There are dozens of beloved PlayStation IPs, but very few have achieved the critical, commercial, and cultural success of God of War. In 2005, Santa Monica introduced the world to Kratos, an angry Spartan who seeks vengeance against the Greek gods, a journey that involves a lot of bloodshed. The best God of War games from the original run are among the greatest action releases of all time, and then the series managed to reinvent itself in 2018, entering a new era that will hopefully extend into the future.
Due to its two eras being so different, ranking the GOW games will be impacted greatly by which type of game somebody prefers. Personally, I have a huge soft spot for the PS2 and PS3 titles, and I would love another entry in that style. However, 2018’s God of War and Ragnarok are also masterpieces in their own right, and Sons of Sparta is a very solid spin-off. Let’s chronicle the entirety of Kratos’ story so far by ranking all the games in the God of War series.
Updated on May 10, 2026, by Mark Sammut: This article has been updated with new images, a new intro, and a rewritten section for Ascension.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
11
God of War: A Call From The Wilds
A Fascinating Prologue To 2018’s God Of War
Before God of War‘s big 2018 return, Sony released God of War: A Call from the Wilds on Facebook, providing fans with some insight into Atreus’ backstory and relationships with both of his parents. While mainly consisting of text and a handful of images, A Call from the Wilds showcases the reboot/revival’s strong writing and shift toward introspection.
Should You Play God of War: A Call From The Wilds In 2026?
You cannot play/watch God of War: A Call From The Wilds from its source anymore; however, Sony uploaded the video to YouTube. While containing nothing that cannot be inferred from 2018’s God of War, A Call From The Wilds is a decent introduction to Atreus. Also, it is really short.
10
God Of War: Betrayal
Respectable Mobile Game
Out of all the God of War games, Betrayal is the one that even die-hard fans might have forgotten about. Released to mobile devices shortly after God of War 2‘s debut, Betrayal takes place between the first and second entries, and it does a respectable job of expanding upon Kratos’ story.
A 2D side-scroller, Betrayal impressively adapts God of War‘s style of gameplay for a mobile setting. While naturally simplified, Betrayal has all the violent action and puzzles any fan could want. This spin-off is certainly far from the best God of War game, but it was pretty decent when compared to other Java ME projects released in the mid-2000s. That said, players who skipped this release were not missing much.
For a mobile game released in 2007, Betrayal was likely to meet expectations when it debuted, even if it has not aged particularly well. Still, the combat was surprisingly vicious and gory, and there was some depth to the combo system.
Should You Play God Of War: Betrayal In 2026?
You cannot legally purchase God of War: Betrayal anymore, and I doubt too many people have a mid-2000s mobile sitting around. That said, there are ways to gain access to this game, although that’s all I’ll be saying about that.
If you somehow find a way to play Betrayal, is it actually worth it? Well, the answer is obviously no. Don’t get me wrong, this game was one of the better JSME games of its era and would have been a nice treat on those devices. However, in 2026, there is absolutely no reason to play this title unless you really want to 100% experience everything God of War has to offer. Even then, I’d recommend tracking down the God of War DC Comics before Betrayal.
9
God Of War: Ascension
A Mostly Underwhelming Attempt To Shake Up The Classic Formula
When this prequel came out in 2013, God of War: Ascension could have acted as a swan song for the PS3, a role that would actually be filled by The Last of Us. Although far from terrible, this entry was the first to really suffer from franchise fatigue, as it was the sixth God of War game in about 8 years. Sure, they had all been pretty good, but the formula hadn’t evolved too much over the decade. To Santa Monica’s credit, the developer tried to freshen things up; unfortunately, the change kind of broke God of War‘s classic formula and lessened what made it fun.
One of the most infamous changes was the introduction of a Rage meter that needed to be filled to gain access to Kratos’s most satisfying moves, a decision that caused combat to become incredibly repetitive as players just didn’t have access to enough options throughout most of the campaign. Ascension tries to make up for this system by allowing Kratos to pick up weapons from enemies, but they are considerably weaker than the Blades of Chaos and, consequently, not that fun to use. The blades have access to elemental powers, which are mostly decent.
