God of War Ragnarök is a strong choice if you want a story-led action-adventure with weighty combat, exploration, and a close focus on Kratos and Atreus. It develops the formula of God of War (2018) rather than reinventing it: critics praise its emotional story and combat refinements, while also pointing to familiar early hours and slow travel between realms. It is available on PS4, PS5, and PC.
What kind of game is God of War Ragnarök?
This is a direct sequel to God of War (2018). Kratos and Atreus travel through the Nine Realms seeking answers as Ragnarök approaches, facing Norse gods and other enemies with weapons including the Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos. The PlayStation Store listing describes its premise and identifies it as an action-adventure sequel.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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God of War Ragnarök - PlayStation 5 | $37.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Art of God of War Ragnarök | $27.49 | Buy on Amazon |
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![God of War Ragnarök - Standard - PC [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51xJR6gHF1L._SL160_.jpg)
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God of War Ragnarök - Standard - PC [Online Game Code] | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Art of God of War Ragnarök (Deluxe Edition) | $90.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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God of War Ragnarök | $31.95 | Buy on Amazon |
The experience mixes close-range combat, exploration, puzzles, and a character-driven story. Meristation characterizes the sequel as putting more emphasis on narrative and exploration while retaining combat and adding role-playing elements; that is the publication’s reading of the game, not a universal measure of its balance. (Meristation review.)
How does it compare with God of War (2018)?
Ragnarök builds on the 2018 game’s foundation. The critical case in its favor is that it advances familiar combat and expands the story without discarding what made the predecessor work. TechRadar reviewer Vic Hood praised its emotional narrative and combat evolution, describing the sequel as brutal and poignant. (TechRadar review.)
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- Feel your journey through the Norse realms, made possible by immersive haptic feedback and adaptive trigger functionality.
- Take advantage of multidirectional 3D Audio; hear enemies approaching from any direction. (3D audio with stereo headphones (analog or USB))
- Bask in the beautiful worlds you travel through, brought to life by precise art direction and arresting attention to detail.
- Switch between full 4K resolution at a targeted 30 frames per second, or dynamic resolution upscaled to 4K at a targeted 60fps. (4K resolution requires a compatible 4K TV or display)
That continuity can also make the start feel familiar. Meristation notes that the opening five or six hours may resemble the prior game before broader changes become clearer. This is a pacing observation from that review, not a guaranteed experience for every player.
What works well—and what may not?
Story and characters
The emotional relationship between Kratos and Atreus is a central strength in the cited reviews. The story has quieter character moments alongside mythic conflict, which helps give the sequel more texture than a sequence of fights and set pieces.
Rank #2
Combat and exploration
TechRadar highlights combat changes that add variety without overloading the existing system. Meristation similarly sees the game broadening its mechanics and exploration. If you liked the 2018 game’s deliberate, close-up fights, the sequel’s approach is an evolution rather than a wholesale redesign.
Travel and pacing
TechRadar identifies slow travel between realms as a drawback. The travel downtime also gives characters room for contextual conversation: Axios quoted narrative director Matt Sophos explaining that the team used a short-dialogue pool to fit exchanges into those intervals. (Axios.) The dialogue may add character, but it does not eliminate the slower movement between destinations.
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- Unlocked framerates and the option of true 4K resolution expand the full potential of our cinematic no-cut camera as you travel through the stunning vistas of the Nine Realms. Behold enhanced reflections, lighting, and higher fidelity shadows, as well as increased geometric detail.
- Full integration with NVIDIA RTX Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) 3.7, AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) 3.1, and Intel XeSS (Xe Super Sampling) 1.2 will allow you to reach higher graphical settings and output resolutions
- Utilize NVIDIA Reflex low latency technology allowing you to react quicker and hit harder combos with the responsive gameplay.
- Enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the Nine Realms in panoramic widescreen with 21:9 ultra-widescreen and 32:9 super ultra-widescreen support!
- Play your way. With support for the DUALSHOCK 4 and DUALSENSE wireless controllers, a wide range of other gamepads, and fully customizable bindings for mouse and keyboard, you have the power to fine-tune every action to match your playstyle.
Which platforms can you play it on?
| Platform | Availability details |
|---|---|
| PS4 | Console release: November 9, 2022, according to the US PlayStation Store listing. Check the listing for current regional availability and editions. |
| PS5 | Console release: November 9, 2022, according to the US PlayStation Store listing. The listing also describes a free Valhalla add-on for PS5; check the store for current details. PlayStation Store. |
| PC | Released September 19, 2024. Santa Monica Studio lists unlocked frame rates, optional true 4K output with compatible hardware, DLSS/FSR/XeSS upscaling, and 21:9 and 32:9 display support. PC features and release date. |
Santa Monica Studio says the PC release includes post-launch updates, New Game+, and the Valhalla DLC. (PC launch announcement.) The May 2024 announcement said a PlayStation Network account was required, but account rules and regional availability can change; check the current Steam or Epic Games Store listing before buying.
Are there useful accessibility and control options?
The official PlayStation Store listing documents adjustable difficulty, a limited game-speed option, practice mode, control and tutorial reminders, manual saving, and pausing during offline play. It also lists settings for subtitles and captions, button holds, rapid presses, motion controls, vibration, and adaptive triggers. The listing says subtitles cover the main story and main characters only, so they are not described as covering every line of dialogue. See the store’s feature details and review the available settings for your platform and needs.
Rank #4
Which editions are available?
The US PlayStation Store currently lists Standard Editions and a Digital Deluxe Edition with cosmetic items, a digital art book, and soundtrack; it also lists Valhalla as a free PS5 add-on. Store prices, discounts, catalog access, and edition availability can vary by region and change over time, so use the relevant live storefront to confirm what is offered. (US PlayStation Store.)
Verdict: is God of War Ragnarök worth playing?
Yes, especially if you want a cinematic, character-focused action-adventure and enjoyed the 2018 game. Its strongest case is the combination of an emotional father-son story, refined combat, and broader exploration. The main caveats are that the opening can feel familiar and realm travel may test your patience. On PC, the release adds modern display and upscaling options as well as New Game+ and Valhalla; on console, check the current regional store listing for edition and add-on details.
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