God of War Ragnarök

God of War: Ragnarök is the sequel to God of War (2018). Although originally scheduled for a release in 2021, on May 3, 2021, Santa Monica announced that it had been delayed to 2022 due to the pandemic and Christopher Judge's health problems. According to Santa Monica Studios, God of War Ragnarök is the last installment in the Norse Era. This centers on Kratos, the God of War, and his now teenage son, Atreus, who are facing the conflict of the upcoming Ragnarök, due to the result of Kratos killing Norse God, Baldur, while setting on their to end tyranny reign of Odin, King of Asgard and while focusing off Atreus, who tries to uncover his origins. The game was released on November 9, 2022, for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. A free DLC, titled Valhalla, was released on December 12, 2023.

Plot[]

Main Story[]

Part I

In Midgard, three years after Fimbulwinter began, as Kratos and Atreus were returning home after a hunt, they were attacked by Freya, who then failed to kill Kratos. When the duo reach their home, Fenrir, one of their wolves, is close to dying; Atreus recites a funerary chant before asking his father to let him grieve for and bury the wolf. Kratos accepts and falls asleep at the house.

Kratos dreams about his beloved wife, Faye but is awoken by Mimir, who is worried since Atreus hasn't returned home from burying Fenrir. While searching for his son, Kratos and Mimir are attacked by a bear named Bjorn. Kratos strangles the bear until it shape-shifts back to Atreus, who suddenly developed his bear powers from his intense emotions. Atreus and Kratos argue about the former's intent to learn more his "Loki" identity before returning home again.

While both father and son were asleep, they were awoken by Thor, the God of Thunder, who asks to talk with Kratos. Odin, the King of Asgard, follows soon after, and makes an offer to the God of War: in exchange for him and Atreus not antagonizing the Aesir Gods, Odin and Thor would also not do the same, in order to maintain peace. After they reveal that Atreus has been secretly searching for Týr, the apparently dead Nordic God of War, and after Mimir chastises Odin, Kratos coldly refuses the deal. Odin allows Thor to assault Kratos as retribution for killing Baldur, Magni, and Modi. Kratos dies from head trauma but is revived by Thor, who repeatedly tries to goad Kratos' rage so he can see the "Ghost of Sparta". When Thor boasts of Odin's "plans" for Atreus, Kratos punches Thor with his full might, and the satisfied God of Thunder departs, claiming "[I'll] be seeing 'ya".

Brok and Sindri encounter a wounded Kratos, who asks them for help going back to his home since Odin is still with Atreus and Mimir. Deducing that Kratos' magical protection stave is broken, Brok offers him, his son, and the head refuge in Sindri's house. Returning home, Kratos is relieved to find Atreus safe, but is angered by how the boy hid the fact that he was researching on Tyr and Loki on his own. However, seeing that this path helps in ensuring safety for Atreus, Kratos accompanies him to Sköll and Hati's Jötunn mural, which actually has a secret room inside that reveals the real fate of the two Giant wolves. The mural and Atreus' secret explorations hint in Kratos, him, and Mimir having to go to Svartalfheim, the Realm of the Dwarves, to free Týr, who is potentially still alive.

After Sindri leads the trio to his home in the Realm Between Realms, he, Brok, and Mimir modifies their Bifröst Lamp for a travel door as a new (and only way) of Realm travel. The Huldra Brothers, after learning of the trio's plans to explore Svartalfheim to find and free Týr, suggests that they go to Nidavellr, the realm's capital city, to find a government official and ex-rebel Durlin. In the Dwarf's Realm, after Durlin finds out that his former disgraced comrade and Kratos' wife, Faye, has already passed away, he secretly gives Atreus directions to the Jarnsmida Pitmines to find Týr. Týr turns out to be alive, but has developed poor mental health and has made a vow against violence after years of torture. After Kratos yells at him to join the group, Týr tags along, not as a soldier but at least as someone with information. They all return to Sindri's house.

