God of War's much-publicized port has become Sony's biggest PC launch to date. Given the quality of the reboot and its preceding titles, it's easy to see why. Practically every game in the series has been met with varying degrees of acclaim, Sony's heavyweight property showing no signs of slowing down as fans eagerly anticipate the release of God of War: Ragnarök later this year.

Ranking the series according to its Metacritic scores reveals a franchise operating with a remarkable degree of consistency, even when games deviated from the mainline story or were released on alternative platforms. These rankings are based on professional critics' scores compiled on review aggregate site Metacritic, listed from lowest-scoring to highest.

RELATED: Awesome God of War Fan Art Captures the World Serpent's Imposing Presence

7. Ascension Helps Establish the Entire Kratos Saga (80 Metacritic Score)

Kratos breaks free from his restraints

For the lowest-rated entry in the series to have still garnered an impressive score of 80 should tell you all you need to know about Santa Monica Studio's commitment to ensuring the consistent quality of the God of War franchise.

Ascension operates as a prequel to the entire series, following Kratos as he breaks free from Ares' imprisonment, seeking to overcome the Furies and start his road to becoming the new God of War. Despite its comparatively low rating when viewed alongside other titles, Ascension was noted for its ambition in introducing a redesigned combat system, fluid gameplay mechanics and even a rather novel multiplayer mode.

6. Ghost of Sparta Reunites Kratos With His Estranged Brother (86 Metacritic Score)

Kratos faces a mighty beast on the cover of Ghost of Sparta

Ghost of Sparta is the sixth installment of the God of War franchise and the fourth chronologically, as well as being the second game in the series to be released exclusively for the PlayStation Portable.

Set after the events of God of WarGhost of Sparta follows Kratos as he travels to the Underworld in search of his brother, Deimos. The pair seek to destroy Thanatos, the personification of death itself. Ghost of Sparta received a strong reception upon release, with its pacing, combat and immersive setting praised as the game's greatest strengths.

RELATED: Final Fantasy XIV: How to Play a Gunbreaker in Endwalker

5. Chains of Olympus Is One of the PSP's Finest Offerings (91 Metacritic Score)

The first God of War game to be released exclusively for the PSP, Chains of Olympus took much of what had made the iconic series so popular and transposed it to a handheld format with ease. Acting as a prequel to the original God of War and operating as the second game chronologically, Chains of Olympus sees Kratos seeking out the Sun God Helios to prevent the destruction of the Pillar of the World.

Chains of Olympus received near-universal acclaim upon release and remains one of the PlayStation Portable's most beloved titles. Despite not being utterly revolutionary in terms of shaking up the franchise's format, Chains of Olympus was praised for pushing the PSP to its limits and striving for a grand, smooth presentation style worthy of more high-powered hardware.

RELATED: What Microsoft's Activision Blizzard Acquisition Means For the Future of Gaming

4. God of War III Is a Satisfying Conclusion to Kratos' Quest for Revenge (92 Metacritic Score)

Kratos trying to separate Poseidon from Gaia in God of War III

God of War III rounded off the beloved hack and slash series with a bang, as players finally saw Kratos end the reign of the Olympians by defeating Zeus and the rest of the Greek Pantheon. The third installment in the series brought the same rage-fueled spectacle fans of the preceding titles had come to expect.

Although it's the lowest-rated of the three games in the original God of War trilogy, the climax to Kratos' original saga is still regarded as one of the best PlayStation games of all time and a worthy conclusion to an iconic storyline.

3. God of War II Builds Upon Its Sequel's Legendary Debut (93 Metacritic Score)

Kratos holds two flaming weapons as he looks towards Rhodes

As far as sequels go, God of War II might be one of the finest in recent history. Pushing the series forward even at the tail end of the PS2 era, the sequel's ambition and cinematic scope saw God of War II become more brutally visceral than its acclaimed predecessor.

Having defeated Ares and taken his place, God of War II sets up Kratos' quest to topple Zeus and the Olympians after being betrayed by the King of the Gods. Featuring a rollicking story and a dazzling array of settings, characters and enemies, the sequel to God of War took the original game's mantle and kept things running at breakneck speed.

RELATED: How God of War's New Game Plus Works

2. God of War Redefines the Hack and Slash Genre (94 Metacritic Score)

God of War Greece Kratos 1

When it debuted in 2005, God of War caused a sensation for its bold reinvention of the Greek myths. Fans were first introduced to Kratos and his quest for vengeance against Ares, Kratos' former mentor responsible for tricking the Spartan into killing his own family.

The game was considered revolutionary at the time of its release. Its brutal, combo-based combat system and compelling story combine to create a visceral experience that has all but set the standard for subsequent hack and slash titles. God of War may not have aged as well as its sequels, but it remains a gaming masterpiece.

1. God of War (2018) Is Arguably the Greatest Reboot Ever (94 Metacritic Score)

Kratos and Atreus battle a Fire Troll in God of War.

God of War is a lesson in how to reboot a franchise. Realizing that the series had gone as far as it could in its original setting and with its main story all but concluded, the only way for things to continue was to transpose the franchise to a fresh setting with new mythology, characters and tone.

Debuting on a new generation of consoles allowed God of War to flex its muscles as a technical marvel. The game is gorgeous and won acclaim for its gameplay and presentation, as well as making Kratos a more relatable figure as a guilt-ridden father guiding his son through a foreign realm. The God of War protagonist was often too brutal and unforgiving to be three-dimensional or charismatic, but father Kratos gained depth and texture when the franchise was rebooted in the frozen realm of Midgard.

KEEP READING: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake May Feature God of War-Style Combat