How to Play the God of War Games in Order

God of War’s Norse-set masterpieces has cemented it as one of PlayStation’s most iconic franchises. Born throughout the PS2 period, the God of War franchise made a reputation for itself with glorious motion gameplay, an intriguing story of divine revenge, and a memorable lead in the Spartan demigod Kratos. 20 years later, God of War has grown into gaming’s seminal action-adventure sequence, mixing that more and more fine-tuned motion with deeper lore and a stronger narrative hook, anchored by an older, extra empathic Kratos.

With God of War Ragnarok having earned its place in the pantheon of all-time greats, we’ve created this chronology of the sequence for these in enjoying (or replaying) it from the begin.

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How Many God of War Games Are There?

Sony has launched 10 God of War video games in the sequence — six on house consoles, two on moveable consoles, one on cell, and one text-adventure on Fb Messenger.

We’re excluding its second cell launch, God of War: Mimir’s Imaginative and prescient, as this AR recreation doesn’t add to the ongoing narrative however as an alternative gives gamers with background lore from the world of God of War. We’re additionally excluding PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale in this chronology, regardless of its comical inclusion in the God of War canon.

There are a number of God of War tales informed by way of novels and comics as properly, although this checklist solely contains video games.

Which God of War Recreation Ought to You Play First?

Though technically the first recreation in the sequence chronologically was God of War: Ascension, realistically you will most likely need to begin with God of War (2018). Not solely is it out there on each PS4 and PS5, it’s also possible to play it on PC. It is a fantastic start line for anybody simply entering into the sequence.

God of War Games in Chronological Order

These blurbs comprise gentle spoilers for every recreation, together with characters, settings, and story beats.

1. God of War: Ascension (2013)

Ascension, the seventh God of War recreation by launch date however the first chronologically, is a revenge story that explores the early days of Kratos’s transformation from a Spartan demigod into the God of War.

Ascension takes place months after Kratos was manipulated into killing his spouse and daughter by the Greek God of War Ares (extra on this underneath the unique God of War part under). Kratos, traumatized by the killings, refuses to honor the oath he swore to Ares, setting into movement the story of Ascension. Ares seeks revenge by way of the recreation’s antagonistic Furies, three beings tasked with punishing betrayal, whom Kratos should kill in order to free himself from his oath. The story ends with Kratos leaving his Spartan house behind, nonetheless plagued by his grief.

2. God of War: Chains of Olympus (2008)

Kratos’s subsequent journey is informed in the PSP recreation aptly named God of War: Chains of Olympus. Olympus takes place midway by way of Kratos’s ten-year servitude to the gods (5 years earlier than God of War) — a servitude that, as soon as accomplished, will free him from the torturous visions of his previous.

The primary plot duties Kratos with rescuing Helios, the Titan God of the Solar, from the underworld at the behest of Athena. There, he encounters the recreation’s major antagonist Persephone, Queen of the Underworld. Persephone presents Kratos with a possibility to reunite together with his daughter, and Kratos wrestles with the apocalyptic repercussions of that reunion and his promise to return Helios to the gods.

3. God of War (2005)

Set roughly 10 years after Ascension, the first God of War recreation begins with Kratos succumbing to his grief and leaping off a cliff into the Aegean Sea. Earlier than he hits the water, we flash again three weeks to uncover what led the Spartan off the brink.

Kratos, nearing the finish of his servitude to the gods, is given one ultimate activity by Athena: defeat Ares and save the metropolis of Athens from his siege. With the promise of forgiveness for his previous atrocites as his reward, Kratos units out to acquire Pandora’s Field and kill Ares. The duty takes him to hell and again, with Kratos finally dealing with off in opposition to the God of War. Victorious but no much less troubled by his previous, Kratos leap off the bluff as we noticed in the recreation’s opening. Athena pulls him from the water and affords him a throne on Olympus, finishing his 10-year ascension to turning into the God of War.

All through the recreation, a narrator gives essential backstory about Kratos’s life by way of minimize scenes. Kratos as soon as served as a revered captain in the Spartan military. On the verge of loss of life and defeat in opposition to a large pressure of barbarians, he supplied himself to Ares in alternate for victory. Ares answered the name, defeated the barbarians, and claimed Kratos as his servant, fusing his arms with the Blades of Chaos.

4. God of War: Ghost of Sparta (2010)

Ghost of Sparta, the sequence’ second PSP recreation, takes place between God of War and God of War 2. The subtitle references the nickname given to Kratos due to his pale-white look, the outcome of an oracle’s curse that fixed the ashes of his spouse and baby to his pores and skin.

Ghost of Sparta gives closure to two familial narrative threads: Kratos travels to Atlantis the place he encounters each his mortal mom and his long-lost brother Deimos, who was kidnapped by the gods throughout childhood to forestall the success of Olympus’s prophesized demise.

The climax sees Kratos and his brother reunited, doing battle with the Greek God of Dying, Thanatos. Regardless of victory, it’s one other sad ending for Kratos. By the time the credit roll, Kratos has grown even wearier and extra livid with the different Olympians.

