God of War Ragnarok leaves Kratos’ story open for another sequel, and a third game in the Norse Saga seems obvious, given that God of War’s original Greek Saga was a trilogy. Santa Monica Studio has devised a formula for success by continuously escalating Kratos’ battles against the pantheons; it feels natural to create another Norse game that pushes Kratos’ journey to the largest scale yet. Given the immense popularity of this most recent incarnation of Kratos, it seems inevitable that another God of War game is on the horizon.
[Warning: The following article contains spoilers for God of War Ragnarok.]
Speculation abounds as to what another God of War game after Ragnarok might look like. A new entry in the vein of the past two games would need to further explore and perhaps permanently resolve Kratos and Atreus’ relationship, as this has been the heart of the Norse Saga. But what the rest of the plot might look like is still up for debate. To find the answer, fans are primarily looking to the loose ends left after God of War Ragnarok. Whereas 2018's God of War clearly foreshadowed the coming Fimbulwinter and Ragnarok, God of War Ragnarok wrapped up fairly neatly with only a few hints at future storylines for Kratos and Atreus.
God of War Ragnarök’s Ending - Kratos & Atreus On New Journeys
During God of War Ragnarok, Atreus learns from Angrboda that his ancestors, the Giants, are not extinct as he first believed - he may be able to one day resurrect his kin. At the end of the game, Atreus tells Kratos that he plans on setting out to find the other Giants alone, giving him a definitive future quest to follow. Given that God of War Ragnarok featured sections in which the player controls Atreus, fans speculated that this new journey may be a spin-off game with Atreus as the sole protagonist. Angrboda could accompany him given how close they’ve grown to one another, potentially developing a love story.
Kratos’ growth throughout God of War Ragnarok feels more internal than Atreus’. He’s tired, scared of losing Atreus, and unable to escape the guilt of his crimes in Sparta. Odin points out that Kratos has never had the affection of worshipers, and therefore has never truly been a god. But Kratos resolves to change himself: he controls his bloodlust against Thor and Odin, and the final prophetic mural shows Kratos being lavished with praise by followers. Speaking with Faye in flashbacks, Kratos remarks that he will repair and safeguard the Nine Realms - it seems that Kratos believes his future lies in atoning for his past sins by aiding this new land.
Possible Sequels Within God of War Ragnarök’s Norse Mythology
By the end of God of War Ragnarok, both Kratos and Atreus are content. A third Norse game with Kratos and Atreus together again would need to skip forward a few years as it did between God of War and Ragnarok. This could create a fantastic trilogy of games based around a father and son’s developing relationship. God of War deals with Atreus as a child, God of War Ragnarok features Atreus as a teenager, and this third installment could see Atreus returning as a man after his journey to find the Giants. Kratos would need to on the mantle to his son as they confront a new threat to the Nine Realms.
What this threat looks like is up for debate, however. As a third game in the God of War Norse Saga, one might speculate that the entire World Tree upon which the Nine Realms rest might be in danger, but it’s uncertain what force could pose such a threat. It could relate to the mysterious tear that Odin obsessed over throughout God of War Ragnarok, which contains all knowledge inside of it, and possibly links to the as-yet-unseen Realm of Creation. Odin hoped to gaze inside the tear and learn what a god’s afterlife looks like; perhaps the world-ending threat will come from this tear, and Kratos will have to face his own death.
Many previously established characters could this journey, their fates left open. As explained in God of War Ragnarok's ending, Thrud took up Thor’s mantle by claiming Mjolnir, while Sif and Hildisvini broker peace between the Aesir and the Vanir. But one character is not so hopeful: Sindri is mourning the death of his brother Brok. After finishing off Odin in a vengeful rage, it’s clear that Sindri still resents Kratos and Atreus for allowing Brok to die. At the funeral, Sindri rejects Kratos’ condolences, and it’s possible that in a sequel, Sindri’s hatred may have festered, and his anger may act as the catalyst that imperils the Nine Realms.
God of War Ragnarök’s Sequel Could Explore Other Mythologies
Kratos may, of course, leave the Nine Realms altogether to explore new mythologies in a God of War sequel. Series creative director Cory Barlog, who directed God of War 2 and 2018's soft reboot, s this theory, stating in Kaptain Kuba's Pod of Cast on YouTube that a third Norse Saga game would mean spending “fifteen years on a single story, and… that’s just too stretched out.” Some popular options for new mythologies are presented within the games themselves. In God of War, a mural in Tyr’s vault (pictured above) shows the symbol associated with Greek, Celtic, Japanese, and Egyptian mythologies in its corners. Egyptian mythology is a particularly attractive new setting as it is associated with death - a looming possibility for the aging Kratos.
Beyond traveling to other mythologies, God of War may also travel through time. In God of War’s Norse Saga, the world serpent Jormungandr demonstrates that time travel is possible when it is knocked into the past by Thor. The possibilities for time travel are far-reaching, including giving Kratos an opportunity to travel back in time to right his wrongs in Sparta. This would offer a way to truly free himself from the curse of his misdeeds, or may force Kratos to realize that rewriting his past is not the path to inner peace. Either way, the possibility of time travel to link together different sagas offers a wealth of story material.
Whatever journey Kratos embarks on after God of War Ragnarok requires a new, strong motivation to pull him and the player through that experience. This becomes more difficult, as Kratos has mostly learned the error of his ways by the end of Ragnarok. While there may be many more external conflicts to resolve, it remains to be seen what more Kratos has to learn about himself. If Kratos is finished developing, it may be necessary for a God of War Ragnarok sequel to find a new protagonist.
Source: Kaptain Kuba/YouTube