Uncharted Waters NES box art

Nintendo Entertainment System · RPG / Adventure

Uncharted Waters

Deep cut

SystemNintendo Entertainment System
Released1991 (originally 1990)
GenreRPG, Adventure
DeveloperKoei
PublisherKoei
Players1 player
CommitmentEpic journey (20+ hours of adventure)
SeriesUncharted Waters
LegacyDeep cut · legacy score 3

Developed by Koei, Uncharted Waters arrived on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991 as a role-playing game. This NES release is a port or adaptation of a game that first appeared in 1990. It blends RPG and adventure elements.

It landed about 6 years into the NES's life. Other notable NES releases from 1991 include Pac-Man, Battletoads and Yoshi.

It is part of the Uncharted Waters series. The series also appears on other systems with Uncharted Waters II: New Horizons (SNES) and Uncharted Waters II: New Horizons (Genesis). Koei also made Gemfire, Bandit Kings of Ancient China and Genghis Khan for the NES.

This is a solo experience: one player, no waiting on anyone else.

Pick it if…

  • you want to get lost in a long quest
  • you have time for an epic journey (20+ hours of adventure)
  • you've played the NES hits and want something less obvious

Maybe skip it if…

  • you want instant action rather than menus, story and grinding
  • you are looking for something to play with friends
  • you only have a few minutes at a time

What playing Uncharted Waters is like

Role-playing games trade reflexes for strategy and story. You build a party, level up, manage equipment and travel across a large world, usually through menu-based battles.

Tip for newcomers: Retro RPGs can require some level grinding and rarely tell you exactly where to go next. Talk to every townsperson, save often and use a guide if you get stuck: there is no shame in it.

Uncharted Waters gameplay screenshot on NES
In-game screenshot (NES)

Uncharted Waters cheats & codes

13 codes on file (Emulator memory codes). Here are a few Emulator memory codes codes to start with:

Unlimited Gold666C:FF
Adjust Rank6F73:01
Ship DurabilityNNPIEK
Ship PowerNNPIXK
Ship HandlingNNPIOK
Number Of Crewmen6C94:0A

See all Uncharted Waters cheats

Uncharted Waters walkthroughs & guides

Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Uncharted Waters.

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Playing NES games today

NES games are short on paper but often famously tough, so expect to replay levels and learn patterns. Many first-party titles are available through Nintendo Switch Online, original cartridges remain easy to find, and you can play backups of games you own in an emulator such as Rec0m88.

Uncharted Waters FAQ

When did Uncharted Waters come out on the NES?

Uncharted Waters was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991; the original game dates back to 1990.

Who made Uncharted Waters?

It was developed by Koei.

Is Uncharted Waters multiplayer?

No. Uncharted Waters is a single-player game.

How long does Uncharted Waters take to play?

As a role-playing game, Uncharted Waters typically falls into the "Epic journey" category: 20+ hours of adventure. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.

Read more about Uncharted Waters on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.

Not sure? Let the Matrix pick for you