With so little known about the nextGod of War, many fans have naturally gravitated toward the discussion surrounding its protagonist. The ending ofGod of War Ragnaroksuggests that Kratos and Atreus will be separatedin the next full entry, as the latter sets out on a solo journey at the end ofRagnarok, seeking out the remaining Giants and ostensibly starting a new adventure without his father.
Of course, this would be a major break in franchise tradition. After all, the series is called “God of War” for a reason: the story has always been about Kratos and his position in the Greek and Norse pantheons.Ragnarokdeviated greatly from this established framework by making Atreus a playable character, but he was still firmly in the position of a secondary protagonist. The notion that Atreus could somehow replace Kratos is complex, risky, and multifaceted, and it may not be so easy to put the young buck at the helm of the nextGod of War.
It must be noted that, while many assume Atreus will be the star of the nextGod of Warbecause of the circumstances ofRagnarok’s ending, this has not been confirmed by developer Santa Monica Studios or publisher Sony.
Kratos and God of War Have Been an Inseparable Pair
Kratos May Be Inextricable from the God of War Experience
The potentialbenefits of an Atreus-ledGod of Wargameare myriad, at least when considered in a vacuum. However, things start to get a little hairier when evaluating the concept within the context of the broaderGod of Warseries. To do this, it’s important to attempt to understand exactly what the franchise’s most essential elements are, and how far Santa Monica Studios can stretch its premise and setting.
2018’sGod of Warreboot was a huge departurefrom franchise convention at the time, taking the hack-and-slash,Devil May Cry-inspired series and turning it into a slower, more methodical, and story-driven game a laThe Last of Us. In the wake ofGod of War Ragnarok, though, this new formula feels synonymous withGod of War, and the way that Santa Monica has managed to retain the series' identity is a big part of that; Kratos is older now, but he is still Kratos, still violent, vengeful, intimidating, and competent.
He still rages against fate and the tyranny of the old gods, and this is reflected in both gameplay and narrative, even if several major elements of style and presentation have been changed.
In other words, Kratos sits at the center ofGod of War, both before and after 2018. TheNorseGod of Wargames are characterized by his journey, and while Atreus is a big part of this story, he is just that—one part of a whole. Kratos has been the common thread linking the series together, the only true constant across incredible mutations and shifts in gameplay and tone.
Several gaming franchises have taken a quasi-anthology approach when it comes to their protagonists.The Last of UsandRed Dead Redemptioncome to mind, and RPGs likeDragon Agehave long adopted the practice of giving players new heroes to embody between entries. But these games, while character-driven, are narratively flexible enough to allow for this changing of the guard.
More importantly, these franchises tend to establish this protagonist-hopping format early on, not switch to a new protagonist after two decades of consistency. So, whileAtreus may be ready to becomeGod of War’s new main character, audiences may be less willing to let go of Kratos, and Santa Monica Studios may run into some creative issues shifting gears so dramatically as Kratos has always been the beating heart of the franchise.
God of War Ragnarok
WHERE TO PLAY
Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting goFrom Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). Fimbulwinter is well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world. Along the way they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. The threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer. Kratos and Atreus must choose between their own safety and the safety of the realms.