God of War Setting Wish List
The God of War games reference several yet-unseen myths, which opens up the series to several interesting paths forward.
The decision to make enemies harder to stagger also backfired, as it made fights more difficult and, more importantly, longer. Ascension‘s flaws are never more apparent than in the Trials of Archimedes, a section that happens near the end of the campaign. Set in a tiny space and featuring three waves of enemies that are relentless, this section is one of the few times that God of War has ever felt unfair. Along with being mostly unnecessary, the prequel suffered from having the Furies as the main villains, who do not come close to matching the likes of Ares or Zeus.
So, does Ascension not have any positives? Well, it is still God of War. Visually, the game is one of the most impressive on the PS3, and it still looks jaw-dropping. There are more puzzles throughout the campaign, and they are consistently solid. Ascension has a multiplayer mode, the only entry in the series to feature one, and it is still active today. Finally, the intro section is incredible.
Should You Play God Of War: Ascension In 2026?
If you opted to follow God of War‘s chronological timeline, Ascension would be the first game you would play. For complete newcomers, I definitely would not recommend doing this, as this entry is not a particularly great entry point from a gameplay perspective. That said, I would still recommend Ascension, but play it after God of War 3 and only if you do not feel burned out.
8
God Of War: Chains Of Olympus
A Well-Done, If Unspectacular Portable God Of War Game
This prequel proved the franchise can work on a handheld system. God of War: Chains of Olympus delivers all the polish and spectacle of a console GoW entry on the PSP, and it feels just as good as ever to slice enemies to ribbons.
Unfortunately, the reduced format means the game gets a bit too caught up in block-pushing puzzle-solving instead of combat. The story also feels incidental to Kratos and the overarching narrative until the last act. Chains of Olympus is also the shortest console entry in the series, and it does not offer a lot of replay value. Consequently, someone could easily blow through the campaign in an afternoon and find they have nothing left to do outside of repeating the same levels over and over again. That type of experience can work for action games that reward players for mastering their combo-heavy combat systems, but Chains of Olympus does not offer anything like that.
Nevertheless, Chains of Olympus is a solid portable entry whose biggest weakness is that the other games in the franchise are better. Chains of Olympus was packaged with Ghost of Sparta as part of the PS3’s God of War Origins Collection, and together they deliver an experience roughly equivalent to one of the mainline entries.
Should You Play God Of War: Chains Of Olympus In 2026?
To be honest, Chains of Olympus is the most forgettable main(ish) GoW game, and portability was its biggest selling point. Although way shorter than a home console entry, Chains of Olympus was still 100% a God of War game, and that was incredible on the PSP. Nowadays, I imagine most people will play the PSP entries on a TV, which diminishes their value considerably.
Still, Chains of Olympus is short and aggressively OK. It is rarely anything more than just fine (by GoW standards), but that is enough.
7
God of War: Sons of Sparta
An Enjoyable GOW Spin-Off That Takes A Look At Kratos’ Spartan Years
Sony’s State of Play event for February 2026 had quite a few thrilling surprises, but arguably the biggest “oh, hell yeah” moment was the announcement that God of War: Sons of Sparta has been released and is now available to play. Rumors of a 2.5D spin-off aside, this game was shadow-dropped out of nowhere, a practice that is always exciting and needs to happen way more frequently.
This method also made perfect sense for this game, as a standard announcement with a future release date might not have spawned all that much excitement, especially since the trailer was fine but nothing too amazing. Beyond that, 2D Metroidvanias have been in abundance for a long time, and the genre is responsible for a few of the greatest indie games of all time. There is a small part of me that wonders whether Sons of Sparta would have gotten any attention if it were not tied to the God of War name.
Just to be clear, this is a pretty good action-platformer that does a respectable job of grounding itself in the God of War universe, with the simplified combat hearkening back to Kratos’ hack and slash routes. Set even before Ascension, Sons of Sparta depicts Kratos before his rise to god status and rebellion against Olympus. He is human; he is Spartan. We get to experience his life before the tragedy that would eventually doom the world, and the story touches upon his relationship with Deimos, his sibling. For any die-hard GOW fan, this element should be pretty interesting, even if the actual plot that leads them to leave Sparta is nothing too special.