Part II

Kratos and Mimir lament about how times were simpler in the past and how finding Týr might have been a mistake from Atreus. Atreus and Sindri sneaks away from them to go to Midgard in order to try recruiting Freya, despite the latter's protests. Atreus consults Jörmungandr first on advice for averting Ragnarök, and is disappointed that the only reply he got is to go to "Ironwood", which is potentially not a real place. Atreus meets Freya and reveals to her that he might be the last Giant left, and that Odin briefly visited Midgard. Freya refuses to tag along, and warns Atreus to never approach her again. While they go home, Sindri comforts Atreus and opens up about how Brok had actually died and Sindri partially resurrected him. They both promise to eventually be more honest to Brok and Kratos.

Kratos, Mimir, and Týr planned to visit Alfheim in order to see what secrets Groa's Jötunn shrine may unlock there. Atreus tags along and they face off against the Light Elves, who took control of the Light of Alfheim and its temple. Upon reaching Groa's shrine, it is revealed to an amused trio and a shocked Týr that Groa, the sorceress, lied about the Ragnarök prophecy to Odin; instead of all Nine Realms being destroyed together, a "Champion" will unite the Realms against Asgard and only the Aesir Realm will be destroyed through warfare. Týr is dismayed by the revelation and they return home.

Týr convinces Atreus that maybe he is the "Champion" of the Jötnar, irritating Kratos. Seeing that his father doesn't look forward to Atreus being this war hero, he retreats to his new room and suddenly wakes up in Ironwood, which is in Jötunheim. He is approached by Angrboda, a Jötunn (with the same age as him) is aware of her fate with Loki, who shows him around to the other side of the Giant Realm. Eventually, Atreus finds out that his father has a death prophecy, that almost all the Jötnar's souls are placed in Marbles so Odin wouldn't find them, and that Gryla, Angrboda's grandmother, has been consuming animal souls for her pleasure. Atreus and Angrboda revive a large soulless snake by imbuing it with a Jötunn named "Jörmungandr". The snake leaves with a word. The teen duo then fight Gryla, who taunts Angrboda for her prophecy with Loki, and how he would care more about Farbauti's (Kratos' Norse name) death than her. For the safety of the Jötnar race, Angrboda tells Atreus not to say anything about his trip to Ironwood.

Angrboda helps Atreus return home, but he is mistakenly sent to his own house in Midgard. A worried Kratos finds him and questions why he has been missing for two days. Their tense reunion is cut short by the Valkyrie Vanadis, who attacks them. During the battle, Kratos recognizes Freya in her and is distracted, because of which she temporarily gains the upper hand. Atreus trying to help his father by turning into a bear, but he instead stops him from attacking Freya, who demands a temporary collaboration with Kratos and Mimir in Vanaheim so that she should be free from Odin's curse. Brok tags along to meet up with an old friend of his. The Dwarf is trapped through by Freyr, the God of Peace and Freya's brother. Freya tells him that they are her allies, and he quickly stops being hostile to Brok, Kratos, and Mimir. Brok stays in Freyr's camp to meet up with another Dwarf, Lunda.

The Ghost of Sparta and Freya find the source of her curse, which is guarded by the multi-dimensional dragon Niðhogg. Freya decapitates her and finally frees herself from being restricted to travel the Nine Realms. When Kratos asks what will happen next between them, she says that while she'll always be angry at Kratos for killing Baldur, claiming retribution by defeating Odin is more important. Fortunately, they reconcile and become allies. She returns to Freyr's camp soon after and reconciles with his brother too.

Part III

Back at Sindri's home, Kratos continues to demand the truth from Atreus, who has already considered going to Asgard as a spy against Odin. Mimir, Freya, Týr, Brok, and Sindri all discourage him from going to Odin, but he runs away. He finds a neglected Chaurli in Midgard, makes sure he's still alive, and enters the house underneath him, where Huginn is watching. He takes Atreus to Asgard, who encounters a Midgardian refugee, Skjöldr, and the God of Foresight, Heimdall. Skeptical, Heimdall attacks Atreus until Odin and Thor intervenes. Odin shows him around Asgard and offers Modi's room for him. He then asks for his help to translate a foreign text from a mysterious mask (or Mask of Creation), which may hold a vast array of knowledge. After Atreus reads, Odin deduces the mystery and sent him and Thor to Muspelheim to find another fragment of the mask.

Atreus convinces a salty Thor to explore Surtr's Trials while he sneaks to find the secret prophecy behind Surtr's Jötunn mural. Angrboda appears, hints in the Fire Giant still being alive, and they discover together that actually, Surtr can only destroy Asgard if he combines with his lover, Sinmara. Atreus returns to Thor and manages to get the mask piece. The two return to Asgard.

