Start with God of War (2018), then play God of War Ragnarök. Both games are available on PS4, PS5, and Windows PC. If you’re playing on PC, check the requirements for each game before buying—Ragnarök needs a 190 GB SSD and a stronger minimum graphics card than the 2018 game.
Which God of War should you play first?
Play God of War (2018) first and God of War Ragnarök second. PlayStation identifies Ragnarök as the sequel, and its series page lists both games for PS4, PS5, and PC. Starting with the 2018 game gives you the beginning of this Norse-era story before its continuation in Ragnarök.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
God of War Ragnarök - PlayStation 4 | $28.89 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
God of War Hits - PlayStation 4 | $19.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
God of War: Saga - Dual Pack | $54.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
God Of War | $22.40 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
God of War III: Remastered (PS4) | $21.49 | Buy on Amazon |
PlayStation estimates about 20–25 hours for the main story of God of War (2018), or 40–50 hours for a completionist run. For Ragnarök, its estimate is up to 40 hours for the main story and a selection of side quests, and 55–60 hours to see everything. These are estimates, not required playtimes; PlayStation advises playing at your own pace. PlayStation’s God of War FAQ provides the estimates and platform information.
Choose PlayStation or PC
Both games are listed for PS4, PS5, and PC. For PC, the official game pages link to Steam and the Epic Games Store. Choose based on the system you own and how you want to play; storefront availability and prices can vary by region and change over time.
#1 Best Overall
- 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)
- PS4 or PS5: A straightforward option if you already own a supported console.
- Windows PC: Check that your hardware meets the requirements for each game and that you have enough storage—especially for Ragnarök.
- Input preference: On PC, both games support keyboard and mouse as well as gamepads.
Sources: PlayStation’s series page, the PC page for God of War (2018), and the PC page for God of War Ragnarök.
Check the PC requirements before you install
The figures below are PlayStation’s published requirements and performance targets, not results from independent testing. The 2018 product page lists a minimum configuration; PlayStation’s 2024 Ragnarök announcement specifies both minimum and recommended targets. Meeting a published minimum does not guarantee identical performance on every PC.
Rank #2
- Physical combat over the shoulder free camera brings the action closer than ever combat in God of war is up close frenetic and unflinching. Kratos' Axes powerful, magic and multi faceted is a brutal weapon as well as a versatile tool for exploration
- Midgard and beyond: Set within the untamed forests, mountains, and realms of Norse lore, God of war features a distinctly new setting with its own pantheon of creatures, monsters, and gods
- Vicious, physical combat with an over the shoulder free camera that brings the player closer to the action than ever before
| Game and target | Graphics target and GPU | Processor | Memory | Operating system | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| God of War (2018), minimum | 720p at 30 fps; NVIDIA GTX 960 (4 GB) or AMD R9 290X (4 GB) | Intel i5-2500K or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 | 8 GB RAM | Windows 10 64-bit (version 1809) | 70 GB; SSD recommended |
| God of War Ragnarök, minimum | Average 1080p at 30 fps on low settings; NVIDIA GTX 1060 or AMD RX 5500 XT | Intel i5-4670K or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 | 8 GB RAM | Windows 10 64-bit | 190 GB SSD |
| God of War Ragnarök, recommended | Average 1080p at 60 fps on medium settings; NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super or AMD RX 5700 | Intel i5-8600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | 16 GB RAM | Windows 10 64-bit | 190 GB SSD |
PlayStation lists the 2018 game’s 70 GB storage requirement on its live PC product page; the page does not state a publication year. PlayStation and Santa Monica Studio published the Ragnarök PC requirements in 2024. Check the God of War (2018) PC listing, the Ragnarök PC listing, and the August 8, 2024 PlayStation Blog announcement for the published specifications.
Choose your PC controls and account settings
Keyboard, mouse, or gamepad
Both PC versions support customizable keyboard-and-mouse bindings and gamepads. The listed controller support includes DualShock 4, DualSense, and Xbox Wireless Controller for God of War (2018); Ragnarök supports DualShock 4, DualSense, and other gamepads. For the full range of Ragnarök in-game controller features, PlayStation says to connect a DualSense controller by cable. A controller is optional; keyboard and mouse are supported too. See the 2018 PC listing, Ragnarök PC listing, and PlayStation’s PC feature announcement.
Rank #3
- Includes
- God of War collections 1 and 2
- God of War 3
- God of War Collection (Chain of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta)
PlayStation account linking in Ragnarök
Linking a PlayStation account on PC is optional; it is not required to launch or play Ragnarök. Linking grants the Armor of the Black Bear set, available at the first Lost Items chest in the Realm Between Realms, along with account features including trophies and friend management. PlayStation also says the PC version has the same accessibility features as the PS5 version. If you need a particular setting, check PlayStation’s official accessibility details for the specific feature rather than assuming it is available.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is Valhalla, and is it included?
God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla is an epilogue and a replayable adventure with roguelite elements. PlayStation says it is included with a PC purchase of Ragnarök. On PS4 and PS5, PlayStation describes it as free DLC for owners of Ragnarök. See the official Ragnarök page for platform-specific details.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Beautifully rendered at 1080p and running at 60 frames per second, God of War III Remastered is ready for the next generation
- The brand new photo mode will allow players to freeze the jaw-dropping action to edit, save and share photos.
- God of War III Remastered shows off realistic muscle contours, detailed facial expressions and new heightened levels of brutality and gore
Rank #4
- Physical combat over the shoulder free camera brings the action closer than ever combat in God of war is up close frenetic and unflinching. Kratos' Axes powerful, magic and multi faceted is a brutal weapon as well as a versatile tool for exploration
- Midgard and beyond: Set within the untamed forests, mountains, and realms of Norse lore, God of war features a distinctly new setting with its own pantheon of creatures, monsters, and gods
- Vicious, physical combat with an over the shoulder free camera that brings the player closer to the action than ever before
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.
