God of War Ragnarök Reviews

God of War Ragnarok is a triumph. Santa Monica Studio has successfully taken everything that was great about the last game and amplified it while correcting just about every problem area and then some. There are slight stumbles, but it's a constantly surprising, epic adventure that shows genuine growth in its characters, backed up by best-in-class combat and a menagerie of breathtaking scenes. This makes Ragnarök an easy GOTY contender and one of the best games I've played in years.

We do what we must for the greater good.

So where does that leave us? God of War: Ragnarök's PC port is certainly packed with features, and while most players won’t encounter some of the issues outlined above, the button prompts problem can remain an annoyance for those who like the Classic control scheme. It’s also possible some of the bugs we ran into were just strange accidents, as we cannot replicate them again aside from Atreus’ green hair on Deck. With that in mind, while PS5 may still be the ideal way to play, the PC version will allow players to experience the game at the absolute best visual quality it can hit.

A fabulous port of a fabulous game, God of War Ragnarok combines great story telling, great action, and great graphics to deliver a top notch experience.

Sony Santa Monica brings back what made the original God of War reboot great and delivers another fantastic story with exceptional writing.

A meandering plot filled with odd tonal choices, but elevated by incredible cinematography and animation. God Of War Ragnarok is a generous, gorgeous action adventure that’s hard to take seriously, but easy to get sucked in by.

A 9/10 game let down by a shoddy port to PC.

God of War Ragnarök continues Jetpack Interactives' excellent porting efforts to provide PC players with the definitive version of the game.

About 25 hours into God of War Ragnarok, I experienced the thunderous action game’s first real moment of quiet. Returning from a long excursion to Svartalfheim with his way-too-chatty companions, Kratos walks into his bedroom and sits in silence as he reflects on his increasingly strained relationship with his son, Atreus. His normally unshakable stoicism cracks just enough to let a rare moment of vulnerability shine through, as you can almost catch a tear about to roll down his cracked face before he retreats to sleep – the one place where he can heal.

The game experience of God of War: Ragnarök is very uneven. The title features battles where main bosses serve as damage sponges, the plot that whiplashes between soul-searching and brutality, the world that is empty in some corners and over-saturated with puzzles in others. At the same time, it is a huge, well-crafted title with good overall story and character development. The complete absence of bugs and the game’s technical performance is more than impressive.

God of War Ragnarok is a masterpiece, dense in its strewn spectacle and narrative bulk, nearly overwhelming in its vast scale.

There are some games that you play primarily for the story, others more for the action and sense of adventure. GoW Ragnarok is one of those rare games that does it all incredibly well, and there are perhaps no other games that can match the ways in which it effortlessly blends storytelling with gameplay mechanics. Although I wished for a more satisfying end to the story, I can’t fault the developers for their continued commitment to small details in both graphic and sound design, and there are countless aspects of the narrative which are as well-crafted and memorable as any from the previous game. The core mechanics are expanded in constructive ways, and you can do more than ever with different combat options. In short, GoW Ragnarok is a fitting sequel that is well worth your time.

I had the pleasure of being the one to review the last Dad of War game in 2018. As much as I enjoyed the overall experience, I had some issues with the lack of weapon variety and the repetitive nature of the boss fights, the very items the franchise was so well known for. I was happy with our new fatherly Kratos, but felt the gameplay didn’t hold up to its predecessors. While most of my team agreed with me, some others felt that my 8.5 out of 10 score was too low, and it lead to years of jo...

Spoiler Warning: This review contains some mild story and gameplay spoilers.

God Of War Ragnarok is an incredible finale to the God Of War series, as it sets itself far above many other PlayStation exclusives on its own pedestal. Despite doubts about how well a sequel compared to the incredibly successful God Of War (2018) would perform, Santa Monica Studio has managed to knock it out of the park again, with yet another masterpiece for fans to experience.

God of War: Ragnarok is a strong follow-up to a modern masterpiece, but does it sacrifice depth for breadth?

God of War Ragnarok makes use of cinematic techniques and skilled actors to tell its story of holding on and letting go. But it doesn't feel beholden to cinematic trappings. It's proud of its history and medium and plays sublimely as a result. With a focus on fun and flow, God of War Ragnarok's bloody and beautiful pieces fit together swimmingly.

God of War: Ragnarok is a fantastic title, building from its predecessor's already phenomenal combat, though the story wasn't everything that I hoped it would be.

God of War Ragnarok is the best-written AAA game since 2010's Red Dead Redemption. From a narrative and cinematic point of view, it's a worthy, satisfying, and an immensly emotional conclusion to Kratos' 17 years long journey that leaves the window open just enough for an eventual sequel.

God of War set a new bar for a reboot, a reimaging, when it launched to critical acclaim in 2018. It took a known, but somewhat niche series compared to Sony’s big hitters, and transformed it into something amazing that appealed to both longtime fans and the mass PlayStation audience. In delivering a second game four years — and one console generation — later with God of War Ragnarok, developer Sony Santa Monica Studio has taken a different approach: more of the same. There’s no need ...

It’s hard to find much of anything to complain about when it comes to God of War Ragnarok. The complex characters and storyline provide a plethora of feelings. The developers have breathed so much depth and life into this series that previously focused on combat over narrative substance. There’s still plenty of violent combo-focused action, but the option for exploration and puzzle-solving balances out the mechanics and adds a bit of curve to the otherwise linear storyline.

A beautiful world filled with things to discover, and a fitting close for Kratos' viking adventure that only misses full marks thanks to a light touch opening half that takes a while to hit its stride.

God of War Ragnarok's immaculate attention to detail, provoking narrative, and visceral combat mark it as one of the best PlayStation exclusives.

It's been just over four years since the God of War reboot came out, marking a real turning point in the epic of the Ghost of Sparta. The 2018 game set the stage for Kratos' journey in the Norse lands with a new and, in many ways, unexpected companion, his son Atreus.

God of War Ragnarok is a masterpiece of a sequel and a new crown jewel for Playstation.

Not many would question that God of War (2018) is one of the most successful franchise “reboots” in history, taking a strong action-adventure series and propelling it into a new cinematic experience. It captured the feeling of the best AAA blockbusters with a heart and soul that reframed its violent hero Kratos into a caring, protective (and still violent) father figure when it comes to his son Atreus. It set an incredibly high bar for the future of the series and raised the stakes when i...

Ragnarök chooses iteration over innovation, but continues to operate in a league of its own in terms of its nuanced gameplay and otherworldly technical execution. This is the new posterchild for what the PS5 is capable of, and the passionate product of a development outfit that can seemingly do no wrong.

God of War Ragnarök lives up to expectations by offering a new compelling story with tight action and a gorgeous presentation making it a must play for anyone with a PlayStation.

God of War: Ragnarok is every bit as good as God of War: Ragnarok was 4 years ago. However, God of War: Ragnarok brings to light limitations that the industry seems to have hit in terms of graphical display and mechanics that shouldn’t be something that even exists at all, let alone in one of the biggest games of the year. Playing as a GOD shouldn’t feel underpowered, and playing in 4K on PS% shouldn’t feel like I’m playing on a PS4. God of War: Ragnarok is still a great game, but it should be greater.

The two have tried to figure out a way to prevent Ragnarök and stop the destruction of all the realms except Asgard. Unfortunately, since the two have been stuck in Midgard, they have yet to make much progress. However, it comes to light that Atreus has been sneaking out of the protective barrier and has found an alternate prophecy that predicts an outcome exactly the opposite of what the original states. In it, the realms unite against Aesir during Ragnarök, defeat Odin, and destroy Asgard.

Much like its heroes, God of War: Ragnarök learns to love itself for what it truly is: gargantuan, excessive, and wonderfully absurd.

The truth is, there’s so much more we could say about God of War Ragnarok, but to do so would spoil the experience for you. Ultimately, all you need to know is that this is bigger and better than 2018’s God of War in every single way. Its boss battles are the definition of epic, its world is more rewarding to explore, and its combat has been refined to perfection. Throw in a story that grips you from the outset and has you wondering where it will go from one moment to the next, and you have a game that sticks you to your seat like glue. Sit down to play and minutes turn into hours – it’s so hard to pull yourself away from it. All we have is love for this God of War.

God of War Ragnarok surpasses its predecessor in every way. From its captivating story to its thrilling combat to the endlessly explorable and wonderfully designed Nine Realms of Norse mythology, it's an unequivocal triumph from top to bottom.

I could spend hours upon hours talking about God of War Ragnarok, but at the end of the day, the only thing that should matter to you is if it’s any good — and it is. It’s better than good; it’s a downright masterpiece. I know that word gets thrown around everywhere, and a lot, but I genuinely mean it. The story is beyond anything I would have imagined, and by the time I finished watching every line of credit roll, I couldn’t help but give everyone a standing ovation. Like the first game, God of War Ragnarok will forever be etched in my memory as a timeless experience; a remarkable, unforgettable journey that I’ll keep talking about for the years to come, and probably for the rest of my life.

Ragnarök is a great example of refining what works rather than reinventing the wheel. If you’re after a compelling story, this is by far 2022’s best offering (sorry, Elden Ring). You’ll quickly find yourself engulfed by this world, and thanks to the unique and relatable characters, you’ll be captivated until the very end. With many hours of gameplay to explore catered to both those who want to jump in and out, or those who want to complete all possible tasks, every gamer should give Ragnarök a try. Arriving in the closing months of 2022, it’s hard to argue God of War Ragnarök shouldn’t be a contender for Game of the Year. And when January rolls around, there is a very strong chance that it will earn that title.