Back in the Realm Between Realms, Kratos plans to consult the fates of Norse Mythology, the Norns. With Mimir and Freya, they travel to Midgard, where the Norns toy with them before allowing the trio to consult them. In the Well of Urð, the Norns reveal three important informations. Firstly, Kratos will eventually die. Secondly, there is no predetermined fate for everyone, and that all prophecies are predictions were based on people's identities and actions. Finally, Heimdall plans to kill Atreus. Kratos, Mimir, and Freya are all perturbed by their words, but Kratos is only concerned about how to defend his son. And he can only do so by planning to kill Heimdall.

After telling the Huldra Brothers of their trip to the Norns, Brok suggests that in order to overwhelm Heimdall's prediction ability, a duplicating ring named Draupnir will have to be modified into the Draupnir Spear that detonates its duplicates on command. Kratos, Mimir, Freya, and Brok head to Svartalfheim to meet the only entity capable of forging the Draupnir Spear: the Lady of the Forge. However, while the Spear was forged, Brok realizes that the Lady doesn't see her because his restored soul is incomplete. He figures out and is enraged to know that he actually died, but Kratos consoles him. Odin visits the God of War in the Dwarf Realm just to insult him. As Kratos returns to Sindri's house, he dreams of another memory of Faye, and this time with an infant Atreus. Kratos remains haunted by his dreams of the past.

Back in Asgard, Atreus and Thrúd, Thor's daughter, is summoned by Odin. The All - Father confesses that his whole plan all along is to use the mask to uncover where will he go when he dies. He then sends the two of them, plus Heimdall, to Helheim. Heimdall leaves them behind for another mission from Odin. Atreus and Thrúd find a Giant wolf and releases it, believing it to be unjustly held captive. Heimdall however scolds them for it, revealing that they had just released Garm, a Hel-Hound that starts tearing through the fabric of reality. Atreus asks Odin to send him back to Midgard, and the latter sadly does his request.

Part IV

Atreus returns to Sindri's house, which is terrorized by Hel-Walkers due to a rift made by Garm. After Freya and Atreus seal it back, he reunites with Kratos. Ratatoskr grants travel access to Kratos and Atreus to Helheim. They hunt down Garm and break it's neck, but Garm is immediately resurrected, as the Giant Hel-Hound has no soul for them to kill. Atreus realizes that Fenrir's soul is contained in his knife due to his funerary chant at the start of the game, and with Kratos' help, Fenrir's soul is transferred to Garm's body. Kratos, realizing what has happened, commands Fenrir to return to Midgard. The father and son starts opening up about their own secrets, like Kratos' Draupnir Spear and Atreus' journey to Ironwood, and they fully reconcile before returning home.

Kratos, Mimir, and Atreus travel to Vanaheim soon after to aid Freyr and Freya. Firstly, they searched for Sköll and Hati, who are missing, and Atreus signals them to turn day back into night so that everyone can tell time again. Secondly, Kratos and Mimir face Heimdall, who does not accept being granted mercy by the God of War. Kratos brutally kills him, much to Mimir's horror, and they save Freyr, who is injured and ambushed by the Einherjar. Kratos takes Heimdall's horn, Gjallarhorn, and the rebels escape through riding Skidbladnir, and Birgir leaves them to save the group from Wyvern.

Atreus tells the group back home about Odin's mask and plans to return to Asgard to gather more information. Kratos reluctantly accepts. In Asgard, Atreus corrects his translation, and this time, instead of going to Helheim, the last mask fragment is actually in Niflheim. With Thrúd's help, Atreus finds Thor in a mead hall called Black Thunder, and the latter starts a bar fight. Thrúd chastises Thor for relapsing back into alcoholism, and Atreus and Thor travel to the Mist Realm.

On their journey, Thor begins to bond with Atreus, but stops when his wife, Sif, warns him that Atreus, who is responsible for Modi's demise, could end up being involved with Thrúd's death too. Atreus, with a completed mask, evades Thor with Sindri's help. Atreus returns home and shows the mask to everyone inside Sindri's house. Týr proclaims that he will take them to Asgard to fight Odin, using the mask as a leverage, but Brok is suspicious of his plan since Týr never once did he say that he had a way to Asgard this whole time. Annoyed, Týr stabs Brok and is revealed to be Odin. He escapes, declaring war on Kratos. A dying Brok forgives Sindri for lying about his death, and the latter teleports a dead Brok away from the Realm Between Realms.

