God of War Ragnarök is a 2022 action-adventure game created by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was released worldwide on November 9, 2022, for both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, which was the first time a game in the God of War series was available on both systems at once. It was later released for Windows on September 19, 2024. This game is the ninth in the series but the tenth when counting the story in order. It follows God of War (2018) and is based loosely on Norse mythology, which is a collection of stories from ancient Scandinavia. The game features Kratos, the main character, and his teenage son, Atreus. The story shows Kratos and Atreus trying to stop Ragnarök, a major event in Norse mythology that was predicted to happen after Kratos killed the god Baldur in the previous game.
The game plays similarly to the 2018 version. Players use combo-based combat, solve puzzles, and interact with characters in a role-playing style. New features include Kratos using a magical battle axe, double-chained blades, and a new spear. His shield can now change types, each with different abilities for fighting or defending. Atreus and other characters help in battles and can be controlled by the player during certain parts of the story.
The game was originally planned for a 2021 release but was delayed because the actor who voices Kratos, Christopher Judge, had health issues in 2019. The development was also affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. A free expansion called Valhalla was released on December 15, 2023. This expansion includes roguelite gameplay, where players face challenges and restart if they fail, and serves as an ending to the main story. It follows Kratos as he faces trials in Valhalla, a place from Norse mythology, and reflects on his past life in Greece.
God of War Ragnarök received praise from critics for its story, characters, visuals, level design, and improvements over the previous game. Some feedback mentioned that the story’s pacing and certain gameplay features could be better. The game sold 5.1 million copies in its first week, making it the fastest-selling PlayStation game ever. By November 2023, over 15 million copies had been sold. At the Game Awards 2022, it received 11 nominations, including Game of the Year, and won six awards. It also received 12 nominations at the D.I.C.E. Awards, winning seven, and 15 nominations at the British Academy Games Awards, winning six, including the EE Game of the Year Award.
Gameplay
God of War Ragnarök is a third-person action-adventure game. It uses an over-the-shoulder camera that players control, and the game has no camera cuts or loading screens. The gameplay is similar to the 2018 version of God of War, which is also single-player only. Players fight enemies from Norse mythology, including new types like einherjar, wyverns, stalkers (centaur-like creatures with antlers), phantoms, human raiders, and nøkkens. The game also has more mini-bosses to add variety.
Players mainly control Kratos, who fights using combo-based combat and puzzle-solving. His main weapons are the Leviathan Axe, a magical battle axe with ice powers, and the Blades of Chaos, double-chained blades with fire powers. Kratos also uses his original Guardian Shield and fights with his hands. The Leviathan Axe can be thrown at enemies and returned to Kratos’s hand, like Thor’s hammer Mjölnir. It can also be used to freeze objects or enemies for puzzles. The Blades of Chaos can be swung in different ways and used as a grappling hook to move across gaps or throw objects at enemies. Kratos gains a new weapon called the Draupnir Spear, which has wind magic and can create copies of itself to attack enemies. The spear can also be used to move or clear paths. Each weapon has light and heavy attacks, which can be upgraded with runes for magical attacks. Players can also use a "Weapon Signature Move" to unleash powerful attacks. If Kratos is on a higher ledge, he can jump down to attack enemies below.
The game’s shield was redesigned to be more versatile. Smaller shields are used for parrying and can stun enemies, while larger shields create energy waves to push enemies back. Kratos’s Spartan Rage ability now has three forms: Fury, Valor, and Wrath. Fury is the standard mode, where Kratos uses hand-to-hand attacks. Valor uses rage energy to heal or parry, and Wrath unleashes a powerful weapon attack.
Atreus helps Kratos through artificial intelligence (AI). Players can control where Atreus shoots arrows or summon magical animals to assist in combat. Atreus’s combat skills were improved, with longer attacks and new abilities. In some missions, other characters join Kratos, and players can control them passively. For the first time in the series, players can fully control Atreus during certain story missions. Atreus fights with his bow, uses special arrows, creates shields, and summons animals. He also has a rage ability that lets him transform into a wolf or bear. During these missions, Atreus may be joined by another character, who can also be controlled.
