest Muddy Basin | Winch Pull & Pillar Wall | High (Asav Mercenary Camp) | Tear down cracked stone slab with the 4x4 Jeep winch |
| Southeast Elephant Pond | Deep Dive Cavern Route | None | Submerge beneath stone arch; surface inside dry grotto |
Unlocking the Secret Primate Sanctuary
Once Chloe deposits the 11th Hoysala Token onto the altar, the massive stone door to the right of the central map table rumbles open. Heading through this passage leads you deep into a lush, secluded jungle hollow filled with dozens of playful bonnet macaques. Unlike the wild monkeys that flee from you in standard zones, these animals treat Chloe as a friend.
Sitting on the central ruined pillar triggers a unique, beautifully animated cutscene where several baby monkeys climb over Chloe's arms and shoulders, grooming her hair and stealing her notebook. This hidden hollow also houses multiple optional treasures, an exclusive Photo Op spot, and unlocks the hidden trophy/achievement "Tarzana" if you swing across all five vine branches dangling over the monkey pool without touching the mud.
Uncharted 4's Most Elusive Strange Relics and Naughty Dog Tributes
Since the original Drake's Fortune on PS3, Naughty Dog has hidden "Strange Relics" throughout the Uncharted franchise. In Legacy of Thieves on Steam, finding all three Strange Relics in Uncharted 4 is mandatory for securing the "Relic Finder" achievement. These aren't just generic gold cups; they are direct physical items pulled from the universes of Jak & Daxter, The Last of Us, and Crash Bandicoot.
1. The Strange Pendant: The Last of Us Firefly Dog Tag (Chapter 9)
In Chapter 9 ("Those Who Prove Worthy"), after solving the gruesome water wheel and bucket puzzle inside the pirate crypt, Nate and Sam work their way across a terrifying cavern suspension bridge. Before exiting through the main carved doorway, look to the right cliffside edge.
Hook your grappling rope to the overhead wooden beam, but do not swing forward. Instead, turn your camera around 180 degrees, swing backward beneath the bridge footing, and drop onto a concealed rock ledge carved directly into the chasm wall. Resting in the dirt is an authentic Firefly Dog Tag stamped with the name "D. Michael - 000178", referencing Michael Drohon, a lead designer at Naughty Dog.
2. The Strange Relic: Jak and Daxter's Precursor Orb (Chapter 12)
Chapter 12 ("At Sea") gives you total freedom to pilot a motorboat around a massive tropical archipelago. While most players bee-line for the tallest island to find Avery's pirate tower, head to the back of the largest island on the map (the one with the flooded pirate ruins on the coast).
Climb the rocky ridgeline toward the interior basin until you spot a sheer vertical cliff overlooking the sea. Look for a hidden grapple point perched high above a deep, shadowy cave fissure. Swing across the empty gap, release your grip mid-air, and slide down a steep mud chute to catch a tiny outcropping. Inside the cave sits the Precursor Orb: an ornate bronze-and-gold egg pulsating with eco energy from the Jak & Daxter series. Inspecting it in your journal causes Nate to flip it between his hands and marvel at its alien architecture.
3. The Strange Fruit: Crash Bandicoot's Wumpa Fruit (Chapter 21)
Near the climax of the game in Chapter 21 ("Brother's Keeper"), Nate pursues Sam across the burning skeleton ships and sheer frozen crags of Libertalia. While descending a series of precarious ropes along a misty vertical precipice, look for a tiny, barely visible cave mouth obscured by hanging vines just below a grapple grapple swing point.
You must purposefully overshoot your standard rappel swing and land on an uneven rock lip. Tucked in the darkness sits a pristine, perfectly preserved Wumpa Fruit. Nate comments on how suspiciously fresh it smells despite being sealed in an ancient tomb for hundreds of years. Discovering it triggers the final piece needed for the Strange Relic collection.
| Strange Relic | In-Game Chapter | Origin Franchise | Exact Discovery Marker | Trophy / Perk Tied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strange Pendant | Chapter 9: Those Who Prove Worthy | The Last of Us | Under cliff bridge, hidden lower platform | Relic Finder (1/3) |
| Strange Relic | Chapter 12: At Sea | Jak & Daxter | Blind rope swing into high island sea-cavern | Relic Finder (2/3) |
| Strange Fruit | Chapter 21: Brother's Keeper | Crash Bandicoot | Overhanging ledge below rope rappel path | Relic Finder (3/3) |
| Pew-Pew Gun Toy | Epilogue: Cassie Drake | Naughty Dog Sci-Fi IP Pitch | Cardboard box on top shelf of the beachside study | Interactive Journal Lore |
Hilarious Environmental Gags and Narrative Secrets in Madagascar and Libertalia
Naughty Dog’s environmental artists enjoy hiding subtle contextual jokes that reward players who look away from the golden path. The massive off-road expedition across the plains of Madagascar (Chapter 10) holds several of the most entertaining secrets in the entire franchise.
