When you think about the Uncharted series, images of ancient temples, heart-pounding chase sequences, and near-death stunts probably flood your mind. But behind all the spectacle, the franchise’s true heart has always been the relationship between Nathan Drake and Victor Sullivan—better known as Sully. Their bond goes deeper than friendship. It’s a messy, hilarious, sometimes exasperated brotherhood forged over years of globetrotting heists and close calls. Sully isn’t just Nathan’s mentor or sidekick; he’s his family, his anchor, and often, his saving grace. Today, we’re diving deep into the Top 10 Best Nathan Drake and Sully Bromance Moments—those scenes that made us laugh, made us tear up, and reminded us that behind every great adventurer is a grumpy old man who just wants a cigar and a little peace.
#10: “I Taught You That Move” – Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
One of the most charming insights into Nathan and Sully’s relationship comes early in Uncharted 3 when a young Nathan first meets Victor Sullivan. After Nathan impressively lifts Sir Francis Drake’s ring from a museum exhibit, Sully follows him and eventually corners him. Rather than scolding the kid or reporting him, Sully does something much more fitting for his character—he offers a little professional critique. When Nathan pulls off a clever move to evade security, Sully chuckles and mutters, “I taught you that move.”
This simple line is packed with meaning. It hints at the mentorship and deep bond that will develop between them over the coming years. Sully sees himself in Nathan—young, reckless, and brilliant—and Nathan, in turn, finds in Sully the father figure he never truly had. What’s remarkable about this moment is its natural ease. There’s no grand, emotional speech. Just a sly smile, a glint in Sully’s eye, and an unspoken agreement that their lives will now be forever intertwined.
The beauty of this scene lies in its subtlety. It’s not heavy-handed or sentimental. It captures the essence of their relationship: mutual respect, shared mischief, and an understanding that transcends words. Sully doesn’t look down on Nathan for being young and impulsive; he embraces it, even admires it. And Nathan, despite his bravado, craves the approval Sully so casually offers.
Over time, this dynamic only deepens. Every time Nathan pulls off an outrageous stunt—swinging from a crumbling building, narrowly dodging bullets—you can hear Sully’s gruff voice in the back of your mind: “I taught you that move.” It’s a reminder that beneath Nathan’s flair for the dramatic lies the grounding influence of Sully’s experience and mentorship.
This early interaction sets the tone for their entire relationship. It’s the moment when Nathan Drake stopped being a lone street kid and started becoming the adventurer we all know and love. And it’s the moment when Victor Sullivan, world-weary and cynical, decided that maybe having a kid around wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Their bond begins with a lesson, a smirk, and a spark of shared adventure—a dynamic that would carry them through decades of danger, betrayal, and ultimately, unshakable loyalty. In the end, that simple acknowledgment—”I taught you that move”—becomes the foundation of one of gaming’s greatest bromances.
#9: “You’re Not Gonna Pass Out on Me, Are You?” – Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Sully’s gruff affection for Nathan has never been clearer than in Uncharted 2 during one of their quieter exchanges. After a brutal train wreck and a harrowing trek through the mountains, Nathan is battered, bloody, and barely standing. When Sully finally tracks him down, he doesn’t coddle him or launch into a worried tirade. Instead, he cracks a classic Sully joke: “You’re not gonna pass out on me, are you?”
It’s such a Sully move—masking genuine concern with humor. But it speaks volumes about their relationship. Sully’s words carry warmth and worry under the sarcasm, and Nathan, exhausted but smiling, immediately falls into the easy rhythm of their banter. It’s the kind of exchange that only comes from years of trust and unspoken understanding.
This moment is important because it shows that for all the danger and high-stakes drama, Nathan and Sully never lose their ability to make each other laugh. Humor is their survival tool. It’s how they cope with the chaos that constantly engulfs them. And in a world where betrayal is just around the corner, their ability to joke—even in moments of pain—is proof of their unbreakable bond.
When Sully ribs Nathan about passing out, it’s not just a throwaway joke. It’s a way of reminding him: I’m here. You’re not alone. You don’t have to be the invincible hero every second. And Nathan, for all his stubborn independence, leans into that support more than he ever admits aloud.
Sully’s humor is his armor against the fear of losing Nathan, just as Nathan’s bravado masks his deep reliance on Sully. Their banter isn’t just for laughs—it’s their way of saying, “I’ve got your back,” without ever having to spell it out.