The game includes role-playing elements from the 2018 version, like a crafting system for armor and weapons. Players can also change the appearance of their armor without losing its stats. Ragnarök has over 70 accessibility options. The user interface (UI) was redesigned for better flexibility and readability, and more customization options were added for combat and interaction systems. All accessibility features from the 2018 game were kept and improved.
The downloadable content (DLC) pack Valhalla, released on December 12, 2023, uses roguelite elements. Players control Kratos through randomly generated levels, choosing relics, shields, and rage abilities for each trial. Upgrades earned during trials last only for that session. Completing challenges unlocks permanent rewards. Death resets the trial. The DLC includes new enemies and returning ones from earlier Greek-era games, like cyclopes and minotaurs. A new rage ability called Legacy lets players use the Blade of Olympus, similar to God of War III (2010). This ability is available in New Game Plus (NG+). New cosmetic armor designs, including Kratos’s original appearance from the 2005 game, were also added and can be used in NG+.
Synopsis
Ragnarök takes place in the world of Norse mythology, three years after the previous game. Unlike the earlier game, all nine realms of Norse mythology are explored in the story. Midgard, the main realm, has become a cold wasteland due to Fimbulwinter, a three-year winter that started after the previous game ended. The Lake of the Nine, once crossed by boat, is now frozen. Kratos uses a sleigh and two pet wolves to travel the area. Other returning realms include Alfheim, home to dark and light Elves; Helheim, the icy land of the dead; Jötunheim, the land of Giants; Muspelheim, a fiery realm; and Niflheim, a fog realm now covered in ice and snow. These two realms were optional to explore before. The new realms in Ragnarök are Svartalfheim, the industrial home of Dwarves; Vanaheim, the lush home of Vanir gods and the giant wolves Sköll and Hati; and Asgard, the home of the Aesir gods, which is only visited during the story and cannot be returned to after. The Valhalla DLC adds Valhalla, a part of Asgard where warriors go after death. It includes small recreations of previous realms based on Kratos’s memories and areas from his homeland of Greece.
The main characters are Kratos (played by Christopher Judge) and his teenage son, Atreus (Sunny Suljic). Kratos was once a Greek god of war, and Atreus, who is half Giant, one-quarter god, and one-quarter mortal, is also known as Loki. After the previous game, Kratos and Atreus hid in Midgard, training for the battle ahead. They are often joined by Mímir (Alastair Duncan), who claims to be the smartest man alive and helps them with advice. Other returning characters include Freya (Danielle Bisutti), a Vanir goddess and former Queen of the Valkyries, who seeks revenge for her son Baldur’s death; and Brok and Sindri (Robert Craighead and Adam Harrington), Dwarven blacksmiths who help forge weapons and find ways to travel between realms. A new character is Angrboda (Laya DeLeon Hayes), a Giant hiding in Jötunheim who protects animals. Other allies include Ratatoskr (SungWon Cho), the squirrel guardian of the World Tree; Lúnda (Milana Vayntrub), a Dwarven blacksmith in Freyr’s resistance; and Skjöldr (A.J. LoCascio), a Midgardian refugee in Asgard.
The main enemy is Odin (Richard Schiff), the Aesir god and king of Asgard, who lies and manipulates others to avoid dying in Ragnarök. He lost an eye while looking into a world rift. His ravens, Huginn and Muninn, help him travel between realms. Thor (Ryan Hurst), the Aesir god of thunder and Odin’s son, is a secondary enemy. He wields Mjölnir, a hammer used to fight Giants, and follows Odin’s orders. Heimdall (Scott Porter), another son of Odin, believes himself untouchable and guards Asgard with the magical horn Gjallarhorn, which signals Ragnarök’s start.
