God of War Ragnarök

About

God of War Ragnarök is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Santa Monica Studio and was released on September 19, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

Digital Deluxe Edition Digital Deluxe Edition Includes: Full game Darkdale Armor Darkdale Attire (Cosmetic) Darkdale Axe Grip Darkdale Blades Handles Dark Horse digital art book Official digital soundtrack About the Game THE NORSE SAGA CONTINUES From Santa Monica Studio and brought to PC in partnership with Jetpack Interactive comes God of War Ragnarök, an epic and heartfelt journey tha…

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Single-Player

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89%

Audience ScoreBased on 19,851 reviews

story3.3k positive mentions

stability182 negative mentions

Masterful storytelling that delivers a deeply emotional and expansive narrative, with strong character development focusing on the father-son relationship between Kratos and Atreus.
Refined and satisfying combat mechanics with fluid and responsive gameplay, including new weapons and upgrades that enhance depth without drastically changing core experience.
Stunning visuals and immersive atmosphere with breathtaking environments, polished character models, and a powerful soundtrack that elevates the emotional and epic tone of the game.

Uneven pacing and occasional rushed story arcs, with some segments feeling tedious or dragging due to extensive side content and backtracking.
PC port suffers from performance issues including crashes, freezes, and frame drops, especially on lower-end setups or certain hardware, impacting overall stability and playability.
Grinding can feel excessive and repetitive, with resource farming and unavoidable lengthy sequences disrupting pacing and detracting from player enjoyment.