Kratos and Atreus goes their real home to grieve, and Kratos and Mimir gently tells Atreus to confront his mistakes instead of running away from them. They meet up with an angry Sindri in his and Brok's former forge, and the Dwarf ends his friendship with Atreus. The trio return to Freya, who plans to mobilize the Nine Realms against Asgard. Kratos, Atreus (and including Mimir too), were taken by Hildisvíni to Helheim to communicate with Hræsvelgr who then gives them a task with finding Surtr in Muspelheim. For Surtr to join their forces, the trio must sacrifice Sinmara to Surtr in the process. However, upon seeing that Kratos' Blades of Chaos were both made of Primordial Fire, he joins them and fuses with the Blades' Fire instead of his lover, Sinmara.

Part V

The father-son duo reunites with Freya in Midgard to talk about their success. Freya then tells them that the last part of their plan is to appoint a General to lead them against Ragnarök. She asks that Kratos considers the role, and he goes to his tent to rest. The Ghost of Sparta dreams of Faye yet again, who is, this time, preparing for her eventual death early on. Kratos does not panic from the dream this time, and he accepts Freya's suggestion that he would be the main leader and General for all the Nine Realms.

In Týr's Temple, he and Freya deliver an impassioned speech before blowing Gjallarhorn, granting all the Realms access to Asgard. Asgard's forces attempt to sever their link to the other Realms to thin out Kratos' forces, and Atreus and Sindri opens a secret passage in Asgard's wall. Thrúd attempts to kill Atreus, but is stopped by Sif and Skjöldr, who figures out that Odin is disinterested in saving his own people.

Entering Asgard's city, Thor fights the younger Jörmungandr and with a powerful hit, sends him back in time, just before he fights Kratos. Kratos wins, shows mercy, and convinces Thor to fight against Odin. Odin arrives at the scene quickly, and kills Thor for changing sides, just before hitting Thrúd with Mjölnir. Kratos, Mimir, Atreus, and then with Freya face off against the Allfather. Atreus destroys his mask mid-battle, and drags his soul to Laufey's Marble, which was given by Angrboda.

An enraged Sindri smashes the marble, effectively killing Odin, and Surtr, now named "Ragnarök", is ready to incinerate the Nine Realms. Angrboda and Fenrir, who has Garm's powers, help Kratos and the others to escape. Freyr sacrifices himself to ensure that Freya would reach Fenrir's rift in time. Because of this, Asgard is now finally destroyed.

Atreus, unconscious, wakes up and sends his goodbyes to the remaining survivors. He reunites with Kratos and Angrboda, who takes them into one last secret Jötunn shrine: Faye's. Atreus confesses that he has to travel alone from now on in order to find the rest of the Jötnar, and a saddened Kratos supports his decision. Atreus and Angrboda departs. Kratos finds out that there is another shrine behind Faye's: his very own. He is destined to eventually become the beloved All - Father of the Nine Realms. Shocked by this revelation, he invites Mimir and Freya to help him rebuild the Realms post-Ragnarök. They both accept the offer, and the adventures of Kratos, Mimir, and Freya continue.

Epilogue[]

In Midgard, Freya briefly reunites with Chaurli, who is displeased with her neglect of him. If Kratos find Birgir in Vanaheim before that, he would then be found in Freya's old home, tending to the large turtle. Skjoldr finds a coin Kratos threw away as an act of defiance against Odin. He struggles to get it out of a boulder it landed on.

In Vanaheim, Sif and Hildisvini has successfully reunited Vanaheim and the remaining refugees of Asgard.

In Muspelheim, The trio fight Gna, Odin's last Valkyrie Queen. After Gna loses, she immediately begs Freya to kill her. Freya sadly accepts, but not before asking her to be allies again beforehand.

In Niflheim, Sinmara grieves for Surtr. Kratos, Mimir, and Freya then find the real Tyr in a secret prison there. He is relieved to find out that Odin is no more and travels all the Nine Realms to meditate.

