The invention discloses a potential game-based multi-unmanned aerial vehicle cooperative search method. The method comprises steps: 1, modeling of a multi-unmanned aerial vehicle cooperative search problem is carried out; 2, potential game modeling for a multi-unmanned aerial vehicle cooperative motion and potential game solution in a double log-linear learning method are carried out; 3, a probability map is updated according to sensor detection information, information fusion is carried out on the updated probability map, and a target existence probability is acquired; and 4, uncertainty is updated according to the target existence probability, and multi-unmanned aerial vehicle cooperative search is carried out. The method of the invention can realize multi-unmanned aerial vehicle cooperative search, and comprises steps of cooperative motion based on the potential game, updating of the probability map, information fusion and the like, and due to the self distributed control mode, the calculation is simple, the robustness is strong, and external disturbance can be effectively handled.