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God of War (2018) on PC: Gameplay and Performance Review

The 2018 God of War PC port offers unlocked frame rates, adjustable graphics, ultrawide, DLSS and multiple control options. Performance still depends on your hardware and settings.
Length4 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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God of War on PC is a well-equipped version of the 2018 single-player adventure: it offers unlocked frame rates, adjustable graphics, ultrawide support, and NVIDIA DLSS and Reflex. Those features make it a strong PC conversion, but they do not guarantee a particular frame rate on every computer. The performance evidence discussed here comes from launch-era testing in January 2022, not a fresh benchmark of 2026 hardware.

Which God of War is this PC review about?

This is the PC edition of the 2018 God of War, released on January 14, 2022. It is a single-player action adventure starring Kratos and Atreus, and should not be confused with God of War Ragnarök. Steam lists Santa Monica Studio and Jetpack Interactive as developers. Steam’s store listing identifies the game and its PC release.

Does God of War run well on PC?

The port includes substantial PC options, and Digital Foundry’s Alex Battaglia gave it a positive assessment in a technical review published January 14, 2022. That review examined image quality, graphics settings, GPU performance at low and mid-range, CPU behavior, latency, and DLSS artifacts. These are useful dimensions for judging a PC conversion, but the review outline does not establish a universal frame rate, and its findings describe launch-era test systems rather than every current PC.

Performance depends on the hardware, resolution, graphics settings, and whether upscaling is enabled. Santa Monica Studio maintains an Inconsistent Performance support article; its requirements page also directs players experiencing performance drops on recommended specifications to support guidance. Published requirements are a baseline for compatibility, not a promise of smooth performance.

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#1 Best Overall
God of War Ragnarök - Deluxe - PC [Online Game Code]
  • 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.

PC Gamer’s review, published January 12, 2022, discussed DLSS image quality, and its January 14 settings guide considered DLSS, FSR, and configuration tradeoffs. Those are historical assessments. The visual and performance results can vary with hardware, settings, and game version.

What are the PC requirements for God of War?

Steam publishes the following minimum and recommended specifications. They are system requirements, not measured performance targets.

Rank #2
God of War Ragnarök - Standard - PC [Online Game Code]
  • 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.
Specification Minimum Recommended
Operating system 64-bit Windows 10 Not stated in Steam’s recommended tier
Processor Intel i5-2500K (4-core, 3.3 GHz) or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 (4-core, 3.1 GHz) Intel i5-6600K (4-core, 3.5 GHz) or AMD Ryzen 5 2400G (4-core, 3.6 GHz)
Memory 8 GB RAM 8 GB RAM
Graphics NVIDIA GTX 960 (4 GB) or AMD R9 290X (4 GB) NVIDIA GTX 1060 (6 GB) or AMD RX 570 (4 GB)
DirectX DirectX 11, feature level 11_1 DirectX 11
Storage 70 GB available space 70 GB available space

Source for both tiers: Steam’s published system requirements. Meeting a tier does not mean the game will achieve a particular resolution or frame rate.

What PC features and display options does it support?

PlayStation lists true 4K on compatible PCs and displays, unlocked frame rates, 21:9 ultrawide support, graphical presets and adjustable options, NVIDIA DLSS, and NVIDIA Reflex. The graphics options include higher-resolution shadows, improved screen-space reflections, GTAO, and SSDO. These are available features, not assurances that a given PC can run every option at a target resolution or frame rate. See PlayStation’s PC feature page for the documented feature set.

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Rank #3
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Ring - PC
  • Real time strategy game set in the Lord of the Rings universe
  • Play as the forces of Good or Evil using multiple types of character units
  • Real world environment and terrain effects alter the outcome of skirmishes and battles
  • Character units gain experience and visual enhancements as they destroy enemy units
  • For one or more players

Santa Monica Studio highlighted ultrawide support in its PC launch guide. Communications Director Grace Orlady said, “With our release on the PC, we’re hoping that many new players will be able to experience Kratos and Atreus’ story for the first time.” The January 13, 2022 launch guide provides the studio’s PC release context.