In Alfheim, Thrúd finds Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, and promises that she'll make her father proud.

In Helheim, Mimir confesses that in exchange for Hræsvelgr aiding Kratos during Ragnarok, she wishes to have a successor as the ruler of Hel someday.

In Svartalfheim, the trio pay their respects to Brok. They attend his Viking funeral alongside Lúnda, Ræb, Durlin, and Sindri. When Kratos offers condolences to Sindri after, the remaining Huldra Brother remains resentful to Kratos, but too sad to say anything. He leaves quickly, depressed. Mimir finally solves a riddle Brok gave him before he died, but it is too late.

In the Realm Between Realms, Ratatoskr mourns for Brok. Kratos pledges to maintain Sindri's house until the Dwarf returns.

Characters[]

The characters are categorized according to their allegiance towards the player at the beginning of the game.

Main Protagonists[]

Secondary Characters[]

Antagonists[]

Fenrir: The giant wolf and the pet of Kratos, Atreus and Angrboda.
Jörmungandr: The world serpent who has mysterious connection to Atreus.
Sköll and Hati: Two wolf giants and the sons of Hróðvitnir, who are known as Bringers of Day and Night.
Surtr: The first and original fire giant who's destiny is to destroy Asgard when Ragnarök comes. He is also known as Surtr the Brave.
Speki and Svanna: Kratos' and Atreus' female wolves who pull their sled.
Sigrun: The Valkyrie who was previously killed by Kratos. She is the lover of Mimir. She was resurrected by Freya.

Enemies[]

Draugr: The most common enemy found in the Norse Realms. Draugr are reanimated corpses that haunt battlefields. Many varieties of Draugr exist, some with magical abilities and others with different weapons and equipment such as shields.
Light Elves: One of the two Elven races that make their home in Alfheim. Since the previous game, they have taken a more warrior approach as they are shown to fight both Kratos and Atreus.
Dark Elves: One of the two Elven races, alongside the Light Elves, that live in Alfheim.
Hel-Walkers: They are souls who are unable to rest and enter the afterlife, due to Odin breaking the balance between the realms by corrupting the Valkyries, which ultimately led to the overflowing of Helheim and the spreading of the Hel-Walkers all throughout Midgard.
Hel-Brood: Faceless and aggressive creatures that reside in Helheim.
Raiders: Like the Reavers, they are one of the few people that had not fled or went into hiding.
Reavers: They were normal reavers, but got corrupted by Seidr magic which altered their appearance as well as losing their humanity.
Stalkers: Centaur-like creatures with antlers that are armed with random weapons.
Berserkers: Malevolent warrior-like ghosts.
Ogres: Huge gorilla-like giant monsters.
Wulvers: Vicious anthropomorphic beasts that resemble that of a werewolf.
Legions: Supernatural entities that can be summoned by Seidr magic.
Dreki: Giant crocodile-like creatures from Svartalfheim.
Grim: Bipedal lizard-like monsters with a "Cursed" variant that spits toxic bile.
Bergsra: a giant-like Grim with ability to spawn Wretches.
Tatzelwurm: Hybrid monsters that are a combination of a snake and a feline.
Gradungr: Large lion-like creatures that sport ram-like horns or stag-like antlers.
Gulon: A unique creature-like beast usually appeared there packs and mostly native in Vanaheim.
Dragon: Gigantic and dangerous flying reptiles that breathe fire or ice from their mouths.
Nokken: a goblin-like creature that have horrific chants ability to heal its enemies like Draugrs.
Wisp: a mysterious spirit with elemental power.
Wight: a horrific six-armed spectre.
Einherjar: Warriors who have died and gone to Valhalla and fight at Odin's command. Their weapons are imbued with Bifrost Energy.
Fiske: A giant Einherjar warrior who wields a bifröst-imbued scythe.
Travelers: Tall and powerful warriors that wear full-body armor and wield big swords.
Flame Phantom: A creature made of fire and rock in Muspelheim. It bears a rune that acts as a weak spot.
Frost Phantom: The snow and ice counterpart of the Flame Phantom. It resides in Midgard. Like the Flame Phantom, it bears a rune which acts as its weak spot.
Ancients: Big stone golems that have elemental-powered attacks.
Soul Eater: A corrupted Ancient created by the Dwarf Andvari. It serves as a guard for Surtr.
Nightmares: Floating eyeball-like monsters that can can launch projectiles.
Corrupted Valkyries: Valkyries are spirits but corrupted into their physical form by Odin.
Garm: A giant chained wolf from Helheim that wields ice-based powers.
Nidhogg: A giant wingless dragon that guards the roots of Yggdrasil.
Trolls: Giant Norse monsters with a set of giant tusks on the edge of their faces. They carry massive totems as their main weapon. Some Trolls utilize different elemental and area-of-effect attacks.