story
7,069 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
50%
3%
God of War Ragnarök delivers a deeply emotional and expansive story that continues and elevates the father-son narrative from the 2018 reboot, enriched with rich Norse mythology and strong character development. While generally praised for its masterful storytelling, some found the pacing uneven and the extensive side content both rewarding and occasionally distracting. Overall, it offers a cinematic, gripping tale that many consider a worthy and satisfying conclusion to the Norse saga.
- “God of war ragnarök is an absolute masterpiece and one of the best story-driven games I’ve ever played. What truly makes this game special is its storytelling. A must-play for anyone who loves cinematic, story-rich games.”
- “The storytelling is masterful and kept me on the edge of my seat for almost the entire playthrough. While there were moments where the pacing left a lot to be desired, the major story beats hit so powerfully that I often found myself unable to stop playing. Out of the entire game, I can count on one hand the number of story moments I didn’t enjoy—a rare feat.”
- “God of war ragnarök continues kratos and atreus’s saga in a breathtaking blend of mythological storytelling and visceral action. The storytelling, character work, and emotional impact are on a level rarely seen in any medium. It’s a testament to the power of storytelling and the emotional depth that video games are capable of.”
- “The story felt rushed towards the end; it could have been extended a little.”
- “The main problems which make me like this game less than its predecessor are that there are several problems with the pacing of the story.”
- “The story is absolutely captivating but there are divided opinions on it regarding the storyline where it gets slightly dull at one point.”
gameplay
2,226 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
54%
4%
God of War Ragnarok refines and expands upon the 2018 installment's gameplay with fluid, satisfying combat, introducing new weapons, mechanics, and enemy variety that enhance depth without drastically changing the core experience. While some players find the added Atreus segments and puzzle mechanics divisive or occasionally interruptive, the overall combat system remains rewarding and well-balanced, providing a challenging yet accessible action-adventure experience. Though largely familiar to fans of the previous game, Ragnarok’s gameplay improvements and seamless integration with its rich narrative make it a compelling continuation for both returning and new players.
- “God of War: Ragnarök builds on the exceptional foundation of 2018’s God of War, delivering a story rich in emotional depth, breathtaking visuals, and refined combat mechanics that feel both familiar and fresh.”
- “The gameplay in Ragnarök has undergone significant improvements; it refines and expands the flow, adding new weapons, upgrades, and a revisited skill tree, making combat more dynamic and satisfying.”
- “Combat is brutal yet precise, with expanded mechanics and satisfying variety. Gameplay-wise, Ragnarök elevates the series to new heights with fluid and responsive mechanics, offering an engaging and profound experience.”
- “The whole Atreus gameplay, the long unskippable scenes, this doesn't feel like a God of War game.”
- “The main point is that this camera, and this type of gameplay works extremely well when there's only one enemy and works extremely poorly when you're facing multiple enemies, in a game in which 80% of its combat is against multiple enemies.”
- “The gameplay overall is fine, somewhat repetitive; the enemies are boring and not unique, the bosses only have a few moves so it's not really too challenging (playing on 'Give Me God of War' difficulty).”
graphics
1,586 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
39%
1%
God of War Ragnarök features breathtaking and meticulously crafted visuals, with each of the nine realms exhibiting unique aesthetics and polished environments that enhance immersion. The game is praised for its stunning art direction, detailed character models, and cinematic presentation, delivering graphics that often surpass the already impressive 2018 installment. While some users report occasional performance issues and minor glitches on PC, the overall graphical fidelity and optimization are highly commended, making it a visual masterpiece that significantly enriches the storytelling and gameplay experience.
- “The visuals are absolutely stunning — every environment feels alive and immersive, making it one of the most beautiful games I've ever played.”
- “With settings maxed out, the visuals are breathtaking — razor-sharp textures, detailed character models, and lighting that brings the nine realms to life.”
- “The graphics are stunning, especially on PC, where the detail and performance enhancements make an already beautiful game even more immersive.”
- “Unfortunately, graphics-wise it is not as polished as the 2018 God of War and there is a noticeable decline compared to the previous game.”
- “There are crashes all throughout the game on ultra settings, so it's unavoidable unless you lower the graphics, but doing so makes the visuals look much worse.”
- “The graphics are demanding, so you need a strong graphics card to play this game properly, and there are still stability problems on AMD graphics cards with low frames in later stages.”
optimization
784 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
God of War Ragnarök's PC port is generally well-optimized, delivering smooth performance, sharp visuals, and effective scaling across hardware, including handhelds like the Steam Deck. While many praise the game's buttery-smooth frame rates and extensive graphics settings, some users report occasional stutters, frame drops in expansive areas, crashes, and VRAM management issues that impact lower-end setups. Ongoing patches have improved stability and performance, though a few technical hiccups remain, making the optimization good but not flawless compared to its predecessor.
- “God of War Ragnarök is genuinely one of the most beautiful games I have ever played while also maintaining a buttery smooth performance throughout the entire journey.”
- “The PC port is phenomenal— buttery smooth performance, crisp textures, and all the graphical settings you could ask for.”
- “Performance was excellent overall, with occasional FPS dips in heavier areas—dropping from very high triple-digit framerates to high doubles—but still comfortably above 60 FPS at all times.”
- “Unfortunately, this port suffers from performance issues that will seemingly remain unfixed.”
- “It's incredible how a game from such a successful studio with such a well-known publisher can be so poorly optimized, and that after months and months of posts in the community hub about crashing and freezing issues that literally prevent many from playing the game, there hasn't been a single update to address this problem.”
- “Incredible game but the constant crashing on heavy performance hits is very annoying; my game has crashed 50 times and I can't even play the Valhalla DLC because it crashes every single time I reach the boss without capping my frame rate to 30. I would not buy this right now until they fix this issue.”
