For Kratos’ latest journey in God of War (2018), the development team at SIE Santa Monica opted to leave behind Grecian mythology and shift focus to Norse legends. Once forced to square off against gods like Zeus, Ares, Poseidon, Hades, and Perses, Kratos will now engage in fisticuffs with the gods of the North Germanic people. Santa Monica has been slowly releasing details about the game in anticipation of its April 20 release date, but one detail it has been fairly tight-lipped about is the full cast of characters from the Nordic pantheon. While Odin and Thor will undoubtedly play a significant role, there is still plenty of room to fill with larger-than-life deities
We know from the 2016 E3 reveal that, at some point, Kratos and his son Atreus happen upon Jormungandr. According to legends, Jormungandr is a giant sea serpent that is directly connected to the start of Ragnarok, a large-scale battle that results in the deaths of gods like Odin, Thor, and Loki. Jormungandr, however, isn’t a god, though his presence is imposing.
When it comes to the deities that may get in Kratos’ way and fuel his adventure, God of War’s leaked trophy list, which hit the internet the day before the review embargo ended, is a bit forthcoming. According to the list, Thor’s sons, Magni, the god of strength, and Modi, the god of battle, are confirmed as bosses that Kratos will have to defeat. There is also a trophy earned for killing Baldur, the Norse god of light.
God of War has been known for taking Kratos across multiple landscapes, and if the “Trilingual” trophy awarded for “learning the languages of Muspelheim and Niflheim” is a sign of anything, the former God of War may cross paths with Hel, goddess daughter of Loki. While the former fiery world is home to Surtr, the giant said to be responsible for engulfing Earth in flames after Ragnarok, Niflheim, a dark world coated in ice, is overseen by Hel, ruler of the identically-named Nordic land of the dead. Kratos has had run-ins with the Grecian god of the underworld, Hades, so it’s not far-fetched to assume he’ll find himself in Hel’s company.
Other possible appearances include Vidar, son of Odin and god of vengeance; Heimadall, an Aesir god and guardian of Asgard; and Njord, god of the sea. Though fan theories based on the debut trailer summarized that Kratos was on his journey to becoming Odin, the Norse god of war, and that Atreus would be Thor, the leaked list includes a trophy for killing “All of Odin’s Ravens,” indicating that Odin is a separate antagonistic character.
God of War releases on April 20 exclusively for the PS4.
