Since the second generation of PlayStation gaming consoles, there has been a God of War franchise. The only way to save your games was in memory slots, the Internet was sluggish, and wired controllers frequently caused accidents. If you want How to Play God of War Games in Order.
Only recently has God of War: Ragnarök graced our swanky new PlayStation 5s and 4s, and for those of you who are new to the series, there is so much you missed out on. The older games undoubtedly had an impact on the industry, even though this game represents the absolute best in terms of what a story/combat game should be.
How to Play God of War Games in Release Date Order
- God of War (2005) – PlayStation 2
- God of War II (2007) – PlayStation 2
- God of War: Betrayal (2007) – Mobile
- God of War: Chains of Olympus (2008) – PSP
- God of War III (2010) – PlayStation 3
- God of War: Ghost of Sparta (2010) – PSP
- God of War: Ascension (2013) – PlayStation 3
- God of War: A Call from the Wilds (2018) Facebook, Text-based game
- God of War: Mimir’s Vision (2018) – Android, iOS
- God of War (2018) – PlayStation 4
- God of War Ragnarök (2022) – PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
God of War (2005)
After ten years of serving the gods, Kratos is tasked with killing his former master Ares in the game that launched this larger-than-life series, God of War, which necessitates the elusive Pandora’s Box.
One of the best PlayStation 2 games, God of War introduced players to the series’ recognizable combo-based hack and slash combat. In 2009, as a part of the God of War Collection, it was remastered for the PS3.
God of War II (2007)
God of War 2, a PS2 video game that came out later than expected, follows a bitter Kratos as he sends his Spartan army on a rampage through Greece, worrying the Olympians and prompting Zeus to step in.
The remainder of the game is spent by Kratos seeking retribution against Zeus, which causes revelations for Kratos, the Titans, and the Gods themselves. As part of the God of War Collection, God of War 2 was released in 2009 to similar critical acclaim as its predecessor.
God of War: Betrayal (2007)
God of War: Betrayal is a 2D side-scrolling game that follows Kratos on a bloodthirsty quest to clear his name after being falsely accused of murder. It was an early attempt to replicate console games on mobile.
God of War: Betrayal has been confirmed to be canon despite fan rumors to the contrary, even though it’s becoming increasingly difficult to locate. However, watching videos like the one above can help you get a sense of it.
God of War: Chains of Olympus (2008)
God of War: Chains of Olympus, a PSP game, tells the story of Kratos’ upcoming journey. Olympus occurs five years before the events of God of War, in the middle of Kratos’ ten-year period of service to the gods, which, when finished, will free him from the agonizing flashbacks of his past.
Kratos is tasked by Athena in the main plot with rescuing Helios, the Titan God of the Sun, from the underworld. He runs into Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, who serves as the main antagonist of the game, there. Kratos struggles with the apocalyptic consequences of seeing his daughter again and keeping his promise to give Helios back to the gods as Persephone offers him the chance to do so.
God of War III (2010)
God of War 3 picks up immediately after the previous game and puts an end to Kratos’ Greecian saga as well as his conflict with Zeus and the Olympians. With the Olympians, Kratos and the Titans engage in destructive combat.
After having his trust betrayed once more, Kratos enters the Underworld. Kratos joins forces with an old ally there to finally defeat Zeus. When Kratos returns to Earth, he is met with the wrath of both Titans and Gods, sending him on an epic killing spree that ends with a showdown with Zeus.
God of War: Ghost of Sparta (2010)
The second PSP installment in the series, Ghost of Sparta, occurs between Search God of War and Search God of War 2. As a result of an oracle’s curse that permanently bonded the ashes of his wife and child to his skin, Kratos earned the moniker “Pale White Man” due to his appearance. This is referenced in the subtitle.
Two family story lines are resolved in Ghost of Sparta: Kratos journeys to Atlantis, where he meets his mortal mother as well as his long-lost brother Deimos, who was taken by the gods as a child to stop the prophesied destruction of Olympus.
God of War: Ascension (2013)
Ascension is a revenge story that examines Kratos’s early years as a Spartan demigod before becoming the search God of War. It is the seventh search God of War game by release date but the first chronologically.
The Greek search God of War Ares tricked Kratos into killing his wife and daughter; more on this is covered in the section below on the original search God of War. Months later, Kratos ascends. The story of Ascension begins when Kratos, who was traumatized by the murders, breaks his promise to Ares.
God of War: A Call from the Wilds (2018) Facebook
Ahead of the 2018 search God of War, a text-based adventure game called God of War: A Call from the Wids was released on Facebook Messenger. Atreus, Kratos’s son, is introduced in the 30-minute story, which also gives background information on the character’s extrasensory perception and some color to his relationships with Kratos and his mother, Faye. When Faye is still alive, the story takes place before the events of God of War 2018.
God of War: Mimir’s Vision (2018)
God of War: Mimir’s Vision is an iOS and Android augmented reality game that was released as part of the marketing campaign for the 2018 God of War and is not a full game either. The game loads an interactive 3D map of Midgard when your camera is pointed at a flat surface, revealing details about the setting and lore of the reboot.
God of War (2018)
With his new wife Faye and son Atreus in the Norse world, the infamously angry Kratos is reimagined in this iconic entry as an older, more reflective character attempting to put his past behind him.
But after Faye dies, Kratos sets out on a mission to scatter her ashes while imparting valuable life lessons to Atreus. Additionally, the gameplay was redesigned with an over-the-shoulder free camera, RPG elements, and the magical Leviathan Axe in place of the traditional double-chained blades. Visit their official website for more information.
God of War Ragnarök (2022)
Ragnarok picks up a few years after God of War (2018), when Fimbulwinter is in full swing. In response to the deaths of their relatives in the previous game, the Aesir gods Thor and Odin confront Kratos. In the meantime, Odin wants to manipulate forces he doesn’t understand by using Atreus’ talents.
To compel the end of the Aesir gods’ rule, Kratos and Atreus use their allies to bring about Ragnarok. Atreus’ ability to change fate is demonstrated when, during the final battle, Odin is killed visually mimicking Kratos’ death as predicted.
FAQs
It’s a slightly tricky question to answer, as it depends on how much you’re willing to invest in God of War’s overarching narrative. In our opinion, you don’t need to play previous God of War games to enjoy God of War Ragnarok, but you probably should if you want to get the most from it — God of War 2018 in particular.
Though God of War: Ragnarok is technically superior to its predecessor in every way, it lacks the advantage of being subversive. If God of War was revolution, Ragnarok is evolution. God of War was a complete and creative reimagining of a famous franchise.
Having played the games that came before will help you understand Kratos, and how far he’s come as a person. But no, this game stands well enough on its own. A lot of time has passed since God of War 3, and Kratos has done his best to bury his past.