Moments like this one are why the Uncharted series resonates so deeply. The explosions and ancient treasures are thrilling, but it’s the quiet jokes, the glances, the easy camaraderie that make Nathan and Sully’s relationship feel real—and irreplaceable.
#8: Sully Stays Behind – Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
In Uncharted 4, the stakes feel heavier than ever. Nathan, older and pulled back into the life he tried to leave behind, is risking everything to help his long-lost brother Sam find Henry Avery’s treasure. As always, Sully is right there beside him, ready to dive back into danger. But in one of the game’s most poignant moments, Sully does something unexpected: he steps aside.
When Sam’s recklessness becomes too dangerous and Nathan refuses to turn back, Sully makes a hard decision. He tells Nathan, “You’re gonna go through with this, aren’t you?” His voice carries all the weary affection of a father who knows he can’t stop his son from making his own mistakes. Then he adds quietly, “I’ll be waiting at the plane.”
It’s a deeply emotional moment, masked as usual with casual words. Sully could easily follow Nathan to the bitter end. He’s fought alongside him through worse. But this time, he respects Nathan’s choice—and trusts him enough to let him go. It’s not abandonment; it’s love. It’s Sully acknowledging that Nathan has grown into his own man, capable of making his own decisions, even if they terrify the people who love him most.
The power of this scene lies in its restraint. There’s no tearful goodbye, no dramatic music swell. Just a soft look, a heavy sigh, and a wordless understanding that some journeys must be taken alone. For once, Sully isn’t there to save Nathan—but his faith in Nathan’s strength is the support Nathan needs most.
And true to form, Sully’s loyalty remains unshakable. He doesn’t leave. He waits. When everything falls apart—as it always does—Nathan knows that Sully will be there, at the plane, ready to get them all out alive. That unwavering trust is the bedrock of their bond.
This moment also shows Sully’s wisdom. He knows when to push, when to fight—and crucially, when to step back. It’s a subtle, powerful example of how their relationship has matured over the years. Sully is no longer just Nathan’s mentor or babysitter. He’s his equal, his brother, and his home base—the place Nathan can always return to, no matter how lost he becomes.
In a series packed with action and spectacle, this quiet scene stands out as one of the most heartfelt. It proves that the greatest acts of love aren’t always about fighting battles—they’re about trusting someone enough to let them fight their own.
Through this moment, Sully shows that real loyalty isn’t about clinging tightly. It’s about having the strength to let go when it matters most—and being there to catch you if you fall.
#7: The Cartagena Escape – Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Long before Nathan Drake became the globe-trotting adventurer we know, he was just a scrappy kid running from trouble in Cartagena. In Uncharted 3, we get a flashback to those early days—and one of the defining moments that cemented Nathan and Sully’s bond for life.
After Nathan steals a critical artifact connected to Sir Francis Drake, he’s caught by hired thugs and nearly killed. Sully, recognizing the danger Nathan is in, risks everything to save him. Despite having only just met the kid, Sully charges into a hail of gunfire, knocks out multiple goons, and grabs Nathan by the scruff of his neck, yelling, “Come on, kid!”
Their escape through the winding streets of Cartagena is pure Uncharted magic—full of frantic chases, last-second rescues, and pulse-pounding tension. But it’s what happens afterward that truly defines their relationship. When the chaos finally dies down, Nathan—still breathless, bloodied, and scared—looks up at Sully with something close to awe. And Sully, without missing a beat, offers him a place at his side.
This moment matters because it marks the beginning of everything. Sully doesn’t see Nathan as a burden or a nuisance. He sees potential. He sees a spark. More importantly, he sees a kid who deserves someone to believe in him. And Nathan, in turn, sees in Sully not just a mentor, but the first real family he’s ever had.
Their partnership from that point forward is forged in trust and survival. Sully didn’t have to save Nathan that day. He could have walked away, protected his own skin. But he didn’t. He made a choice—to stand by Nathan, to teach him, to watch over him.
This bond, born from blood and fire, shapes both their lives. Every time Nathan dives headfirst into danger, every time he pulls off an impossible heist, every time he cracks a ridiculous joke in the face of certain death—you can trace it all back to that first wild escape and the gruff, unlikely hero who pulled him out of the fire.
In a series full of breathtaking set pieces and jaw-dropping stunts, this simple, human moment of connection remains one of the most powerful. It reminds us that Uncharted isn’t just about treasure—it’s about the people who make the adventure worthwhile.
#6: “We’re Not Leaving Without You” – Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
There’s a moment in Uncharted 4 that perfectly captures the unbreakable loyalty between Nathan and Sully—and it happens when everything seems lost.
Near the end of the game, after a series of brutal battles and betrayals, Nathan becomes separated from Sam and Sully. As he struggles to regroup, he finds Sully waiting for him—not planning an escape, not giving up, but stubbornly refusing to leave without him.
When Nathan suggests that Sully should take the plane and get to safety, Sully cuts him off immediately: “We’re not leaving without you.”
It’s such a simple line. No theatrics. No dramatic swell. Just quiet, stubborn devotion.
Sully’s refusal to abandon Nathan isn’t surprising, of course. He’s stood by Nathan through worse. But the weight behind his words in this moment feels heavier than ever. They’ve both lost so much over the years—friends, fortunes, time. But what they refuse to lose is each other.
This scene is a culmination of everything their relationship stands for. Sully isn’t there for the treasure. He isn’t there for the glory. He’s there because Nathan is family. And family, for both of them, means everything.
What makes this moment even more powerful is how matter-of-fact it is. Sully doesn’t posture or grandstand. He just says it—and means it. It’s the kind of unwavering loyalty that doesn’t need to be explained because it’s already been proven a thousand times before.
In a franchise filled with epic adventures and larger-than-life battles, it’s moments like this—small, quiet, deeply human—that hit the hardest. Nathan and Sully’s bond is the real treasure at the heart of Uncharted. And no matter how many lost cities they find, no matter how many pirate ships they blow up, it’s their loyalty to each other that truly defines them.
#5: Sully Takes a Bullet for Nate – Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
In Uncharted 3, Nathan and Sully’s bond is put through one of its greatest tests during a fateful encounter in a sprawling desert city. After being separated and hunted relentlessly by Marlowe’s agents, Nathan is finally reunited with Sully. But just as they try to make their escape, disaster strikes: Sully takes a bullet right in front of Nathan’s eyes.
The moment is devastating. Nathan screams in horror, rushing to Sully’s side, but it’s too late—or so it seems. Nathan’s immediate reaction isn’t tactical, it’s purely emotional. His world collapses in that instant. For years, Sully has been the one constant in Nathan’s life, the anchor who’s pulled him back from the brink over and over again. To lose him—to watch him fall—is unbearable.
For a few terrible moments, players believe that Sully is truly gone. Nathan’s devastation is palpable. It’s not just the loss of a mentor or a partner—it’s the loss of family. His desperation to save Sully, even when it seems hopeless, shows just how deeply their relationship runs. Nathan doesn’t care about the treasure, the mission, or even his own safety anymore. All that matters is Sully.
Of course, it’s revealed shortly after that Sully survived—the bullet only grazed him, and he was playing possum to avoid further danger. The sheer relief that washes over Nathan is almost as powerful as the initial grief. His wide grin, the tearful laughter, the way he grabs Sully’s shoulder as if to convince himself he’s real—it’s a rare moment of raw vulnerability from the usually unflappable Drake.
This scene is critical because it forces both Nathan and the player to confront what Sully truly means to him. Sully isn’t just the old guy with the cigars and the wisecracks. He’s the heart of Nathan’s world, the person who believed in him when no one else did, the man who showed him there was more to life than surviving alone. In Sully, Nathan found loyalty, love, and a sense of home.
The fact that Sully would willingly put himself in harm’s way for Nathan—without hesitation—underscores the depth of his own commitment. For all his gruffness and sarcasm, Sully would lay down his life for Nathan without a second thought. And Nathan, in turn, would do anything to protect Sully.
This fake-out death also reinforces a key theme of Uncharted 3: the idea that the greatest treasures in life aren’t gold or ancient artifacts—they’re the people you hold dear. Sully’s brush with death crystallizes this truth for Nathan, setting the stage for the choices he makes later in the game.
In the end, the scene where Sully takes a bullet isn’t just about the shock or the drama. It’s about reminding players—and Nathan—that no fortune, no legacy, and no legend is worth more than the people who stand by your side when everything else falls apart.
#4: The Plane Crash and Reunion – Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Few sequences in the Uncharted series are as harrowing—or as emblematic of Nathan and Sully’s bond—as the desert sequence in Uncharted 3. After surviving a catastrophic plane crash over the Rub’ al Khali desert, Nathan is left stranded and alone, trudging through endless dunes under the merciless sun. Dehydrated, hallucinating, and near death, he clings to the hope that somehow, some way, Sully is still alive—and that they’ll find each other again.
Nathan’s journey across the desert is one of the most brutal and emotionally raw stretches of the entire series. Stripped of his usual bravado, he is reduced to sheer survival instinct, driven forward by little more than his determination to see Sully again. His whispered pleas into the empty air—“Sully… where are you?”—are heartbreaking in their desperation.
When Nathan finally reaches the lost city of Ubar and is captured by Marlowe’s forces, all seems lost. But Sully, in classic fashion, comes charging in guns blazing, refusing to let Nathan die alone in the sand. Their reunion is explosive, chaotic, and utterly perfect.
What makes this moment so powerful isn’t just the spectacle (though seeing Sully mow down enemies to save Nathan is incredibly satisfying). It’s the emotional undercurrent that runs through every bullet fired and every word shouted. Sully didn’t just rescue Nathan because it was the smart move. He did it because Nathan is his family. Period.
The way Nathan clings to Sully after being saved—leaning heavily on him, both physically and emotionally—says everything you need to know about their bond. This isn’t a simple partnership of convenience. It’s a deep, unbreakable connection forged through years of trust, sacrifice, and love.
The desert ordeal and their reunion highlight a critical truth: Nathan and Sully aren’t just partners in adventure. They are, in every sense that matters, partners in life. When the world strips away everything else—the fortune, the fame, the danger—what remains is the unshakeable bond between two men who would move heaven and earth to save each other.
In the end, it’s not treasure that keeps Nathan moving forward. It’s Sully’s hand pulling him to his feet, his gruff voice in his ear, and the simple, undeniable truth that together, they can survive anything.
#3: Sully’s “Parent Talk” with Nate – Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
As Nathan’s world gets more complicated with marriage, aging, and the reappearance of his long-lost brother, Uncharted 4 gives us one of the most touching—and hilarious—moments of bromantic wisdom between Nate and Sully.
At one point, Sully, who has been watching Nathan struggle with his divided loyalties between his old life and his future with Elena, pulls him aside for what can only be described as the most Sully version of a fatherly heart-to-heart. In classic fashion, Sully doesn’t launch into a cheesy lecture. He keeps it gruff, practical, and wrapped in humor.
“You know,” Sully says with a trademark smirk, “at some point, you gotta stop running toward trouble—and start running toward something real.”
It’s a rare moment of vulnerability from Sully. He’s essentially telling Nathan that the thrill of adventure will never replace real happiness. It’s the kind of advice that can only come from someone who’s lived through decades of mistakes and regrets.
Nathan, predictably, brushes it off with a joke—but it’s clear the words stick with him. Sully’s guidance plants the seeds for Nathan’s ultimate decision to walk away from the endless cycle of treasure hunts and near-death experiences and finally build a life with Elena.
This scene is important because it shows that Sully isn’t just there to crack jokes and pull Nate out of danger. He genuinely wants a better life for Nathan—a life free from the ghosts that have haunted them both.
The brilliance of this “parent talk” is in its subtlety. There’s no dramatic confrontation, no tearful speeches. Just two men, worn down by time, sharing a few words that say everything they can’t afford to spell out.
Through this moment, Sully proves that sometimes being a hero isn’t about saving someone from enemies. It’s about saving them from themselves.
#2: “For God’s Sake, Don’t Lose Him” – Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
One of the purest expressions of Sully’s fierce loyalty to Nathan comes not from an emotional conversation or a daring rescue, but from a command he barks with raw, unfiltered urgency: “For God’s sake, don’t lose him!”
In Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, Nathan is drugged and abducted by Marlowe’s agents in Yemen. Sully and Elena, desperately searching for him, find themselves trailing Nathan as he stumbles, disoriented and helpless, through the dark alleys of the city. Elena suggests splitting up to cover more ground, but Sully’s immediate response is pure instinct: an almost panicked demand that they not let Nathan out of their sight.
This moment is so powerful because it cuts through Sully’s usual gruff demeanor. Normally, he’s cool under pressure, tossing out wry comments even when bullets are flying. But here, there’s no humor. No swagger. Just naked fear—the fear of losing the kid he raised like a son.