5. God of War: Betrayal (2007)

This cell 2D sidescroller is formally half of the God of War canon, in accordance to Sony Santa Monica animation director Bruno Velazquez. The gods, displeased with Kratos’s bloodlust, try to cease his newest conquest with Argos, a many-eyed large that serves Hera, Queen of the Gods. Kratos is framed for the killing of Argos by an unidentified murderer in an try to additional fracture his relationship with Olympus. Later, Zeus sends a messenger to put an finish to Kratos’s continued destruction. Kratos responds with violence, as soon as once more defying the different gods. Betrayal leaves gamers with this message, establishing the occasions to come in God of War 2: “Quickly, the fury of Zeus would rain down upon [Kratos].”

God of War: Betrayal was launched in 2007, earlier than the rise of smartphones, and isn’t out there on fashionable cell storefronts. It may be skipped with out consequence, however those that need to play it is going to have to entry it through a Java emulator.

6. God of War 2 (2007)

God of War 2 pits Kratos in opposition to Zeus, the King of Olympus. Kratos, already ostracized due to his yearslong rampage, rejects Athena’s plea for peace and continues wreaking havoc all through Greece. It’s the ultimate straw for Olympus; Zeus descends to the battlefield and kills Kratos.

Kratos finds a brand new ally in Gaia, the mom of Titans and Earth. She gives Kratos with a manner to rewrite the previous and save his personal life. After a visit to the Underworld, Kratos follows Gaia’s directions, main him to the Sisters of Destiny. After extra bloodshed, Kratos takes management of the Loom of Destiny and returns to the scene of his loss of life. Kratos’s plan to kill Zeus is thwarted when one other Olympian steps in entrance of his blade. It’s right here that we (and Kratos) study his true parentage. Kratos makes use of the energy of the Loom to recruit the Titans of the previous to his future warfare. Again in the current, Kratos leads the Titans in an assault on Mount Olympus, establishing God of War 3.

7. God of War 3 (2010)

Going down immediately after the earlier recreation, God of War 3 concludes Kratos’ Greecian saga and resolves his warfare with Zeus and the Olympians.

Kratos and the Titans battle with the Olympians to catastrophic impact. Kratos (as soon as once more) has his belief betrayed and (as soon as once more) descends into the Underworld. There, Kratos groups up with an outdated ally to take down Zeus as soon as and for all. Again on Earth, Kratos faces the wrath of Titans and Gods alike, main him on an epic killing spree towards a ultimate showdown with Zeus.

Kratos declares an finish to his vengeance, and with the world in smash, makes a sacrifice to launch hope to mankind.

8. God of War: A Name from the Wilds (2018)

God of War: A Name from the Wids is a Fb Messenger text-adventure launched forward of 2018’s God of War. The ~30-minute story introduces Kratos’s son Atreus and gives background on the character’s extrasensory skills, whereas including a bit of taste to his relationships with Kratos and his mom, Faye. The story is about someday earlier than God of War 2018 when Faye continues to be alive.

A Name from the Wilds appears to not be playable, although like God of War: Betrayal, it is a story that may finally be skipped. Those that need to expertise it will possibly discover full playthroughs on YouTube.

9. God of War (2018)

Set a few years after God of War 3, 2018’s God of War transports Kratos from Greece to the Norse realm of Midgard, the place Kratos now resides together with his son, Atreus. Kratos and Atreus plan to fulfill Faye’s dying want: to have her ashes unfold from the prime of the highest peak in the 9 Realms.

Their journey is not any easy hike; the duo journey by way of a number of realms, encountering buddies and foes from Norse mythology, together with Baldur, Freya, Thor’s sons Magni and Modi, the final residing large Jörmungandr, and Mimir. Alongside the manner, Kratos struggles with fatherhood and the truths he retains hidden from Atreus — about his previous and Atreus’s id.

Following their journey, the 9 Realms enter Fimbulwinter, a three-year-long precursor to Ragnarök, the finish of the world.

10. God of War Ragnarok (2022)

God of War: Ragnarok, the most up-to-date and story-rich God of War recreation, is about three years after 2018’s God of War, as the 9 Realms close to the finish of Fimbulwinter and the starting of Ragnarök.

Many characters return from 2018, alongside newcomers equivalent to the All-Father Odin and his son Thor, however it stays centered on the adventures of Kratos and Atreus with a larger emphasis on the latter, who explores his newly found identities and powers. As Kratos and Atreus, you’ll traverse all 9 realms and the Realm Between Realms on private quests of id and a larger quest to defeat the Asgards and survive Ragnarok.

We received’t spoil the journey, however Ragnarok leaves the door open for future God of War tales to be informed. Although you may play the God of War Ragnorok New Recreation Plus mode should you’ve already completed the recreation.

What’s Subsequent for God of War?

Sony has but to announce one other God of War recreation, although given the crucial and business success of God of War (2018) and Ragnarok, we anticipate future entries in the sequence.

A God of War TV sequence can be in the works, becoming a member of a number of upcoming online game variations. The live-action present, in improvement for Amazon’s Prime Video streaming service, will adapt the story of 2018’s God of War. Manufacturing hit a snag in 2024 following the departure of showrunner Rafe Judkins and govt producers Hawk Ostby and Mark Fergus. The sequence is now being led by Ronald D. Moore, whose credit embody Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology, For All Mankind, and Battlestar Galactica’s 2000s reboot. We bought the probability to converse with Moore at Comedian Con earlier this 12 months, studying extra about what drew him to the God of War franchise and the way he is approaching the present adaptation.

Jordan covers video games, reveals, and films as a contract author for IGN.