Both Thor and Freya were initially confirmed as the main antagonists of the game,^[1] but this was later revealed to be Odin.

Weapons[]

Leviathan Axe: Kratos's primary weapon, a one-handed battle axe with frost magic properties. The Leviathan Axe can be immediately recalled by Kratos after being thrown. The axe originally belonged to Faye, a Jötnar and the wife of Kratos and mother of Atreus. The brothers Sindri and Brok crafted the axe long ago.
Kratos' Fists: Kratos can use his fists in unarmed combat and can perform multiple hit combos.
Talon Bow: Atreus' primary weapon is a magical bow and arrows. The bow has the ability to summon spectral animals to perform attacks and assist Kratos in combat.
Guardian Shield: Kratos has a gauntlet that transforms into a circular shield for parrying blows and wide-ranged attacks. The shield can be used to block attacks, projectiles, and a well-timed block can parry enemies' attacks. The shield can be upgraded to perform powerful slams and area-of-effect attacks.
Blades of Chaos: Kratos' most vile weapons since his time in the world of Greece, twin chained-blades that possess fire magic properties. Originally given to him by Ares after pledging his loyalty to the God of War and stayed with him even after killing his former master, they can never leave Kratos no matter how much he tries to get rid of them.
Draupnir Spear: Kratos forges this weapon from the Draupnir Ring, a ring that can duplicate itself, a spearhead, and his own blood with the help of the Lady of the Forge. Brok blesses the weapon soon after it is forged. Built for killing Heimdall, who can predict a person's attacks, Kratos wears the ring itself on his finger and is able to summon the Spear into his hand anytime he wishes. When one or more spears are thrown (up to 5 or 8, depending on upgrades), Kratos can slam the spear in his hand on the ground, detonating all thrown spears.

Gameplay[]

The studio has confirmed that players will be able to visit all nine realms in the next game^[2], including Vanaheim, Asgard and Svartalfheim which players will see for the first time. Moreover, they are now able to play as Atreus for the first time. Other characters such as Freya and Sindri are also available for brief periods as AI-controlled assist characters similar to Atreus.

The game retains the single continuous shot technique from the previous game.^[3]

Development[]

Cast[]

Principal voice actors[]

Additional voices[]

Anna Brisbin - Einherjar
Aaron Philips - Einherjar
Laura Stahl - Einherjar
Aleks Le - The Mystic
Mark Whitten - Mystic Assassin
Chris Tergliafera - Berserker Ox enemies
Connor Fogarty - Berserker Ox enemies
Kellen Goff - Berserker Stag enemies
Yong Yea - Berserker Stag enemies
Michael Schwalde - Ljósálfar / Light Elf Warriors, Nidavellir Dwarves, Andor the Father's Ghost
Lani Minella - Light One, Raven Keeper, Runa the Garden Spirit
Darin De Paul - Unknown Role
Kat Cressida - Unknown Role
Sara Cravens - Unknown Role
Laura Post - Unknown Role
Erin Yvette - Unknown Role
Sarah Elmaleh - Unknown Role

Trivia[]

Ragnarök is stated to be the last game of the Norse series, because the developers did not want to take another 5 years to tell the complete story. Santa Monica Studios has as-of-yet-unrevealed new projects in its lineup.
In a promotional video from Rick and Morty, Rick manages to do this impossible: Opening a Nornir Chest without breaking a seal and carrying Kratos' Leviathan Axe without trying.
Thor's design received a noticeable overhaul from his very brief appearance in God of War (2018), now wearing less clothes and appearing more visibly heavyset.
This is the first game in the "God of War" series in which the playable story character is not only Kratos, the game also provides Atreus' gameplay in the storyline.
All enemies besides Wolf return from the previous game with the former being replaced entirely by Gulon.