Kratos and a now-teenage Atreus. Image: Santa Monica Studio / Sony Interactive Entertainment
God of War Ragnarök is Santa Monica Studio's conclusion to the Norse saga, released on 9 November 2022 for PlayStation and ported to PC on 19 September 2024. It is substantially larger than the 2018 game, visits all nine realms, and delivers the best boss fights in the series. Expect roughly 30 hours for the story and 50 to see most of it.
God of War Ragnarök at a glance
| Developer | Santa Monica Studio |
| Released | 9 November 2022 (PS4, PS5) · 19 September 2024 (PC) |
| Free DLC | Valhalla (December 2023) |
| Realms | All nine |
| Length | ~30 hours main story · ~50 hours for most content |
Do you need to play God of War (2018) first?
Yes. More than almost any other sequel on this list.
Ragnarök opens directly after 2018's ending and assumes you know Kratos, Atreus, Mimir, Freya and the consequences of the first game's finale. The emotional weight of the entire story depends on that history.
There is a recap video, but it is a poor substitute. The 2018 game is about 20 hours, cheap, and available on the same platforms — play it first.
You do not need the older Greek-era God of War games. They are referenced but not required.
What is the story about?
Fimbulwinter has gripped Midgard and Ragnarök is coming. Kratos wants to protect his son; Atreus, now a teenager, wants to understand his role in a prophecy that names him Loki.
That tension — a father trying to prevent a fate his son is running toward — drives the whole game. Where 2018 was intimate and focused, Ragnarök widens considerably, with a much larger supporting cast and long stretches where you play as Atreus rather than Kratos.
The presentation continues the single-shot camera with no visible cuts, and the performances are excellent throughout.
How is the combat?
Familiar, but meaningfully deeper.
The Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos both return with expanded movesets, joined later by a third weapon that changes how encounters flow. New abilities, weapon attachments and elemental effects give each armament a genuine identity, and Kratos's shields are now interchangeable, each with its own defensive style.
The clearest improvement is boss variety. The most common complaint about 2018 was too many repeated troll fights. Ragnarök features more unique bosses in its opening hours than the entire previous game, and they are consistently the highlights.
Enemy variety is broader too, though some creature types are reused from 2018.
Boss variety is the biggest single improvement over the 2018 game.
What is Valhalla, and is it free?
Valhalla is a free DLC released in December 2023, and it is genuinely substantial — not a cosmetic pack.
It is a roguelite mode: Kratos enters a shifting realm, fights through randomised encounters, and loses progress on death while keeping permanent upgrades. Mechanically it is a combat playground for people who want to master the systems.
Narratively it is more than that. Valhalla functions as an epilogue dealing with Kratos confronting his past, and it is well written enough that many players consider it essential rather than optional.
This matters for one practical reason: there is no paid DLC for Ragnarök. Listings advertising "ALL DLC" are describing content Sony gave away.
What are the weaknesses?
The gear system still does not quite work. Armour and weapon levels gate content behind power requirements, which produces the odd situation of Kratos struggling against a common enemy because its level is higher. It creates progression without adding much meaning.
It is a cross-generation release. Ragnarök launched on PS4 as well as PS5, and it shows — the art direction is superb but the technical leap over 2018 is modest.
The pacing sags in places. At around 30 story hours it is longer than 2018, and a few mid-game stretches feel like they are extending the runway toward the finale.
These are small complaints against a very large, very polished game.
Is the PC version good?
Yes. The 2024 port is well made, with uncapped frame rates, ultrawide support, and DLSS, FSR and XeSS upscaling options.
Tuning advice: the game is more GPU-bound than CPU-bound, so upscaling gives the biggest return — set DLSS or FSR to Quality before touching anything else. Shadow quality and screen-space reflections are the next most expensive settings. It runs comfortably on mid-range hardware at 1080p and 1440p.
On PS5 the 60fps performance mode is the recommended way to play; the 30fps 4K mode looks sharper but the combat benefits far more from the frame rate.
Where can you buy it?
- PC — Steam and the Epic Games Store
- PlayStation — PlayStation Store (PS4 and PS5)
Buying advice — and what “ALL DLC” means here
Nothing, because Valhalla was free and there is no paid DLC. The standard edition is the complete game. Ragnarök discounts regularly on PlayStation and Steam, and Sony's first-party titles frequently appear in seasonal sales at large reductions. If you have not played the 2018 game, look for a bundle — the two are often sold together cheaply.
A note on cracked “.rar” downloads: they are illegal, a known malware vector, and cannot receive patches or the free Valhalla DLC. For a game whose best extra content costs nothing, pirating it gets you strictly less. IGGG Guides does not link to pirated software.
God of War Ragnarök FAQ
How long is God of War Ragnarök?
About 30 hours for the main story, and roughly 50 to complete most side content and optional realms.
Is Valhalla DLC free?
Yes. It released in December 2023 at no cost to all owners.
Is Ragnarök the end of the Norse saga?
Yes. Santa Monica Studio has confirmed it concludes the Norse story rather than setting up a third Norse entry.
Can you play as Atreus?
Yes. Several substantial sections put you in direct control of Atreus, with his own bow-based combat style.
Does it run on PS4?
Yes, it is a cross-generation release, though PS5 offers 60fps and faster loading.
Is there New Game Plus?
Yes, added free after launch, with additional gear and higher-tier upgrades.
The verdict
God of War Ragnarök is a bigger, more ambitious sequel that improves on its predecessor in the areas that mattered most — boss design, combat depth and supporting cast — while keeping the father-and-son relationship at its centre.
The gear system remains awkward and the visual leap is modest, but this is a superbly crafted conclusion to one of PlayStation's best sagas. Play 2018 first, then this, then Valhalla.
Best for: anyone who played God of War (2018) and wants the conclusion.
Skip if: you have not played the 2018 game — start there instead.
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Last updated: 6 September 2026