Summary
God of War’s venture into the Norse realm has been one of the most exciting chapters in the franchise’s long history, but it seems as though this era will soon be coming to an end. With the events ofRagnarokand its follow-up DLC,Valhalla, setting the stage for the next chapter in the series,God of War’s future looks to be aiming for new worlds to explore.
The resurgence ofGod of Warback in 2018 introduced a new story for Kratos. This era of the franchise saw Kratos far removed from his Greek homeland and now in the Norse realm. Not only did this change of scenery show players a new side of Kratos as a widowed father, but it also introduced an exciting new pantheon of gods to learn about.God of War’s follow-up,Ragnarok, brought the Norse saga to its climax, as Kratos and Odin went head-to-head. With the All-Father destroyed, the end ofRagnarokgave clear hints that the future of the franchise would bemoving away from the Norse pantheon, but there are still leftovers from this saga that can carry on to the next games.
Remnants of God of War’s Norse Saga
Although Kratos' main journey in the Norse realm is complete, there are still plenty of loose ends that have yet to be tied up. Theending ofGod of War Ragnarokwas a bittersweet moment, but many unanswered questions remain, which will likely carry over into other games.
Atreus And His Journey
The most obvious loose end at the closing moments ofRagnarokis Atreus and his whereabouts. The ending of the game saw Atreus and his father Kratos parting ways as the former embarked on his search to find more Giants. With rumors ofAtreus being a major protagonistin a future game, his presence alone will continue the life of the Norse saga. Just as Kratos can’t fully be separated from his Greek past, neither will Atreus with his Norse heritage.
Other Characters Who Need To Be Explored Further
Atreus is the obvious open-ended storyline, but there are a variety of different characters thatGod of Warhas only scratched the surface with. These include:
Some of the most interesting characters from the Norse saga still haven’t had their stories fully told. They may not be the main protagonists, but their stories have become some compelling threads throughout this era ofGod of War. One of the most interesting character arcs was with Sindri. His heartbreaking story left a major hole in the endgame ofRagnarok, and it’s likely that he will play an important role in the next game.God of War’s unanswered questionstie in with each character that’s been introduced.
Thrud and Angrboda are two characters who have only been explored on the surface, and with both of them being friends with Atreus throughoutRagnarok, they will likely reappear. Even if Atreus' journey leads him outside the Norse realm, Angrboda and Thrud will still likely be companions to him,carrying onGoW Ragnarok’s Norse legacy. However, one of the biggest questions revolves around Sinmara. After Sinmara’s lover, Surtr, sacrifices himself to bring onRagnarok, players will be able to hear Sinmara grieving in Niflheim. Following her lover’s death, Sinmara may return in future chapters in order to get answers as to why her lover had to die. Her story is a loose end that could feel like a disservice to the Norse saga if it was left unresolved.
Theories suggest thatGod of Warwill explore a new pantheon of gods. Although it’s just speculation at this point, moments from theValhallaDLC hint at possibly showcasing Egyptian, Aztec, or Japanese mythology.
There is a lot of mystery surroundingthe future ofGod of War, but wherever the story ventures next, the series can’t abandon the many interesting characters it helped introduce. Kratos and Atreus' journey is far from over, and the friends the two have made along the way deserve to have their stories completed in future games as well.
