God of War is a legendary action-adventure series centered around the Spartan warrior Kratos. The franchise is known for its epic scale, intense combat, and a compelling, decades-long saga that spans two distinct mythologies.
The Greek saga (2005–2010)
The original series is a revenge tale loosely based on Greek mythology and is fueled by Kratos’s relentless rage.
- Betrayal and revenge: In his past, Kratos made a deal with the Greek God of War, Ares, for victory in battle. This deal backfired tragically when Ares tricked him into murdering his wife and daughter. Traumatized, Kratos spends the following years on a quest to destroy the Olympians.
- The Ghost of Sparta: For killing his family, Kratos is cursed to have their ashes permanently fused to his skin, giving him his iconic ghostly pale appearance and earning him the title “The Ghost of Sparta”.
- Vicious combat: Gameplay in this era features frenetic, combo-based combat using the chained Blades of Chaos. The games also include massive, over-the-top boss fights against mythical creatures like the Hydra and Titans.
- The fall of Olympus: Kratos eventually succeeds in his bloody revenge, dismantling the entire Greek pantheon and laying waste to the world in a climax that culminates with his battle against Zeus.
The Norse saga (2018–2022)
In the 2018 soft-reboot, God of War, an older, wiser, and more subdued Kratos has left his destructive past behind and is living in ancient Scandinavia with his son, Atreus.
- A new beginning: As a mentor and protector, Kratos is forced to confront and control the rage that once defined him while journeying through the brutal Norse wilds with his son.
- An intimate story: The over-the-shoulder camera brings players closer to the action and focuses on the emotional father-son narrative.
- New weapons and combat: Kratos trades his Blades of Chaos for the Leviathan Axe, a magical, throwable weapon with elemental ice power, which he can summon back to his hand at will. He also makes use of a shield and bare-handed combat.
- Ragnarök and its aftermath: The 2022 sequel, God of War Ragnarök, concludes the Norse saga. Kratos and Atreus must face the looming prophecy of Ragnarök and come to terms with their destined roles in the conflict with Odin and the Aesir gods. A free DLC epilogue, Valhalla, was later released, allowing Kratos to reflect on his past and move forward.