Other characters include Freyr (Brett Dalton), Freya’s twin brother who leads a resistance in Vanaheim; Týr (Ben Prendergast), a peaceful god of war who was thought dead; Sif (Emily Rose), Thor’s wife who wants Thor to defy Odin; Thrúd (Mina Sundwall), Thor and Sif’s daughter who dreams of becoming a Valkyrie; and Surtr (Chris Browning), a fire Giant in Muspelheim. The three Norns (Urð, Verðandi, and Skuld) appear as the Fates of Norse mythology. Kratos’s wife, Laufey (Deborah Ann Woll), who died before the previous game, appears in flashbacks.
The Valhalla DLC includes Helios (Crispin Freeman), the Greek Sun god, who appears as a head in Valhalla and mocks Kratos. Former Valkyries Sigrun, Gunnr, and Eir guide Kratos and Mímir in Valhalla.
At the end of Fimbulwinter, Kratos and Atreus return home to find their wolf Fenrir dying. Atreus’s grief turns him into a bear, and he fights Kratos before returning to normal. Thor and Odin offer to leave them alone if Atreus stops searching for Týr. Kratos refuses, fighting Thor to a stalemate. Odin tells Atreus he will leave Kratos alone if Atreus goes to Asgard. Kratos, Atreus, and Mímir take refuge with Sindri and rescue Týr in Svartalfheim. In Alfheim, they learn only Asgard is doomed, while other realms survive under a new champion, possibly Atreus as Loki. Kratos and Atreus argue about Atreus’s destiny.
Atreus travels to Jötunheim, where Angrboda shows him a mural predicting Kratos’s death and Atreus serving Odin. He is given spiritual stones with Giant souls, placing one in a snake’s body before returning to Midgard. Freya attacks but agrees to spare Kratos if he breaks her curse, temporarily transforming into a falcon. In Vanaheim, Kratos shares his past with Freya, and they reconcile after breaking the curse.
Kratos argues with Atreus about his deceit. Atreus flees to Asgard to stop Kratos’s death, working with Thor and Thrúd to prevent Ragnarök by reassembling an ancient mask for Odin. The Norns reveal Heimdall is destined to kill Atreus. Kratos and Brok forge a spear to harm Heimdall. Brok learns he was revived without a soul, meaning he cannot reach the afterlife if he dies again. In Helheim, Atreus…
Development
During the development of God of War (2018), the game’s director, Cory Barlog, said the 2018 game would not be the last one featuring Kratos. Future games would take place in the Norse world and include Atreus. A sequel was hinted at the end of the 2018 game, which showed Ragnarök approaching and a secret ending where Thor confronts Kratos and Atreus after Fimbulwinter. Later, marketing materials for the sequel included the phrase “Ragnarök is coming.”
At the PlayStation 5 (PS5) Showcase on September 16, 2020, a new God of War game was officially announced for a 2021 release on the PS5. Sony said the game would also be released on the PlayStation 4 (PS4), making it the first God of War game to be available on both older and newer consoles. The game’s title was later confirmed as God of War Ragnarök, though it was accidentally leaked earlier in 2020.
The game’s development was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2021, Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios, said the game was delayed partly because of the pandemic, which made it harder to access performance capture and talent. Santa Monica Studio, the game’s developer, said they wanted to ensure the game was high quality and protect the people working on it.
The delay caused challenges with Atreus’s actor, Sunny Suljic, who was going through puberty during production. His changing voice required adjustments to make it sound like the story happened over a short time. The team also used actors to stand in for background characters in some scenes to follow pandemic safety rules. Kratos’s actor, Christopher Judge, mentioned in late 2021 that his need for surgery in 2019 contributed to the delay, and the studio gave him time to recover.
During the 2021 PlayStation Showcase, Eric Williams was confirmed as the game’s director, continuing the tradition of having a new director for each God of War game. It was also revealed that Ragnarök would end the Norse era of the series. The decision to end the Norse era with Ragnarök was based on the game’s size and scale. Both God of War (2018) and Ragnarök took about five years to develop, and the team did not want to spend another five years on a single story, which would total nearly 15 years.