God of War Sons of Sparta – Official Exploration Tips Trailer
God of War: Sons of Sparta’s development team hands out some helpful hints for getting around in the new action platformer game.
Narrative aside, God of War lives and dies on the quality of its combat and puzzles, both of which are decent in Sons of Sparta, but they are somewhat limited by the 2D setting. Gameplay-wise, I’d say this game is closest to Blasphemous, although I don’t think it reaches the high standards of the latter. For one, Sons of Sparta is a bit too easy, and I suggest playing it on Spartan if you want anything resembling a challenge. Quite a few of the moves could use a bit more bite as well, and the game is surprisingly lacking in gore considering Kratos’ extensive history of bathing in blood. The puzzles are a bit better than the combat, and they fit the franchise well. Still, Sons of Sparta can be really fun, and the change in art style and gameplay makes for a refreshing change of pace, even if these types of projects are relatively common outside the God of War bubble.
Sons of Sparta‘s art style is, well, an acquired taste, and the visuals do not really compare to the prettiest indie Metroidvanias of the last few years, let alone the AAA ones like Metroid Dread.
Should You Play God Of War: Sons of Sparta In 2026?
Yes, definitely, although expectations need to be tempered. Sons of Sparta is primarily for die-hard God of War fans who are looking for a neat spin-off that can tide them over until the next major release, be it the God of War Trilogy Remakes or the next mainline entry. It is worth playing, as long as you are generally a fan of the 2D action Metroidvanias.
6
God Of War (2005)
An Impressive Start With A Great Story & Fun Combat, Along With Some Pacing Issues
It’s always special to reflect on the original entry in a franchise. This 2005 hit laid the foundation for the rest of the God of War series, and what a solid foundation it is! The hack-and-slash gameplay is a blast from the get-go, combining fast-paced strategy and raw, satisfying power. God of War‘s intuitive controls lend themselves beautifully to the devastating combos, and players feel a real sense of progression as they unlock more through the simple yet effective upgrade system.
8 Most Fun Hack And Slash Games, Ranked
These hack and slash games are a delight to play thanks to their combat mechanics that emphasize fun.
On top of that, the narrative introduces Kratos with surprising care, steadily doling out development throughout the journey and getting the player just as invested in his quest for vengeance by the end. What ultimately hinders God of War‘s replay value is its long stretches of awkward platforming and repetitive puzzles. After experiencing its sequels, the original game’s flaws became a bit harder to ignore, even if its positives continue to shine through to this very day. Even with these issues, though, God of War remains one of the strongest debuts in gaming.
God of War HD is on PS Plus Premium.
Should You Play God Of War In 2026?
Yes, you should play the original God of War, even if it has not aged anywhere near as smoothly as its successor. If you are completely new to the series, you should start with this entry; however, if you find yourself losing interest, I would recommend skipping to God of War 2. The sequel is far superior in every way except the story.
5
God Of War: Ghost Of Sparta
A Powerful Story & Just An All-Around Great Entry
For this second PSP outing, developer Ready at Dawn took everything it learned the first time around and crafted a more confident entry, one that shows a few new layers to Kratos. That’s admirable for this late in the series, and it informs much of the game. Ghost of Sparta relies less on scale and more on creativity. Not only does it plow lesser-known legends, but it weaves these into some truly inspired visuals and set pieces, many of which directly reflect Kratos’s struggle. This makes the gameplay and presentation even more impressive than Chains of Olympus.
Although the set pieces themselves aren’t quite as memorable, the game’s moment-to-moment thrills, personal story, and continued dive (Atlantis pun) in Greek myth are plenty strong enough, pushing Sony’s portable system to its limit. Ghost of Sparta was one of the main reasons to own a PSP, and the game looks pretty good when experienced on the PS3. Do not discount this entry just because it is a spin-off – Ghost of Sparta is among the best God of War games.
Should You Play God Of War: Ghost Of Sparta In 2026?
Chains of Olympus is only worth playing if you want more God of War, especially since there are very few games that utilize this combat system. In comparison, