Two of PlayStation's heaviest-hitting game series, God of War and Uncharted, feature two iconic characters. Kratos fights as the God of War in Ancient Greece and later journeys through the land of Norse Mythology. Meanwhile, Nathan Drake is an expert thief and legendary treasure hunter who uncovers ancient lands once lost to ancient history.
These two men approach their goals through completely different means, but both are highly effective at what they do. What are each protagonist's biggest strengths, and is it really possible to determine which comes out on top?
Please be mindful of the respective series' spoilers.
10 Kratos - Strength of a Demigod
The son of Zeus, the God of Thunder, and a human mother, Kratos' paternal genes offer him superhuman strength. With the ferocity of a gladiator and the strength of a demigod, this unparalleled warrior took down Mt. Olympus and his father along with it.
Kratos' feats of strengths go beyond his fights in Ancient Greece. Outside of taking on gods, monstrosities, and titans, he wielded weapons of all kinds. To top it all off, Kratos single-handedly lifted an entire temple off of its foundation in the PlayStation 4's God of War title.
9 Nathan - Keen Intellect
Nathan studied the world's history and knows it like the back of his hand. Learning about history, cultures, and languages granted him a great advantage during his heists across the world. He could use his linguistics to communicate with locals, find landmarks, and prepare for his next big job.
Keeping his trusty map and notes on him, Nathan could solve a puzzle of any kind within minutes. He could win a world history trivia by both studying knowledge and through his experience of traveling to various countries.
8 Kratos - Developing Compassion
While Kratos was known as a vengeful, bloodthirsty god, he was still a half-human man with a human heart. He loved and cared for his wife and daughter until a tragedy, planned by Ares, took them away from him.
During his life in Norse mythology, Kratos would learn to love again and bear a child once more. While his gruff exterior may have frightened his young son, Atreus, his patience and compassion would win him over in the end.
7 Nathan - Cunning
Unlike Kratos' brute force methods, Nathan relies heavily on sneaking around. His silver tongue gets him out of trouble while he befriends the right people to save his life. Nathan can spot danger from a mile away and manages to survive by a thread every time.
Nathan's cunning makes him an effective businessman while taking on heists for the right price. Not to mention his choices lead him to a luxurious yet humble little life on the beach with his wife, Elena.
6 Kratos - Unyielding
Nathan might know when to surrender but Kratos, on the other hand, not. Surrender is not part of his Spartan upbringing, and he will fight to the death when the odds no longer favor him.
Kratos' unyielding spirit placed him against both the Titans and the gods. When Kratos sets his mind to something, he will do it, breaking anything — or anyone — who gets in his way. He demonstrates his strength of will through an entire journey just to honor his late wife's last wish.
5 Nathan - Humorous
The complete opposite of Kratos in this department, Nathan's got jokes. He'll come up with a quick quip or one-liner with his buddies or he'll sling them at his enemies. More often than not, it's when Nathan's nervous and in peril that his mouth begins to run.
Regardless, the Uncharted series does a fantastic job with its bit of humor; Nathan keeps the series' storylines charming with his whip-smart banter. While Kratos is straightforward and serious, Nathan's wit will certainly resonate with his audience.
4 Kratos - Undying
Several God of War games feature Kratos going to the Underworld. It became so prevalent that it turned into a normal part of the original trilogy. But no matter how hell came, Kratos always crawled his way out.
In God of War III, he took it a step further by outright defeating Hades. The God of the Underworld was no match for the angry God of War. This earned Kratos yet another extra life.
3 Nathan - Life in Order
Kratos journeyed through Sparta under Ares' will, Athena's will, and at one point, even the Titan's will. Despite a brief life with his wife and son, even Kratos had to adjust his life plans once the former passed. Nathan, however, tends to adventure based on whim.
Save for Uncharted 4, where he's more or less strong-armed into helping his brother out of a jam, the Uncharted series involves Nathan sticking his neck where it doesn't belong. But his love of adventure continues pressing him on. When he's not gallivanting as a treasure hunter, he's at home playing Crash Bandicoot on PlayStation.
2 Kratos - Wisdom
Kratos is not just a battle genius; he knows people's hearts and how to win them over. God of War on PS4 was spent with him raising Atreus throughout their journey, in which he shared some fatherly advice.
He warned Atreus not to make enemies of the dwarves. He also warned against revenge when Atreus wanted to kill Magni and Modi. While players may agree with Atreus' actions, Kratos was not just a battle-hungry dog but knew how to use his mind as well.
1 Nathan - Also a Great Dad
Much like Kratos, Nathan gets his chance at fatherhood by the end of Uncharted 4, in which he raises his young daughter at their beach house after the adventure. By this time, Nathan is taking honest work while the young girl stays at home living a normal kid's life.
Nathan has provided young Cassie with a lifetime's worth of history and adventure souvenirs. Plus, she can play on Elena's PlayStation and take walks on the beach. Nathan was not just an extremely lucky adventurer; he knew when to hang it up, focus on his family, and fulfill the biggest part of his life.