Santa Monica's God of War (2018) yanks Kratos out of Greek mythology and throws him into the rich world of Norse mythology, where he explores the Nine Realms with his son, Atreus, at his side. God of War Ragnarok will serve as the second and final chapter of the franchise's Norse mythology era, and the stakes are higher than ever. Atreus, who has discovered that he is part-god, is searching for more answers about his identity. However, Kratos and his son must also contend with Ragnarok, an event that promises to bring about the end of days.
Not much has been revealed about God of War Ragnarok, although Santa Monica has released a few trailers and blog posts to ensure that hype for the game never dies down. Several characters will be making a return, and there will also be a host of new characters introduced. Knowledge of Greek and Norse mythology helps significantly in understanding the game, as many of the characters are lifted from those sources.
Returning Mythological Characters in God of War Ragnarok
Many of the mythological characters make a return from 2018's God of War. Of course, Kratos will be returning. A man of few words, he is the son of Zeus and a fierce Spartan warrior. His character is based on the personification of strength in Greek mythology; a fitting name for a man with Spartan rage, who is known for making use of his muscles to solve his problems. For better or worse, Kratos has matured in his latest adventures, and he is willing to consider other avenues before he resorts to violence.
His son, Atreus, will also appear in God of War Ragnarok. In Greek mythology, Atreus is the king of Mycenae, though, in God of War, Kratos explains that he named Atreus after a Spartan warrior. Players also discover that Atreus has a second name, Loki, which was given to him by his mother. In Norse mythology, Loki is a trickster figure who aligns himself with the Jotunn and fights against the gods during Ragnarok. The name Loki shrouds Atreus in a lot of mystery, and hopefully, the relevance of Atreus' connection to Loki will be revealed in God of War Ragnarok.
Another returning character that fans will recognize is Mimir, who is a head that Kratos hangs off his side. Mimir is useful to have around because he knows a lot and offers occasional entertaining quips. He is based on the Norse figure of the same name who is associated with wisdom. Like the God of War version, Mimir is beheaded, and the head is kept by Odin.
Brok and Sindri, the quibbling brothers who upgrade Kratos and Atreus' armor and weapons, will also appear in God of War Ragnarok. Their Norse mythological counterparts, Brokkr and Sindri, are also siblings. Players will get to see the adorable squirrel Ratatoskr, which can be summoned by Atreus. In Greek mythology, the squirrel runs up and down the world tree, known as Yggdrasil, delivering messages.
Not all returning characters are friendly, unfortunately. Kratos and Atreus will see themselves up against Freya, who vowed revenge on the duo after Kratos killed her son, Baldur. Both God of War's Freya and her mythological counterpart are a consort of Odin.
New Mythological Characters in God of War Ragnarok
In God of War Ragnarok, there are new characters and enemies for Kratos and Atreus to face. One of them is Thor, the Norse god of thunder who wields a legendary hammer known as the Mjolnir. Thor, standing alongside Freta, seeks revenge against Kratos because Baldur is his brother. Only time will tell whether Kratos will be able to stand his own against Thor's mighty hammer. A God of War trailer has also revealed Angrboda, who is named after a Jotunn and consort of Loki in Norse mythology. Although not much is known about her, her warm smile and the fact that she is a Jotunn suggest she may be a friendly character that helps Kratos and Atreus.
Durlin is a dwarf in Norse mythology that makes an appearance in a God of War Ragnarok trailer. He carries an octopus on his shoulder, and he seems to be on friendly terms with Brok and Sindri. Tyr is another new mythological character gamers can expect to see. He is the son of Odin, and he is a god of war in Norse mythology.
Some of the characters have been revealed not by Santa Monica, but by voice actors who have announced their roles on Twitter. For example, A.J. LoCascio revealed he will play Skjöldr, a legendary Danish king mentioned in the epic poem Beowulf. Additionally, Shelby Young will play Skuld, one of the three goddesses that weave fate, Morla Gorrondona will play Beyla, the servant of the Norse god Frey, and Erica Lindbeck will play Hrist, a Norse Valkyrie.
Perhaps the most anticipated new character is Odin. Although he is mentioned several times in 2018's God of War, he never makes an appearance. Those who speak of him portray him as a cruel man obsessed with the pursuit of knowledge. Mimir claims that he was tortured by Odin, and Odin has ravens that spy for him all over the Nine Realms. After being built up for an entire game, the reveal of Odin is sure to be an epic moment. His mythological counterpart is associated with wisdom and knowledge, and he watches over Valhalla, where heroes who die in battle dwell in the afterlife.
The events of God of War Ragnarok will determine the fate of Kratos, Atreus, and the Nine Realms, and the duo will have to spar with the gods, determine who to trust, and overcome insurmountable odds if they hope to stop Ragnarok. With Santa Monica's next game, the God of War series will dive deeper than ever into Norse mythology, although it is already clear that there is a unique spin to the characters, stories, and legends.
God of War Ragnarok releases in 2022 on PS4 and PS5.