By this point, Neil Druckmann has become a household name, and anyone who follows video games will have heard his name pop up on several occasions. For those that haven’t heard of him, however, Druckmann is a game designer at Naughty Dog who has been responsible for their most recent titles, and some of the best video games ever made - especially when it comes to narratives and direction.
Neil Druckmann is the creative force behind standout titles such asThe Last of Us Part 1 and 2, as well asUncharted 4: A Thief’s End, and has cemented himself as one of the most influential game developers in the world. With that being said, some gamers might not know some of the olderNeil Druckmann gamesand what he had been involved with before his rise to fame.
Updated on June 07, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:Neil Druckmann is one of the biggest reasons why Naughty Dog has become a household name in the gaming industry. His work as a director and writer has helped the studio develop some of the greatest video games of all time that fans still look back on fondly to this day. Neil worked on Naughty Dog’s earlier projects and helped mold the narrative of these games before playing a major role in ensuring that Uncharted and The Last of Us feature some of the best modernNeil Druckmann gamesthat fans can’t stop talking about to this day.
AlthoughJak and Daxter: The Lost Frontieris generally considered one of theweaker entries in theJak and Daxterfranchise, it’s still a great achievement for Neil Druckmann as it was one of the earlier games where he was involved in the design process and the overall story. Players will say what they want about this game, but the things that are pretty great are the gameplay design and the narrative - both of which Druckmann was directly involved in.
Another great thing about thisNeil Druckmann gamewas the fact that it was released on the PSP as well as the PS2, meaning gamers could play this epic action platform wherever they went. The highlight ofJak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier, however,is its unique approach to aerial combat, as it contains some of the best aerial fights to date.
One of the earliestNeil Druckmann gameshe worked on was this fun combat-based kart racer in theJak and Daxterfranchise. This entry shifted the franchise away from action-based platforming and put the iconic protagonists in a series of high-octane races. Druckmann served as a gameplay programmer during the development ofJak X: Combat Racing, making it one of the few titles that he didn’t write or direct.
Jak X: Combat Racingfocuses on the intriguing plot hook where the characters have been poisoned and are essentially forced to race in these combat courses and win to obtain an antidote. It’s one of the wildest concepts for a kart racing game, but it works and it’s a genuinely exhilarating title.
Jak 3was the first official game that Neil Druckmann ever worked on when it was released in 2004, and what a game to be involved with.Jak 3isstill considered a great platformer, even though everyone’s favorite companion, Daxter, had a smaller presence. The platforming is excellent, the gameplay is fun, and the combat is simple yet entertaining.Jak 3mixes the perfect amount of all genres to create a great experience.
Druckmann highlights his programming talent with this entry, which holds up incredibly well in today’s lack of platformers. Some of the missions in this game are strictly linear by design, however, some others are far more open and allow for great amounts of freedom and exploration. It’s a great game, and still one of the best platformers.
Despite originating as a DLC project forUncharted 4,Uncharted: The Lost Legacylaunched as a standalone titlethat focused on the adventures of Chloe and Nadine. Whilst not as long or as impactful asUncharted 4, this release was the firstUnchartedgame to focus on a separate protagonist to Nathan Drake and was positively received upon release.
Neil Druckmann opted not to take the lead for this one and his role was mostly a consulting figure for the rest of the Naughty Dog team. However, he was still the head of narrative development forUncharted: The Lost Legacy, and his creative force and input can be felt throughout the game’s excellent narrative. This is a short but sweet title and is worth playing.
This is an interesting entry becauseWhat Remains of Edith Finchis a genuinely fantastic game and deserves all the praise in the world. It’s only in this position because of Druckmann’s low involvement. Bizarrely, Neil was a playtester on this game, along with several other high-profile video game designers, so he wasn’t specifically creatively involved in the development.
However, being a playtester means Neil was still involved as the game was developed, and his name officially appears in the credits. It’s a strange addition to Druckmann’s catalog, but by no means a bad thing.What Remains of Edith Finchis a beautiful experience, soaked in an intricately crafted narrative and it’s wonderfully directed. Anyone who hasn’t tried outthis walking simulatorgame should give it a go.
The Last of Usis one of the bestNeil Druckmann gamesplayers can get their hands on, telling a poignant and human story about loss and what people do to avoid losing the ones they love. The quality of the main game’s narrative was stellar, and it’s easy to see why players were hyped to the moon and back to hear that a DLC was in the works that would explore Ellie’s character.
The Last of Us: Left Behindexplores Ellie’s struggles when Joel is injured while also giving players a glimpse into the events that led to Ellie being bit and finding out that she is immune. Her friendship with Riley is a joy to witness and makes it hard to digest an emotional ending where both friends get bit and decide to lose their minds together instead of prematurely ending things.
This is the title that started it all. WhenUncharted: Drake’s Fortunewas released on the PS3, it became an instant success and the series' protagonist, Nathan Drake, swiftly became one of the most popular characters in gaming. That’s no small feat considering the multitude of iconic video game characters - but itdoes say something about theUnchartedfranchise.
Looking back at it now,Uncharted: Drake’s Fortunedoesn’t hold up quite as well as its successors, but it will always be remembered for kickstarting an iconic franchise. Druckmann’s involvement can be felt in the overall design and narrative, and it is by all means a complete Naughty Dog game.
Often considered both the best and overall fan-favorite entry in the franchise,Uncharted 2: Among Thievessaw Druckmann take over as co-lead game designer alongside Amy Hennig. He also became the co-writer for this masterpiece, which is fondly remembered for its excellent gameplay, standout characters, and compelling narrative.
This title has some of thebest and most memorable set piecesin any action game, and the improvements from the first game are like day and night. Nathan Drake is just as iconic as ever, but the other characters take the spotlight here too, and it all culminates in this beautiful cacophony of humorous chaos.
WhilstUncharted 2might often be considered the bestUnchartedgame overall,Uncharted 4: A Thief’s Endis most definitelythe best in terms of technical achievementand direction. This game is stunning, and its forest environments are still some of the best in gaming. The narrative is excellent, and it proves an endearing swansong for Nathan Drake’s character arc.
There aren’t many game designers that could have made such an elegant culmination to Nathan Drake’s story, but Neil Druckmann pulled it off. From outstanding set pieces, excellent combat gameplay, an engaging and surprisingly emotional narrative to everything in between -Uncharted 4: A Thief’s Endis a true achievement in the industry and one of the bestNeil Druckmann games.
Inherently divisive, but another outstanding achievement in gaming,The Last of Us Part 2is a narrative accomplishmentthat could have only ever been possible in a video game. It’s hard to say which is better between the first and second entry in this franchise, especially with the new release ofPart 1, butPart 2is certainly a force to be reckoned with.
This is a game that angered, saddened, and annoyed gamers when they played it, but it’s also one of the best games ever made. The answer to any question posed by these observations is Druckmann’s single-handed and magical charm. Only Druckmann could have made such a divisive yet masterful game.