Can you play with a controller or mouse and keyboard?

Yes. PlayStation lists support for DualShock 4, DualSense wireless controllers, and other gamepads, as well as customizable mouse-and-keyboard bindings. A DualSense is optional; the port does not require it, and it is not the only supported controller. The official feature listing does not establish that every controller has identical behavior or that every connection method is supported across all PC setups.

Rank #4
Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War II Chaos Rising PC Game - Swear loyalty to the gods
  • Does not Require the original Dawn of War II
  • Uncover the secrets of Aurelia- Build your squads up to level 30 and unlock devastating new abilities. Hold the chapter together and fight off the corrupting forces of Chaos.
  • New Multiplayer Race- Play as the blood thirsty Chaos Space Marines in multiplayer battles against Dawn of War II and Chaos Rising owners.
  • New Last Stand Heroes- Face off against the relentless hordes as either the Chaos Sorcerer or the Tyranid Hive Tyrant.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

How to choose settings for your PC

There is no single best preset established for all hardware. A sensible configuration process is to set your display target first, then adjust image quality and upscaling while checking both frame-rate consistency and image quality.

  1. Choose the display format and resolution. Start with your monitor’s resolution and aspect ratio; use 21:9 support if you have an ultrawide display.
  2. Set a graphics baseline. Begin with a preset appropriate to your system, then adjust options such as shadows and screen-space effects if performance is inconsistent.
  3. Evaluate upscaling deliberately. Compare native rendering with DLSS or another available upscaling option on your system. Check image quality as well as performance; launch-era coverage specifically considered DLSS image quality and artifacts.
  4. Assess more than an average frame rate. Look for frame-time consistency, responsiveness, and image quality during play. Results should be interpreted against your resolution, graphics preset, GPU, CPU, and selected upscaling mode.

Digital Foundry’s January 14, 2022 technical review lays out these kinds of comparison axes, including image quality, latency, CPU and GPU behavior, settings, and DLSS artifacts. It is useful historical analysis, not a 2026 test result or a substitute for checking performance on your own system.

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Best Value
PlayStation God of War Ragnarok Atreus 6" Deluxe Figure
  • PREMIUM 6-INCH ATREUS FIGURE: Atreus is meticulously detailed with an intricate archer survival garb and a fierce resolve in his eyes, featuring 130 unique finishes
  • 33 POINTS OF ARTICULATION: Craft dynamic scenes with Atreus, equipped with 33 points of articulation. Perfect for creating lifelike poses that capture the essence of his agile combat style in the PS5 games
  • 4 ACCESSORIES: Atreus is equipped for any challenge with his trusty bow, an arrow for precise shots, and 2 handsets for various gripping and combat poses, ready to take on any foe alongside Kratos
  • OPEN DISPLAY BOX: Showcase Atreus and additional PlayStation action figures (sold separately) like from The Last of Us and Ghost of Tsushima in this box design, an official licensed product of PlayStation
  • TOYS & GAMES FOR ALL: Presented by Spin Master, the creators of kids toys for boys & toys for girls who love collectibles, toy figures & playsets. Ideal Christmas gift, or birthday gifts for all ages

Verdict: did the PC port nail it?

For a story-driven action adventure, this is a convincing PC release on features: adjustable graphics, unlocked frame rates, ultrawide, upscaling and latency options, and a choice of controller or keyboard-and-mouse input. Its main qualification is the one that matters in practice: performance is configuration-dependent. The launch-era technical coverage supports a positive view of the port, but it cannot establish how the game performs on every modern setup.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 3
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Ring - PC
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Ring - PC
Real time strategy game set in the Lord of the Rings universe; Play as the forces of Good or Evil using multiple types of character units
$54.99
Bestseller No. 4
Bestseller No. 5
PlayStation God of War Ragnarok Atreus 6' Deluxe Figure
PlayStation God of War Ragnarok Atreus 6" Deluxe Figure
Includes: 1 Figure, 4 Accessories; Covered by the Spin Master Care Commitment. See below for full details
$18.91

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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