Kratos has come a long way since first flinging himself into the Aegean all those years ago. God of War, as a series, has come a long way too, pushing the boundaries of hack and slash action to their goar-soaked limits, then breaking free of a years-long slumber to become one of the biggest names in modern gaming. As our own winter approaches, God of War Ragnarok makes for the perfect adventure to lose yourself in.

God of War Rangarok is a spellbinding tour of the nine realms that doesn't quite manage to justify its dalliances.

God of War Ragnarok follows a tough act, with 2018’s reboot achieving critical acclaim and securing many high scores. It was a unanimous success, despite the risks taken by Santa Monica Studio in transporting the beloved PlayStation anti-hero Kratos to a new mythos and replacing his mighty Blades of Chaos with… a naive child. Fast forward four years later and we have Ragnarok, arguably the most hyped PS5 release of the year, with a name that promises an epic culmination of gods versus fate in an apocalyptic battle. In a series where the central message is “be better,” can this sequel follow its own advice and deliver a worthy successor?

At one point or another, Santa Monica Studio was thinking about spreading Kratos' new saga across three games — a trilogy that would mirror the original adventures of the vengeful god. This is worth bringing up because God of War Ragnarok feels like it could have been split in half and sold as two separate pieces. It absolutely dwarfs 2018's God of War in every possible way, and we dare say that other developers, and indeed publishers, may have pushed for that aforementioned trilogy given the sheer scale of this project.

God of War Ragnarok is the epitome of cinematic gaming experiences. It's an unforgettable, magical adventure teeming with treasures to find, legendary opponents to slay and relationships to forge along the way, all built upon a near-perfect core gameplay loop that sinks its Chaos Blades into you and refuses to let go. The latest step in Kratos and Atreus' father-son dynamic is just as touching as the one before it was in its predecessor, and the slight amendments to the gameplay make this the sequel the 2018 reboot of the series deserved. Ragnarok is both the PS4's final swansong, and the best of what the PS5 has to offer, and right now, one of, if not the best cinematic gaming experience you can buy.

God of War Ragnarok follows up 2018's excellent installment in the franchise, putting players back in the shoes of Kratos. Big shoes to fill again, so does Ragnarok deliver a thrilling conclusion to the duology? Read on in our review.

Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting go.

God of War Ragnarok is a fantastic showcase of what this series has to offer, and a sterling example of how it still has life left in it. While not everything lands with the sequel from a story perspective, the core of the original is preserved, with some new twists and turns still to go. I’m fully on board with whatever Sony Santa Monica comes up with next.

God of War Ragnarok is a once-in-a-generation game. It doesn't just live up to its high expectations, but it subverts them and expands beyond them all the same. There is nothing quite like it on PS4 or on the PS5 yet, and it would be hard for anything to live up to the same heights. God of War Ragnarok may not make full use of the PS5's features, as there is nothing necessarily groundbreaking that couldn't be experienced on a PS4, but it's absolute proof that vision, artistry, and creative direction far outweigh hardware.

Santa Monica Studio has captured lightning in a bottle for a second time. God of War Ragnarok left me speechless; it’s such a beautiful game both visually and narratively. The team has somehow managed to take what made the original such a wonder and expand upon it, delivering to players a masterpiece, an experience that sits atop the God of War pantheon.

Kratos is back in his biggest game yet so get ready for one epic adventure that's full of action and puzzles; it's God of War Ragnarok.

To call the 2018 God of War a sequel almost does it a disservice. Yes, it was a continuation of Kratos’ original multi-game journey, but it placed him and a new family in a foreign world to reflect on his past and try to secure his future. Kratos’ journey to connect to his son while battling a new legion of distrustful gods was a revelation in both video game storytelling and action, setting a high bar for the inevitable sequel. Ragnarök may lack the unique impact of the prior game, but everything that worked so well the first time comes forward, along with a story that earns the proper definition of the term epic.   Ragnarök basically picks up exactly where the previous left off in terms of narrative. Atreus is a little older and has shed the ‘boy’ nickname entirely. In a tradition established early in the God of War series, the opening hours are stellar. The action kicks off immediately, setting up new foes and old friends, but among all the explosive set pieces are quiet moments of engrossing performance showcase. Newcomer Odin and returning scorned mother Freya’s characterizations are particularly fantastic, but even the weakest performance in Ragnarök makes the typical video game performance pale in comparison.

When a title gets a grand number, it’s a video-game worth spending your whole life in.