Lead writer Rich Gaubert said the team debated whether to make Ragnarök a trilogy or end the Norse era with two games. They decided to end it with Ragnarök because the story was too large for one game and worried about whether it could properly show the apocalyptic theme in a single story. Cory Barlog, the game’s creative director, made the final decision to end the Norse era with Ragnarök.
Barlog told Eric Williams that three key plot points needed to be included: Ragnarök must happen, Atreus must leave Kratos at the end, and Brok must be killed. Brok was described as the “family dog.” The game explores what kind of man Kratos would be without his son and what kind of god Atreus would be without his father.
Narrative director Matt Sophos said an early idea involved Kratos dying in his first battle with Thor, followed by a 20-year time jump where Atreus rescues him. This idea was rejected because Eric Williams did not like it and wanted to avoid repeating story elements from the Greek era. The final ending focused on showing that prophecy and fate are not fixed.
On July 6, 2022, a cinematic trailer was released, confirming a worldwide release date of November 9, 2022. Another trailer showed during Sony’s 2022 State of Play event, confirming that Ragnarök was made in one continuous shot, like the 2018 game. The game supports options for higher resolution or better performance, including 4K at 30fps, 1080p at 60fps, and high frame modes for PS5 players. The PS4 version is a visual improvement over the 2018 game, but the PS5 version adds features like 3D audio, haptic feedback, and better graphics.
Santa Monica confirmed the game would include a photo mode, added after release. On October 7, 2022, the game was announced as “gold,” meaning it was finalized for release. Eight other studios helped develop Ragnarök, including SuperAlloy Interactive, which worked on motion capture and combat choreography.
During the 2021 PlayStation Showcase, Eric Williams revealed that Richard Schiff would play Odin. Other casting included Ryan Hurst as Thor, Ben Prendergast as Týr, Laya DeLeon Hayes as Angrboda, and Usman Ally as Durlin. Returning actors included Christopher Judge (Kratos), Sunny Suljic (Atreus), Danielle Bisutti (Freya), and Alastair Duncan (Mímir).
Release
God of War Ragnarök was released worldwide on November 9, 2022, for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Players who buy the PS4 version can upgrade to the PS5 version for $10. In addition to the standard base game (physical and digital), there were three special editions: the Jötnar Edition, the Collector's Edition, and the Digital Deluxe Edition. Early copies of the base game were sold as a Launch Edition and included the Risen Snow Armor and Tunic skins for Kratos and Atreus, which were also included with the three special editions. Pre-orders for all versions began on July 15, 2022.
The items in both the Jötnar Edition and the Collector's Edition came in a box called the Knowledge Keeper's Shrine (a shrine featured in the game). Both editions included a SteelBook game case; however, they did not include a physical copy of the game, only digital versions for both platforms. The centerpiece of both editions was a 16-inch replica of Thor's hammer Mjölnir, and both also included 2-inch carvings of the Vanir twins (Freya and Freyr). Physical items exclusive to the Jötnar Edition included a 7-inch vinyl record of music by Bear McCreary, a pin set of a Falcon, Bear, and Wolf (representing Faye, Kratos, and Atreus, respectively), a replica Draupnir ring, Brok's dice set, and a Yggdrasil cloth map showing each of the nine realms. Instead of Brok's dice set, the Collector's Edition had a Dwarven dice set. The Digital Deluxe Edition included the Darkdale armor and weapon skins for Kratos and Atreus, the official God of War Ragnarök soundtrack, a mini art book by Dark Horse Comics, a PlayStation Network avatar set, and a PS4 background theme; all of this DLC was also included with both physical special editions.
A limited edition Ragnarök-themed DualSense controller for the PS5 was available separately. Additionally, two PS5 bundles were released on the same day as the game. One bundle included the disc version of the console, and the other included the digital version, with both bundles containing a regular DualSense controller and a voucher code to download the standard version of the game. An official art book from Dark Horse Comics titled The Art of God of War Ragnarök, in both a standard and deluxe edition, was released on November 29, 2022.