Sully’s desperation isn’t about the mission. It isn’t about the artifact or the treasure they’re chasing. It’s about Nathan. It’s about making sure that the person who matters most to him doesn’t disappear into the shadows of a dark alley, lost forever because Sully wasn’t fast enough or careful enough.
Throughout the series, Sully has been Nathan’s anchor, the steady hand who pulls him back when he flies too close to the sun. But here, he can’t just bark orders and expect things to turn out okay. He’s powerless in a way that terrifies him—and that terror comes through in every word he snaps at Elena.
And it’s not just fear. It’s guilt. Sully feels responsible for Nathan’s well-being in a way that goes beyond partnership or even friendship. He took this kid off the streets all those years ago. He taught him how to survive, how to fight, how to chase dreams bigger than the world would allow. If Nathan falls now, Sully will blame himself.
When they finally catch up to Nathan and manage to help him recover, there’s no big speech, no dramatic confrontation. Just Sully’s firm hand on Nathan’s shoulder, steady and reassuring. And Nathan, groggy and battered, instinctively leaning toward Sully, trusting him even in his disoriented state.
Moments like these define why the Uncharted series resonates so deeply beyond its action and spectacle. At its heart, it’s about people—messy, flawed, fiercely loyal people who cling to each other even when the world falls apart.
Sully’s cry—“Don’t lose him!”—is more than just a moment of tension. It’s a raw declaration of love, loyalty, and the terror of losing someone who has become your family. In that desperate shout, Sully reveals the true depth of his bond with Nathan—a bond forged not in gold or glory, but in trust, sacrifice, and unwavering devotion.
#1: Sully and Nate Walk Away Together – Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
If you want a single moment that perfectly captures the soul of Nathan and Sully’s bromance, it’s the final minutes of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End.
After surviving impossible odds, after saying goodbye to the treasure-hunting life, after Sam decides to chase one last adventure, Nathan makes a different choice. He’s finally ready to leave the life of danger behind—for Elena, for himself, for the future they both deserve.
But before he rides off into the sunset, there’s one last moment between him and Sully—a quiet, heartfelt exchange that hits harder than any gunfight.
Standing on the tarmac, watching Sam and Sully prepare for their next journey, Nathan shares a look with Sully. It’s a look filled with gratitude, history, and a deep, unspoken love. No dramatic goodbyes. No tears. Just understanding. Sully gives him a nod that says it all: “I’m proud of you, kid.”
And then—because Sully’s Sully—he tosses Nathan the keys to his beloved plane, the Hog Wild, and tells him to take it for a spin.
It’s an act that is so pure, so loaded with meaning, that it leaves a lump in your throat. Sully isn’t just handing Nathan the keys to a plane. He’s handing him the keys to a new life. Trusting him. Letting him go. Believing that he’s ready for the next chapter, even if it’s one that Sully won’t be a part of day-to-day.
Their final goodbye is perfect because it’s understated. No overwrought speeches. No melodrama. Just two men, bound by years of loyalty and love, saying everything they need to say with a glance, a smile, and a simple, heartfelt gift.
Nathan’s smile as he watches Sully’s plane take off is full of memories. Adventures survived. Battles won. Losses mourned. Victories celebrated. And above all, a friendship that defied the odds and endured.
When Nathan Drake and Victor Sullivan walk away from each other for the last time, it’s not a breakup. It’s a quiet, perfect acknowledgment of everything they shared—and everything they still carry with them.
Because in the end, Sully will always be part of Nathan’s story. And Nathan will always be the kid Sully believed in, fought for, and loved like a son.
And that, more than any lost city or pirate gold, is the greatest treasure of all.
Conclusion
The Uncharted series is packed with thrilling set pieces, breathtaking visuals, and heart-racing adventure—but none of it would matter without the relationship between Nathan Drake and Victor Sullivan. Their bond transcends mere partnership. It’s a brotherhood, a mentorship, and, most importantly, a deep, unshakable love between two stubborn, reckless souls who found family in each other.
Through every fall, every betrayal, every narrow escape, and every hard-won triumph, Sully and Nathan’s relationship has been the emotional core of the series. They made us laugh, they made us cry, and most of all, they made us believe that no matter how crazy life gets, there’s nothing more valuable than having someone who will always have your back.
Their bromance is, in many ways, the real “uncharted treasure” of the games—a bond that reminds us why we play, why we dream, and why even the wildest adventures are better when shared with someone who truly, stubbornly, unconditionally loves you.
