One of the most gratifying and unexpected twists inGod of War Ragnarokis the shift to Atreus' perspective. As its title indicates,God of Warhas never been a series about multiple playable protagonists—Kratos has always taken center stage. With Atreus taking over a portion ofRagnarok’s interactive content, and with him seemingly departing on his own adventure at the end of the game, the stage is set for him to lead a solo story.
It should be noted that such an Atreus-centric sequel toGod of War Ragnarokhasn’t been confirmed or denied by Santa Monica Studios or PlayStation, but it seems like a likely next step for the series.Ragnarokand itsValhallaDLC strongly hint at Kratos becoming more pacifistic and moving into a leadership role rather than being on the front lines of war, and the man is certainly getting on in years by the time the story concludes. It’s not that Kratos is likely to be wholly absent from futureGod of Wargames—that would certainly be surprising—but only that Atreus, being young and coming of age, has more potential for expansive storytelling.
A"half-sequel" toGod of War Ragnarokhas long been rumored, and this could be the ideal venue for an Atreus-only story. This would mirror whatMarvel’s Spider-Mandid with 2020’sMiles Moralesgame.
Atreus' Gameplay Framework Was Already Unveiled in God of War Ragnarok
Players already have a sense of what Atreus could play like due to his position as deuteragonist inGod of War Ragnarok. This is actually something that has caused a small bit of concern among fans who have guessed thatthe nextGod of Wargame will star Atreus, as his combat capabilities are remarkably similar to Kratos'. Yes, Atreus is better suited to ranged combat, is quicker, and has some unique powers like the ability to shapeshift, but these don’t impact the moment-to-moment gameplay enough to make him feel remarkably distinct.
All that aside, he does feel at least somewhat different from Kratos, and his gameplay sections inRagnarokare often a nice change of pace. But this means that, if he is truly going to be the main star of his own adventure, the gameplay switch-up from Kratos' games won’t feel nearly as exciting as it would have otherwise. There’s also less room for growth, asGod of War Ragnarokalready featured a progression path for Atreusvia its RPG-lite systems.
Atreus Gameplay Can Still Stun Audiences in Future God of War Games
Playing as Atreus in his theorized solo adventure might not be that impactful or novel due toRagnarok’s gameplay choices, but it could still be refreshing and exciting in different ways. Players already have a general sense of whatAtreus' strengths and weaknesses are as a fighter, so perhaps his solo game could play on these expectations: Atreus could be put in situations where his typical bow-and-arrow strategies aren’t effective for whatever reason, forcing him to adapt and master new weapons or spells that recontextualize the combat sandbox.
In this way, Atreus' solo adventure could have gameplay that reflects its unique narrative.Atreus may be getting in over his headon this journey, as he is without his father, the majority of his allies, and the familiarity of his homeland. Making players feel equally discombobulated and vulnerable could elevate this game’s story, as they would have to learn new skills and experience discomfort alongside the protagonist. There may never again be that “wow” moment of playing as Atreus for the first time, but Santa Monica could leverage the gameplay foundation set inRagnarokto achieve something even greater.
God of War Ragnarok
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Embark on an epic and heartfelt journey as Kratos and Atreus struggle with holding on and letting goFrom Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018). Fimbulwinter is well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world. Along the way they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. The threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer. Kratos and Atreus must choose between their own safety and the safety of the realms.
