Since the release of the first game in 2005, the “God of War” series took the world by storm and has been a staple in the gaming community for years. From bloody and gory fight scenes to attention-grabbing storytelling, the developers behind the games continuously surprised fans with each addition to the series. 

As of 2018, “God of War” released another installment  in the series, which takes place in a completely new environment and setting than the original three. Somehow, Kratos found his way from ancient Greece to ancient Scandinavia, where a whole new pantheon of gods, monsters, and creatures awaited, watching his every move. The new game was a massive hit, and players were thrilled to finally have another addition to the series, especially one with a whole new main plot and storyline, as well as new characters, items, and fight mechanics. After a few months, the hype continued, with the game even winning the “Game of the Year” award in 2018.

Released on Nov. 9, 2022 by Santa Monica Studio, “God of War Ragnarök” was added as the newest addition in the series,  actively destroying all expectations in this modern era of gaming. Blending action, adventure, and superb storytelling into a single mind-blowing experience, “God of War Ragnarök” revisits the same main characters, Kratos and Atreus, three years after the events of the previous game. 

After a sneak peek at the end of the 2018 “God of War,” fans eagerly awaited the battle between Kratos and the mysterious figure shown during the end credits. 

As showcased at the start of the game, much has changed since we last left our protagonists. With the drastic shifts in danger due to the freezing winds of Fimbulvetr and looming threat of Ragnarök, the nine realms have become harsher. While traveling through the nine realms, threats such as draugr and other monsters from Norse mythology are still ever present, waiting with their heads buried in the snow for someone to pass by.   

Kratos, still haunted by the mistakes and ghosts of his past, wants to ensure that his son Atreus does not learn the same bloody lessons that he learned in his younger days from his conflict with both the Greek and Norse gods. 

As soon as the start button is selected, the player finds themselves in a cave, where Kratos and Atreus are finishing up with their hunting. As they are trudging back to the sled to get back home, they are attacked by the goddess Freya, who still blames Kratos for the death of her son. As they arrive back at their home, the roof suddenly breaks open with a flash of light, and they are once again greeted by another Norse god, this one a stranger surrounded by lightning and storm clouds. 

Curiosity getting the better of his judgment, Kratos lets the stranger in, not realizing that everything would change soon, for better or for worse. 

“God Of War Ragnarök” displays the beauty of modern technology, with beautiful scenery such as Asgard, to smooth gameplay and fights. This game truly takes good graphics to a whole new level. This addition pushes past the previous game, revealing more of the nine realms that were previously unreachable, such as Asgard, Vanaheim, and Svartalfheim, allowing players to explore both new and old areas from the previous game. From breathtaking jungles to dark and gloomy subterranean mining networks, each realm has something to offer to the player. This installment of the “God of War” series is arguably one of the best, and I can’t wait to see how the next one will turn out.