Since launch, Santa Monica Studio has provided patch updates to fix software bugs. The developers also added new features through these free updates. A photo mode, which was announced before the game's release, was added in update patch 3.00 on December 5, 2022. This feature allows players to take customized in-game screenshots, adjusting settings such as field of view, depth of view, filters, and the visibility and facial expressions of major characters. A New Game Plus (NG+) mode was added in update patch 4.00 on April 5, 2023. Players must complete the game on any difficulty to access this mode. Experience levels and previously acquired gear carry over into NG+ (with a few exceptions), increasing the level cap and adding new gear and resources, along with more challenging enemies. The option to skip cutscenes was also added. Update patch 6.00, released on November 7, 2024, added a setting to reduce hints during puzzles for the PS4 and PS5 versions. The PS5 version also received an enhancement patch for the PlayStation 5 Pro, an updated version of the PS5 released the same day. This patch added a favor quality setting targeting 60fps, a High Frame Rate mode unlocking up to 120fps on compatible displays, and options for resolution upscaling using PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution or Temporal Anti-Aliasing.
Shortly after Ragnarök's release, game director Eric Williams said there would likely not be a story-based expansion pack after launch. However, during the Game Awards 2023 on December 7, a free DLC pack titled God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla was announced and released on December 12, 2023, as an epilogue to Ragnarök. Although it is an epilogue, Valhalla can be played without completing Ragnarök, but the developers recommended finishing the base game to avoid spoilers.
In May 2024, during the State of Play event, Sony announced that Ragnarök would be released for Windows (PC) on September 19, 2024, and would include the Valhalla DLC. The PC port supports unlimited frame rates, UltraWide displays, and compatibility with Nvidia DLSS 3.7, AMD FSR 3.1, and Intel XeSS 1.3. It also supports PlayStation Trophies, which are shared between the PC and console versions. The PC version originally required a PlayStation Network account, which limited availability in many countries, but this requirement was removed on January 30, 2025, with regional restrictions lifted on June 14, 2025.
As part of the God of War franchise's 20th anniversary celebration, Santa Monica Studio released a free DLC pack for Ragnarök on March 20, 2025, titled the "Dark Odyssey Collection." The name references the original God of War, which was initially called "Dark Odyssey." The DLC includes a skin for Kratos inspired by the one unlocked by completing God of War II's God Mode difficulty. This skin changes Kratos's skin and tattoo to black and gold, respectively, and gives him solid white eyes. It also includes Dark Odyssey armor sets for Kratos, Atreus, and Freya, as well as versions of Kratos's weapons and shield. The DLC was released with update patch 6.02, which also added an "Edit Appearance" option for Kratos's weapons and shield, enabling transmog for these items; transmog was previously only available for Kratos's armor.
Reception
God of War Ragnarök on PS5 received "universal acclaim" from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic, earning a score of 94 out of 100. This score matches the original 2005 game and the 2018 game, making it the highest-rated game in the series.
Simon Cardy of IGN wrote that Ragnarök introduced new ways to portray famous Norse mythology characters, with actors giving them unique interpretations different from those in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Tamoor Hussain of GameSpot said that out of many versions of Norse mythology, Ragnarök’s version is "easily one of the most memorable," as it breaks down the mythology and rebuilds it into a story about families. Chris Tapsell of Eurogamer noted that Ragnarök tried to include many elements from the series’ history, which made the game feel "crowded" at times. However, he praised the game’s length, saying it gave players more content to enjoy. Kyle Hilliard of Game Informer said that while Ragnarök did not have the same unique impact as the 2018 game, it kept the strengths of that game.
In terms of gameplay, reviewers said Ragnarök did not change the core mechanics much from the 2018 game but added some new features. Hussain said the familiar gameplay made it easy for players to start playing. Tapsell, however, thought the combat could have been more organized, and he felt there was little room for creative expression. Cardy praised the combat, noting that adding a weapon attack while jumping off a ledge made battles more exciting. He also said the combat felt like earlier games in the series but still felt modern. The updated shield was praised for making combat more offensive, with Hussain saying it "enhances the offensive feel of combat." Cardy agreed, saying players would want to master parrying. Reviewers also praised the variety of enemies and bosses.
