Where the majority of the previous titles focused on Greek mythology as god-hating Kratos took on the Olympians, 2018’s God of War and the upcoming God of War Ragnarok feature lore and a cast of characters from a different part of the world. Loosely based on Norse mythology, God of War’s developers included popular figures such as Odin, Thor, and the fabled Valkyries. While some elements of Norse mythology may be familiar thanks to various film and video game representations over the years, some may have seemed a little out of left field. As Norse mythology has a vast pantheon of various figures and weird and wonderful stories, there are also plenty of aspects that the developers chose to ignore.
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What We Know So Far About God Of War Ragnarok
While it’s not possible to know the full story of the upcoming God of War Ragnarok before the game comes out, fans are able to piece together the narrative through trailers, a handful of released details, and a little bit of theorizing.
Set three years after the events of the previous game, God of War Ragnarok sees the irascible Kratos and his now-teenage son Atreus laying low as Fimbulwinter rages around them. This incredibly harsh winter that spans three summers is the prophesized forerunner to the cataclysmic Ragnarok – a series of disasters that heralds the end of the world and demise of the gods.
Atreus is keen to search for answers after his true identity as Loki was revealed in the last game, as he wants to play his part in preventing Ragnarok. The father-son duo must travel the nine realms in search of a solution to the coming apocalypse and the events foretold in God of War. Their bond will no doubt be tested again as they face even more challenges, as well as the wrath of former ally Freya and the god of thunder himself, Thor.
Myths And Legends That Are Missing Or Overlooked
Norse mythology is a varied and vast entity that no game would ever be able to do justice to. It makes sense, then, that Santa Monica Studios provides its own take on the pantheon of gods and stable of monsters, making tweaks to the few that it selected to represent in-game. Some of the stories from Norse mythology are also almost too strange to be believed and have been avoided completely (like the fact that the goddess Freya rides a chariot pulled by giant cats, although that would have been a sight to behold). While some gods and goddesses are mentioned in passing during dialogue or referenced in text, only a few actually make an appearance during the events of God of War.
It appears that God of War Ragnarok may follow a similar formula, with some deities and Norse mythological elements not seeming to have a major impact on the story at all. Like the goddess Sif, the golden-haired wife of Thor in Norse mythology who is associated with the earth, fertility, family, and marriage. She is mentioned very briefly by a dwarven blacksmith in God of War, but apart from that appears to have no significance to the plot of the games. With Thor’s role as the main antagonist in the upcoming God of War Ragnarok, Sif may yet feature, but it seems unlikely.
There are aspects of Norse mythology that the developers appear to have rejected right out of hand in favor of an original story, like Loki’s parentage. In Norse mythology, the giant Farbauti, and not Kratos, is the father of the god of mischief and fire. Loki has a complicated and long history and is involved in some of the most popular stories, like dressing up as a bridesmaid with Thor as a bride to trick a giant. Loki also plays an integral part in Ragnarok, which the next God of War game looks to be emulating in some way. In Norse mythology, Loki fights his fellow gods and his offspring are responsible for the deaths of Thor and Odin, and Loki himself kills (and is also killed by) Heimdall. It will be interesting to see how many of these aspects are recycled in God of War Ragnarok.
But while some elements of Loki’s history are used, others, like his multiple offspring with Angerboda (including the giant wolf Fenrir, Hel, and the serpent that surrounds the world called Jormungard) don’t seem to be associated with the in-game character. Other parts of famous Norse gods’ parentages seem to be missing, too, like Freya’s father Njord. The ruler of the seas and Norse equivalent to Poseiden, Njord is briefly mentioned in God of War but again doesn’t seem to be a figure of any great importance despite his daughter’s significance in the plot of the games.
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Norse Mythology That Will Be Included
Of course, there are still plenty of things from Norse mythology that have found their way into God of War and its sequel. From gods like Thor, Baldur, Mimir, and Tyr, to the bifrost as a means of transportation around the nine realms, Santa Monico Studios have used a whole host of Norse elements to enrich the narratives and comprise the lore of God of War and God of War Ragnarok. Although he’s yet to appear beyond some references and mentions, Odin is still a significant figure in the world of the games and has a large impact on proceedings through his dealings with other characters like his ex-wife Freya.
God of War also has realms and areas taken straight from Norse mythology, like Midgard, Muspelheim, and Alfheim. Kratos and Atreus will be further exploring several of the nine realms in God of War Ragnarok like Svartalfheim, the realm of the Dark Elves, and Vanaheim, home to the home to the Vanir gods. The developers seem to have found the right balance between referencing and utilizing key elements of Norse mythology while ignoring plenty of others in favor of creating an original story centered on Kratos.
God of War Ragnarok is scheduled to release in 2022 on PS4 and PS5.
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