emotional
692 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
God of War Ragnarök delivers a profoundly emotional and deeply engaging narrative that expands on the father-son relationship between Kratos and Atreus, blending heartfelt storytelling with epic Norse mythology. The game’s character development, voice acting, and musical score significantly enhance its emotional depth, provoking genuine tears and strong attachment. While some find the pacing or certain story elements rushed or less impactful than its predecessor, the overall experience remains a powerful, heartwarming journey praised for its mature themes, emotional resonance, and memorable moments.
- “The story pulls you in right from the start, the characters feel real and emotional, and the combat is super fun and satisfying.”
- “Kratos and Atreus’ relationship reaches new emotional heights, delivering moments that are both heart-wrenching and inspiring.”
- “God of War: Ragnarök isn’t just a game—it’s a profound, emotional journey woven with breathtaking storytelling, incredible character development, and gameplay that feels as powerful as it is poetic.”
- “Poor writing, poor pacing, and an overall very boring story where characters don't act like themselves makes the 'movie' part of the game a slog.”
- “It feels more like a movie than a game, accompanied by a boring story.”
music
472 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
42%
2%
The music in the game, composed by Bear McCreary, is widely praised as a masterpiece that elevates emotional beats, epic battles, and the overall atmosphere, often described as one of the best soundtracks in gaming. It perfectly complements the story and visuals, enhancing player immersion and emotional impact. A few voices note that while the soundtrack is exceptional, it sometimes relies heavily on reworked themes from the predecessor and can be less memorable outside the game.
- “The music does not simply accompany the action; it contextualizes it, reinforcing emotional beats with precision.”
- “The soundtrack, composed by Bear McCreary, intensifies the epic atmosphere with haunting melodies and powerful orchestration.”
- “Bear McCreary once again creates a masterful and memorable soundtrack from the start of the game to the true ending and credits.”
- “Music was serviceable but honestly was more memorable and just more present in 2018 as compared to here.”
- “The composer, Bear McCreary, is the same for both, yet the music in Ragnarök didn’t stick with me in the same way. That's because Ragnarök’s soundtrack mainly consists of redone versions of tracks from its predecessor, with not many new compositions that stand out. This lack of fresh and impactful new music made the soundtrack feel less original and less memorable.”
- “I still occasionally listen to God of War 2018’s soundtrack because it was so impactful, but I’ve never felt the urge to listen to Ragnarök’s music outside the game.”
stability
288 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
2%
63%
The game's stability on PC is highly inconsistent, with many users experiencing frequent freezes, crashes, and bugs despite powerful hardware and troubleshooting efforts. While some report smooth performance and polished gameplay, many others describe it as a buggy, crash-prone experience, often freezing during cutscenes or extended play sessions, severely impacting playability. Patches have improved stability for some, but persistent technical issues remain a significant concern.
- “Technically it's a more polished version of the previous game: combat is smooth as hell, no FPS drops, no stutters, no freezes, just a great port.”
- “About 40 hours in and no glitches whatsoever.”
- “Good PC port, well optimized and virtually bug free.”
- “The game freezes and it happens consistently in Valhalla; I can't even finish it because it freezes while doing the last area before the boss.”
- “Regardless of troubleshooting or settings, it crashes at random and makes the game genuinely unplayable.”
- “Just got the game and can't even get past the first cut-scene of Fenrir dying due to game crashing: first the audio cuts then game freezes and the crash happens.”
character development
238 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
52%
1%
The character development in this game is widely praised for its depth, emotional weight, and natural progression, particularly highlighting Kratos' transformation from a rage-driven warrior to a more vulnerable, caring father. The evolving father-son relationship between Kratos and Atreus is central to the narrative, providing meaningful growth and complexity that resonates with players. While some note pacing issues and rushed arcs for certain characters, the overall storytelling and character evolution are considered masterful and a key strength of the experience.
- “One of the best games in history, it beautifully concludes Kratos' character development; you feel a man with grief and fears struggling to change for the better. Instead of a rage killing machine, you see a man trying his best to improve for his son. It creates an experience that resonates deeply with players. A masterpiece.”
- “The character development is incredible, culminating in a powerful and meaningful ending that never feels rushed. Superb character writing across the board, exemplary storytelling, and an emotional conclusion make this one of the most satisfying experiences I've ever had.”
- “Kratos, Atreus, and Freya all receive excellent character development, and the dynamics between Odin and his family are fascinating (especially Thor). The crafting of complex characters—including a detestable sociopathic villain like Heimdall—adds depth and leads to memorable boss encounters.”
- “Sadly, the game makes main characters contradict themselves for the sake of character development.”
- “Thor and Odin appear at the start of the game and then a second time 25 hours in; they rush their character developments and that's that.”
- “The second part is that they apparently handed off some of the character development to their interns - for a game where the main game takes around 30 hours to complete, I expected a bit more fleshed out character arcs - the results were all great, but the way they got there was very sudden - given the amount of space for story and conversations, this felt rushed and badly paced.”
grinding
205 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
30%
69%
The game is frequently described as grind-heavy and tedious, with many players finding combat repetitive and exploration, puzzles, and side quests overly drawn-out or monotonous. While some appreciate the improved combat system and story, the extensive backtracking, resource farming, and unavoidable lengthy sequences with Atreus often disrupt pacing and contribute to a frustrating grinding experience. Overall, grinding is seen as a necessary yet sometimes excessive chore that can dampen enjoyment, especially for completionists or on higher difficulties.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Play both God of War (2018) and Ragnarok for an amazing time and amazing story. If you are a perfectionist like myself, 100% this game is not tedious by any stretch.”