Hilliard said the only downside to gameplay was that it was not much different from the previous game. Hussain criticized some mechanics, saying they struggled with faster and more aggressive challenges. Tapsell had similar concerns, saying this could hurt players in battles. Reviewers also noted that the game gave too many hints for solving puzzles, leaving little time for players to think on their own.
The role-playing (RPG) system was praised for offering different play styles, but reviewers said it was not very creative. Clay Halton of PCMag called it the "most tedious aspect" of the game, saying it was hard to decide which weapons or armor to upgrade. He noted this was a problem in the 2018 game but worse in Ragnarök. Tapsell said the system had some new ideas but nothing as memorable as in other RPGs, and players could skip engaging with it. Cardy said the system was easier to use and encouraged players to create their own custom builds.
Reviewers praised the game’s environments for their size and changes to returning locations. Hussain said the changes showed the effects of Fimbulwinter and added new areas to explore. Tapsell said the game’s realms were more varied and inviting, and the sense of scale missing in the 2018 game was fixed in Ragnarök. Halton said the environments were beautiful and "thoughtfully crafted," even though there was little difference from the 2018 game due to the game being released on both PS4 and PS5.
Ragnarök became the fastest-selling first-party game in PlayStation history, selling 5.1 million units in its first week. By February 2023, the game had sold 11 million units worldwide, increasing to over 15 million units by November 19, 2023.
In Japan, the PS5 version sold 29,377 physical units, making it the third best-selling retail game in its first week. The PS4 version sold 11,260 units, making it the sixth best-selling retail game in the same week. In the UK, the game sold more physical units on its first day than any previous God of War title did in its first week, with 82% of sales on PS5 and 18% on PS4. Of the PS5 sales, 12% came from PS5 bundles. The game sold 51% more in its first week than the 2018 game, making it the biggest launch in the series in the UK. It was the country’s second biggest launch of the year, behind FIFA 23, and outsold Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, Elden Ring, and Pokémon Legends: Arceus. By the end of 2022, 670,617 units had been sold in the UK, making it the sixth best-selling game of the year. In Germany, the game sold over 200,000 units by the end of December 2022. It was also the fourth-best-selling game of 2022 in the US.
At the 2020 Golden Joystick Awards, the game won the Most Wanted Game award. It also won PlayStation.Blog’s Most Anticipated Game award in 2020. The game was nominated for Most Anticipated Game at the Game Awards in 2020 and 2021. Media outlets listed it as one of the most anticipated games of 2021 before its delay. It was nominated for Ultimate Game of the Year at the 2022 Golden Joystick Awards and named Time magazine’s #1 game of the year. At the Game Awards 2022, Ragnarök won six of its 11 nominations, the most awards won at the event. After winning, a person named Matan Even took the stage and said, "I think I want to nominate this award to my Reform Orthodox rabbi Bill Clinton."
The game was nominated for Game of the Year and won Best Narrative and Innovation in Accessibility. Christopher Judge won Best Performance, and Sunny Suljic was nominated for the same award. The game won Game of the Year at the 2022 Titanium Awards. It won all 14 of its nominations at the Game Audio Network Guild Awards, representing more than half of the overall winners. It received 15 nominations at the 19th British Academy Games Awards, the most in the ceremony’s history, and won six of its 15 nominations, including the EE Game of the Year Award. At the AIAS 26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, Ragnarök received the most nominations (12) and the most awards (7) of the ceremony.
Future
Before the 2018 version of the game was released, Cory Barlog stated that after the Norse-themed part of the God of War series, future games might explore Egyptian or Maya mythology. He mentioned that the game included references to other mythologies existing in the same world, such as Celtic, Japanese, and Irish mythology. The game Ragnarök later included similar references.
The next version, however, returned the series to Greek mythology with God of War: Sons of Sparta, a two-dimensional side-scroller game released worldwide on February 12, 2026, for the PlayStation 5. Released before Ascension, it serves as a prequel to the entire series, following Kratos in his youth as he trains at the Agoge with his brother, Deimos.