Uncharted Waters series is a classic early RPG game, which emphasized adventures in sailing and trading. Initially released by Koei in 1991 for the Nintendo NES, it was set in the early 16th century, during the Age of Exploration. The series has been most popular in east Asia (several additional titles were never released in the U.S.).

In the original game, you play as a young Portuguese man named Leon Franco who must go out and restore his family honor and prestige by slowly building a trading empire and performing tasks to win the favor of the King of Portugal. The sequel, New Horizons, offers more character choices and involves more of the exploration and political turmoil of the historical setting. Building the career of the character you select determines the direction of the game play, whether it be military conquest, mapping the new world, building a trade empire, treasure hunting, etc.