Ragnarok is going to be a common theme among some of the biggest games to be coming out over the next few years. Assassin’s Creed Ragnarok, Elden Ring, and God of War 2 could all potentially touch upon the Norse mythological event in some way or another. While Elden Ring is the only game that’s actually confirmed of the three, it’s also the least likely to feature Norse mythology in any significant way. Nonetheless, the other two alleged games in development have significant credibility to back up their existence, and all three games will have some interpretation of Ragnarok, connecting them as three different but similar games.
Of the three games, God of War 2 will be the only game actually taking place in Norse mythos, while Assassin’s Creed Ragnarok will be set during the ninth century (the Viking Age took place from the 790s to 1066), according to alleged leaks and rumors. Due to the fact that Elden Ring's lore was built by a collaboration between From Software director Hidetaka Miyazaki and A Song of Ice and Fire author George R. R. Martin, the game is likely to wildly deviate from the main events of historical Norse mythology in lieu of something more original. In any case, all three games will have some connection.
Ragnarok in Elden Ring
As previously mentioned, director Miyazaki and writer Martin are likely to adopt a more original lore, one that is based on the dark fantasy elements that fans of the Dark Souls series (and Bloodborne) have grown to be accustomed to. Elden Ring may redefine Ragnarok and interpret some of the main features of Norse mythos in order to better suit those dark fantasy elements. Ragnarok, in Norse myth, is the apocalyptic event that marks the death of the gods and rebirth of the realms after their disappearance. The event itself is brutally violent but symbolizes the circle of life, which could also connect to the “ring” in Elden Ring.
Assassin's Creed Ragnarok
This one is a little more on the nose. Assassin’s Creed Ragnarok has been the de facto rumored title of the game for a year now and represents everything about the rumors that people need to know. It’ll allegedly take place in 855 CE and the player will control a character named Jora (whose player-picked gender doesn’t affect the story) as they lead a Viking crew around North Europe. Besides Scandinavia, players will also apparently be able to travel to places like Paris, London, and York.
The game is likely to take many cues from Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (Ubisoft should learn from The Witcher 3 as well), so it’s likely that the base game will follow a more realistic path, focusing on historical events of the time rather than including mythological beasts, gods, etc. However, just like AC Odyssey, AC Ragnarok is also likely to explore the mythos side of the area, including the Ragnarok event, in future DLC packs.
Ragnarok in God of War 2
It’s ironic that the next AC game is rumored to be called Assassin’s Creed Ragnarok when the next God of War game could just as easily hold that subtitle. Sony Santa Monica Studio did a great job pacing 2018’s God of War, and even showed great restraint in not including Odin, Thor, etc., off the bat (albeit Thor did appear in the cliffhanger). Seeing as how Kratos is to gods as Mario is to goombas, it’s only a matter of time before Kratos targets the gods of the Norse realms next, especially since those gods have already started to provoke and preemptively strike him.
If Kratos goes about the destruction of the gods once more, then he will act as the catalyst to Ragnarok. In Norse mythology, a prophecy foretells the escape of the wolf-beast Fenrir from the magical binds that the gods put on him. His escape is also connected to the dawn of Ragnarok, as he is the one that’ll kill Odin. It’s possible that Kratos will have some interaction with this harbinger of Ragnarok in God of War 2. It’s also possible that Kratos meets Tyr, the Norse god of war, and one of Fenrir’s victims. Kratos could very well bring about Ragnarok if he treads the same path from his past.
Elden Ring is currently in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. God of War 2 and Assassin’s Creed Ragnarok are rumored to be in development.