A sequel to 2018's God of War, tentatively titled God of War: Ragnarok, was announced during Sony's recent PlayStation 5 live stream. The 2018 game, which served as a soft reboot of the long-running mythological action series, was beloved by gamers and critics and became one of the best-selling games on the PlayStation 4. God of War was able to reinvent the series' brutal hack-and-slash combat and epic story, creating a game that has both a massive scale and intimate narrative.
2018's God of War placed a heavy focus on story, and that installment was clearly intended as the first in a new series of games. While it's hard to predict exactly where the story will go next, there are many unresolved plot threads, and the game's ending sets up opportunities for future stories. With God of War: Ragnarok officially revealed, let's take a look at what fans want to see in the sequel.
Thor
One of the biggest teases towards Ragnarok appears as an optional cutscene in God of War. Should players return to Kratos and Atreus' home after the end of the main quest, they will see the two facing a hooded figure who, showing off the hammer Mjolnir, reveals himself as the thunder god Thor. During the game, Kratos and Atreus kill Magni and Modi, two sons of Thor, as well as Thor's brother Baldur. Kratos' claim that "there are consequences to killing a god" will be proven true, as they must now face the immensely powerful God of Thunder.
Due to Thor's appearance right outside of the duo's home, it seems likely that a showdown with Thor will kick off the game. This would be fitting, since the fight with Baldur starts up the main plot of the previous game. The descriptions of Thor in the previous God of War draw intentional parallels between the thunder god and a younger Kratos, both being extremely powerful warriors who mercilessly hunt and kill a godly race. This similarity will no doubt be addressed once the two met face-to-face, and it's likely that Thor will be a recurring threat throughout the title.
Loki
Alongside Thor, the reveal that Atreus will grow up to be the trickster god Loki is another huge cliffhanger from the last game. This revelation drastically affects how Atreus will partake in future stories, as Loki has a definite role to play in the Ragnarok event. Atreus may be captured and tortured for the death of Baldur, like the mythic tales of Loki, before breaking free come Ragnarok. We may also see some of Atreus' magical abilities evolve into something that more resembles Loki, such as the ability to shapeshift into different forms. This could effect gameplay, with Atreus taking different forms in order to perform specific tasks in and out of combat.
New Realms
God of War allowed players to explore six of the Nine Realms, but most of the action was set on Earth, or Midgard. Helheim, Alfheim and Jötunheim could be visited throughout the story, while Muspelheim and Niflheim contained optional combat challenges that had to be unlocked through exploration. However, this still leaves the realms of Asgard, Vanaheim and Svartalfheim a complete mystery to players.
Svartalfheim, the realm of dwarves such as the previous game's blacksmiths Brok and Sindri, seems like an excellent realm to put challenges to unlock new equipment. Vanaheim, a beautiful forest world inhabited by the Vanir gods such as Freya, will likely play a large role in the story. Asgard, the shining realm of the Aesir gods, seems like an obvious destination, but the developers may choose to save it for future titles.
New Weapons
It wouldn't be God of War without magical weapons, and Ragnarok will likely be no different. The Leviathan Axe is a now iconic weapon that serves as a symbol of the franchise's fresh start, so it should definitely remain Kratos' primary weapon. However, additional weapons would create more variety in combat.
The Blades of Chaos are likely to return again after their dramatic appearance towards the middle of the last game. Mjolnir seems like an obvious choice for Kratos to wield at some point too. It would function similarly to Leviathan, since the axe was intentionally crafted as a counter to the hammer, but its immense weight and electric properties could make it quite unique. The Sword of Freyr, an animated sword that is able to fight on its own, would also make for a interesting weapon that fits the franchise's new combat.
More Gods
2018's God of War was quite conservative with its godly characters compared to previous entires, featuring only a handful of Aesir and Vanir. However, the lead-up to Ragnarok means that many more new Aesir and Vanir gods will likely show up throughout the next game. Thor is obvious, but perhaps his father Odin the All-Father will make an appearance as well. Sif, the wife of Thor and goddess of fertility, could potentially appear alongside her husband as a formidable foe and a parallel to Atreus' mother Faye.
Heimdall, the Aesir god of foresight, could potentially play a big role in the series' future. According to Norse myth, Heimdall and Loki are destined to kill each other in battle during Ragnarok, so introducing Heimdall and Atreus could be very interesting. Freyr, a Vanir god and the brother of Freya from the previous game, is also hinted to appear if players return to Alfheim after the end of the main questline in that realm.