Summary
The future of theGod of Warfranchise is a bit uncertain. It’s not clear whether the next game in the series will be another Kratos-Atreus hybrid adventure, follow the prodigal son on a solo journey, or make good on thepromise of new mythologies laid out inGod of WarandGod of War Ragnarok, but the overarching narrative of the Norse saga might still have some loose ends to tie up.
2018’sGod of WarandRagnarokcover a lot of topics: familial trauma and healing, destiny, guilt, power, and, perhaps most importantly, Kratos' personal journey and emotional transformation. The originalGod of Warsaga, the Greek one, is defined by destruction, violence, and death, ending with the annihilation of most of the Greek pantheon, including Kratos' own father Zeus. At the time, Kratos justified his rampage, but he spends the Norse saga reckoning with his destructive past, a long process of self-reflection that culminates in the godly therapy ofGod of War: Valhalla, which sees the god accepting his past mistakes and preparing to move forward as a better, more righteous leader, father, and friend.
Kratos Can Complete His Character Arc by Returning to Greece
Kratos May Be Able to Rectify His Past Mistakes
TheValhallaDLC could have retired Kratos, but it didn’t—not officially, at least. Both the expansion andRagnarok’s base game leave things fairly open-ended, and while he probably won’t return as a full-blown, combat-ready protagonist, his story may still have some room to grow. Put simply, while Kratos has done a lot to heal his own psychological wounds, he may not have done enough to heal the wounds he has inflicted on the world, and the ending of Valhallapositions him to do just that.
Although Kratos may still have a few more fights in him, his role in futureGod of Wargames will probably be considerably more pacifistic, if not benevolent and consciously of value to others; otherwise, his journey in the Norse saga would be undermined.
Theending ofGod of War Ragnaroksets up Atreus as the hero of the next game, and Valhallaheavily suggests that Kratos will replace Tyr as the Norse God of War—a position that would allow him to leverage peace as much as power. With the Norse realms in a much more stable state, Kratos might be free to return to his homeland, making use of the lessons he’s learned and the perspective he has gained to rebuild and restore Greece, perhaps even making amends with the few remaining Greek gods along the way. This could be the final step in his story, as he could turn his internal growth outward and right his wrongs.
Greece Wouldn’t Have to Overtake the Next God of War Game
Although there’s potential in reincorporatingelements of the Greek saga intoGod of War, it probably isn’t the best choice for a full, post-Norse-saga game. After all, Santa Monica pivoted to Norse mythology for a reason: the setting had been mostly exhausted by the end ofGod of War 3. On top of this, if Kratos was to revisit Greece as a force for peace, as would befit his character, there wouldn’t be much conflict to explore through gameplay unless the nextGod of Warbecomes a city-builder or social sim, which seems unlikely.
Rather, Kratos' return to Greece, with or without his new allies, could just be part of the broaderGod of Warstory. All signs point toAtreus as the nextGod of Warprotagonist, so perhaps the next game could feature Kratos rectifying his past in Greece as a B-plot, one that could serve as a sort of epilogue and maybe even a final farewell to the iconic character.