- “No grinding.”
- “Leveling is laughably bad, slow, grinding, and annoying. I've played every God of War game that has ever been released.”
- “Constant resource farming, an overload of materials, and too many upgrades artificially stretch the experience.”
- “Except that the resources required to level your gear past a certain point are limited, and even getting the currency to level up other gear for different builds takes time, meaning that if you want to change your gear up for a certain fight, you are either taking a huge dive in power, or you are committing to a tedious grind in a single player game.”
humor
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The game's humor is widely praised for its clever dialogue, character banter, and well-timed comedic moments that balance lightheartedness with emotional depth. Characters like Brok, Mimir, and Atreus provide memorable and often hilarious interactions, while Kratos' stoic nature adds to the humor through dry, monosyllabic responses. Though some find the frequent commentary and puns excessive, overall the humor enriches the narrative and gameplay experience, blending seamlessly with the story’s emotional and dramatic themes.
- “I was made to laugh a number of times as I went through the game and heard funny stories, or characters telling each other riddles, asking questions of Kratos (whose monosyllabic responses are always amusing), and other fun little interchanges between people.”
- “The dynamic between Kratos, Atreus, and Mimir adds humor and depth, making their journey even more engaging.”
- “Also the back and forth jokes throughout the game between Mimir, Kratos and Atreus are hilarious.”
- “The plot is unfocused, the character arcs feel forced, the jokes and quips are unfunny, and for some reason the words 'intel' — as in information gathering — and 'ecosystem' are used in a game about an ancient Greek god visiting an ancient Norse mythical world.”
replayability
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
56%
6%
Reviews on replayability for the game are mixed but generally positive, highlighting strong longevity through new game plus modes, varied difficulty levels, and the free Valhalla DLC which adds roguelike elements and extensive additional content. While some find the story’s linearity and certain lengthy sections reduce motivation for repeat playthroughs, many appreciate the diverse builds, side quests, and replay value of combat mechanics, rating replayability between good to excellent overall.
- “Replayability is top tier, especially with the Valhalla DLC.”
- “Overall, amazing story, gorgeous landscapes, great soundtracks and background themes, super long gameplay and replayability is guaranteed, so yeah, this one is a no-brainer!”
- “The story is engaging, the combat mechanics are top-notch, and the addition of the free Valhalla DLC with its roguelike elements keeps the replay value high.”
- “The replay value for this game is non-existent, especially due to sections like Ironwood being a 1-hour playable cutscene; it just kills the joy from the game.”
- “I initially thought this game would be more replayable than the 2018 God of War, but I was wrong since this time you're stuck playing Atreus for two long and tedious sessions every time you want to beat the game again.”
- “And due to the strictness of the plot itself, once you complete the story there's not much replayability as you already know what will happen.”
atmosphere
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
37%
5%
The atmosphere in God of War: Ragnarök is widely praised for its immersive, richly detailed realms, dynamic lighting, and hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that deeply enhances the emotional and mythic tone. While some feel it lacks the heavier, colder tone of the previous game and is occasionally disrupted by pacing or dialogue choices, overall the game’s world design, audio, and visual effects create a vibrant, alive experience that captivates players.
- “The world of Ragnarök is a masterclass in design—every realm you visit feels alive, with secrets hidden in every corner, breathtaking vistas, and an atmosphere that shifts seamlessly between awe-inspiring and haunting.”
- “From sweeping landscapes to intimate, atmospheric locations, the attention to detail makes the world feel alive and immersive. On top of that, the atmospheric audio—like winds howling through cliffs or water echoing in caverns—adds another layer of immersion that pulled me deeper into the world.”
- “The amount of love and skill that went into this game's animation, music, graphics, and atmosphere are truly something special, which is why I give this a thumbs up. I think most people will find this game amazing.”
- “It’s bigger, more colorful, more packed — but it loses some of that cold, heavy Kratos atmosphere that made the previous game so special.”
- “Faye’s scenes were unnecessary and another thing that ruined the atmosphere.”
- “Gods talking in modern-day lingo does not make any sense and ruins the atmosphere.”
monetization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
39%
44%
The game is widely praised for its lack of microtransactions, being a complete, polished single-player experience without extra paid content or online account requirements, which many see as a refreshing departure from cash-grab trends. However, some users criticize certain PC ports for poor optimization and crashes, viewing them as money-driven rather than player-focused. Overall, the monetization model is appreciated for prioritizing artistic integrity over profit.
- “Always love a classic single player game with tons of options, no microtransactions, fully complete at release with no bugs and brilliantly optimized.”
- “If you like AAA games with no microtransactions, no online account requirements (PSN link is no longer mandatory) and no BS, then this is one of the very best PlayStation has to offer.”
- “Good single player games without endless DLC and microtransactions can be made.”
- “Sony cash grab for what otherwise is great game.”
- “Also another low-quality cash grab PC port that crashes all the time from poor-tier Sony.”
- “Another Sony cash grab from us PC gamers.”

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23h Median play time

44h Average play time

6-60h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 109 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

God of War Ragnarök is a role playing game.

God of War Ragnarök is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 44 hours playing God of War Ragnarök.

God of War Ragnarök was released on September 19, 2024.

God of War Ragnarök was developed by Santa Monica Studio.

God of War Ragnarök has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked God of War Ragnarök for its story but disliked it for its stability.

God of War Ragnarök is a single player game.

Similar games include God of War, God of War, The Last of Us™ Part II Remastered, Horizon Forbidden West, Assassin's Creed Valhalla and others.

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