1. The 16 Destructible Stone Cairns ("Not a Cairn in the World")
Throughout Chapter 10, travelers through the volcanic red mud of Madagascar have stacked small rocks called cairns to mark paths. Most players drive past them without a second thought. However, if you deliberately crush all 16 cairns with the wheels of your 4x4 Jeep or shoot them with your rifle, you unlock the witty achievement "Not a Cairn in the World".
Finding every cairn requires searching off the main dirt highway: check the edges of the rickety wooden suspension bridges, scout the perimeter of the abandoned colonial ruins, and search the muddy hill climbs near the waterfall base. If you run into performance dips while churning up thick volumetric mud on higher PC presets, consider balancing your hardware overhead by consulting our advice on optimizing graphic settings for steady framerates.
2. The Classic Marco Polo Banter Returns (Chapter 12)
One of the most beloved running jokes from Uncharted 2: Among Thieves was Nate jumping into a rooftop hotel swimming pool in Nepal and shouting "Marco!" to Chloe's reluctant "Polo!". Many players assumed the gag died with the older games, but Naughty Dog brought it back in Libertalia.
In Chapter 12, when you pilot your boat into the sunken pirate treasury cavern, don't rush to dock at the stone stairs. Dive directly into the deep, crystal-clear water and swim toward the center of the flooded chamber. After swimming several strokes, Nate will spontaneously shout "Marco!" Wait a few seconds, and Sam will reluctantly sigh from the boat and yell back, "Polo... really, Nate?" If you repeat the process a few times, Sully will chime in over the walkie-talkie to express his utter disappointment in both brothers.
3. The Marketplace Lemur Apple Theft (Chapter 11)
When you reach the lively King's Bay marketplace in Chapter 11, slow down and explore the side alleys before heading into the bell tower. You'll encounter a vendor selling fresh fruit. Interact with the stall, and Nate will purchase an apple. As you walk through the crowd eating it, you will notice a man with a ring-tailed lemur resting on his shoulder.
Stop next to the man and interact with the lemur. Nate will pet the creature, but if you linger for another five seconds, the lemur will leap onto Nate's shoulder, snatch the remaining apple straight out of his hand, and scamper up an awning to eat it. It is an entirely missable, non-critical interaction that showcases the jaw-dropping facial capture and environmental reactivity running on the PC port.
Technical Edge: Spotting Secrets with Ultrawide and Unlocked PC Settings
When Uncharted 4 and The Lost Legacy originally launched on PlayStation 4, they were capped at 30 frames per second at fixed 16:9 aspect ratios. On Steam, PC gamers have access to ultra-wide monitor support (21:9 and 32:9), unlocked frame rates, customizable Field of View (FOV) sliders, and native high-resolution asset streaming. These technical upgrades aren't just aesthetic—they actively make finding hidden rooms and secret paths significantly easier.
1. The 21:9 Aspect Ratio Advantage for Hidden Ledges
Naughty Dog built their climbing paths using specific environmental markers: sun-bleached wood, worn chalk edges, and distinctive stone handholds. At standard 16:9, vertical cliff faces often obscure optional side ledges that branch off toward hidden treasures or relics. In 21:9 ultrawide, your expanded horizontal frustum reveals branching cavern crevices, tucked-away pirate flags, and grapple attachment beams on the screen periphery that would otherwise require panning the camera.
2. Fixing Cave Crushed Blacks with Ambient Occlusion Tuning
Many of the best secret rooms—especially the sunken pirate tombs in Chapter 12 and the Hoysala grottos in The Lost Legacy—are intentionally shrouded in pitch-black shadow. If your PC display is suffering from crushed black levels or aggressive screen-space ambient occlusion, you can easily walk right past an open cave mouth without noticing the interactable prompt.
Set Ambient Occlusion to High rather than Ultra if you notice excessive shadow halos in tight caves, and bump the in-game display luminance slightly higher than the default calibration. If you run into stuttering or hitching when spinning the camera quickly inside foliage-dense secret sanctuaries, check out our guide on resolving micro-stutters and stabilizing PC frame pacing to keep your treasure hunting buttery smooth.
3. Photo Mode as a Tactical Scouting Drone
The built-in Photo Mode (default keybind: P on keyboard or pressing both thumbsticks on a controller) is the ultimate secret-hunting tool. Unlike many games that restrict camera translation to a tight bubble around the protagonist, Legacy of Thieves gives you an astonishingly generous camera crane distance. If you're standing on a cliff in Madagascar or navigating the labyrinthine corridors of New Devon, enter Photo Mode, detach the camera, and elevate it 50 feet into the air. You can scout entire cave entrances, check behind pirate statues for hidden chests, and verify puzzle paths without risking a fatal drop down a ravine.
For more deep dives into classic action franchises, weapons, and retro gaming secrets, explore our comprehensive breakdown of iconic weapons ranked and evaluated. With your graphics dialed in and these secret markers memorized, your next run through Uncharted on Steam will feel like an entirely new adventure.