The God of War franchise has played host to numerous ruthless characters throughout the series' history, with the gods, monsters, and heroes of both Greek and Norse mythology usually finding themselves in the midst of merciless war. That roster of battle-ready figures only grew with the 2022 release of God of War Ragnarök, which cemented the legacy of the current god of war, while continuing to shape his worldview after beginning to bond with his son, Atreus.
Kratos might be the brutal protagonist of the series, but where the ing cast of characters can be ranked is based upon their decisions throughout the previous games, alongside how ancient lore has painted them; some of the most hated characters from God of War are very closely inspired by their real-world legends. It was never easy to survive in a setting so fueled by violent conflict, but some personalities take it a step further. Often, it's those antagonists who have plagued Kratos that can be deemed to be among the most ruthless.
10 Gaia
Gaia's relationship with Kratos began in earnest in the God of War series. However, the character was only using the barbarian for her own ends. There is a ruthlessness to the way in which Gaia attempted to dispatch of someone that had actually helped her goals, although Kratos would get his revenge by killing the goddess in a climatic final confrontation.
Some of the best games like God of War have thrived on their unique interpretations of Greek mythology and this series has done the same with Gaia. The Earth goddess is largely concerned with her own domain. In legend, as is the case with these titles, Mother Nature can be completely unforgiving and indeed ruthless. However, there is a softer side to Gaia, portrayed through her powers themselves.
9 Jörmungandr
Jörmungandr is known as the Midgard or World Serpent, a giant beast that has wrapped itself around the human realm and is destined to one day destroy Asgard. In its very premise, Jörmungandr is ruthless, with the character actually carrying out Ragnarok, with a younger version of the snake taking Thor to the limit in a historical battle that saw a lot of destruction.
So, although Jörmungandr's hatred for the Norse pantheon and its annihilation of Asgard might show its ruthlessness, one of the best God of War games also demonstrates its ability to communicate and connect with Kratos, Atreus, and Mimir. The Midgard Serpent even aids them on their journey. It might be a beast with hatred in its heart, but it isn't wild or completely cruel.
8 Persephone
In Greek mythology, Persephone was once allowed to live freely on the surface world but was brought into a marriage with Hades that has been portrayed in a number of ways. The Underworld is a harsh place, especially for a deity that had previously been associated with flowers, fragility, and environmental beauty, and God of War played upon that tragic narrative.
The character was slowly broken down, with her rage finally winning out. Only the best God of War skills could be utilized to best her in battle, with Persephone finally getting fed up with her existence in the afterlife and looking to get her revenge. In some ways, Persephone is a sympathetic character and her brutality and ruthlessness are slightly limited by the notion that she still might be holding back.
7 Thanatos
Thanatos is one of Kratos' toughest challenges, with the character acting as the main antagonist within God of War: Ghost of Sparta. Any figure that can actually face Kratos in battle, one-on-one, must surely have a ruthless streak, but the premise of Thanatos as a character also speaks to his merciless mission.
Thanatos is the god of death and therefore does not care how his domain is broadened. Even God of War: Ragnarok's Nine Realms is touched by the effects of death, with the terrifying notion that Thanatos is truly coming for everyone feeding into the character's sinister image. Loss, normally, has little impact on Thanatos, but he predates so much of the universe that his ruthless role could be considered just a part of the balance of existence.
6 Athena
Athena is traditionally portrayed as a war goddess in her own right, with her role linking to thoughtful tactical maneuvers and bravery in the face of battle. She is also the most intelligent deity within the Greek Pantheon, which ensures that each move she makes is calculated and well-thought-out. That logic can sometimes have a ruthless edge.
A valid criticism of the God of War games is that there can be character inconsistencies. This might be the case for Athena, who loses her way in the titles and descends into a violent tirade which isn't quite comparative to her traditional portrayal. Athena isn't as vindictive on such a grand scale compared to other figures, but it's her straight logic that can lead to brutal decisions, whether she is thinking clearly or not.
5 Baldur
The God of War soft reboot brought Baldur into the fray, a brother to Thor and a Norse deity who seemingly couldn't be killed. Kratos and Baldur shared many strikes, with the character's ruthlessness continuing to push him forward in an almost ceaseless display of sheer violence, which certainly didn't take the fate of Atreus into .
The leading antagonist is usually known as Baldur the Brave, but just like the Greek gods and their Norse counterparts in God of War, there is a slight shift in that adaptation. Baldur is bravely brazen, with a fearlessness that drives his ruthlessness, but there are those that rank above Baldur in their power and even ambition.
4 Kratos
Kratos has consistently been one of the harshest anti-heroes in all of video gaming. The franchise has catapulted this slightly lesser-known figure from mythology into stardom, with the player getting to grips with how violent and bloody Kratos is. Death and vengeance follow the harbinger of destruction wherever he goes.
The scale of violence that Kratos wrecks on all Pantheons is demonstrative of how little he feels for his own shocking warmongering. He mellows with age, however, and continues to try to do the right thing for the innocent and his son. Get on the wrong side of Kratos, and he is ruthless. But unlike other characters, and as one of the best God of War characters, his allies have nothing to fear.
3 Zeus
The Olympian leader is known for his ambition. The god of gods has always had control, with mythology demonstrating his position as the king of all others, the maker of man, and the judge of all things. That power has certainly gone to Zeus' head and his portrayal in the God of War series pits him as a big bad to be bested by Kratos himself.
Even in death, Zeus haunts Kratos, showing that there is no escape from his wrath. Zeus thinks nothing of those beneath him, painting his worldview and making him a top-ranking held back by his demise. Throughout the franchise, Zeus delivers a fair few of God of War's famous emotional gut punches, not to mention the manipulation of the god almost as ruthless as the physical threat that he poses.
2 Odin
Odin is the All-Father and follows a very similar role to Zeus in Norse Mythology, as the god of gods and king of his respective Pantheon. There is a vain, morally vapid, and careless aspect to his personality that God of War: Ragnarok capitalizes on. Indeed, the rebooted God of War series, as a whole, has portrayed Odin as an all-seeing danger with very little worry about what happens to lesser mortals.
God of War chooses to adapt ancient lore in a contemporary way, and Odin's ruthlessness is definitely an intriguing direction to go in. There is a level of mischief to Odin in games like God of War that might make him crueler, with his tendency toward manipulation and trickery playing mind games with his victims. Death on a large scale of complete innocents is all part of Odin's game, and he is one of the best villains in the series, topped by only one other.
1 Ares
God of War: Ragnarok wouldn't even exist without the wrath of Ares. The god of war is the titular antagonist, which Kratos eventually takes his title from. Ares has always thrived on the brutality of battle, with conflicts getting created by the Olympian simply as a boost to his power. He does not care for the consequences of the wars he encourages.
There are so many directions that the God of War series could visit next, but the saga will never escape the long-term impact of Ares' ruthlessness. Kratos had to defeat and remove Ares from the equation to become a worthier god of war, perhaps demonstrating the level of distrust in his actions, with the character usually known as the most hated man in Olympus.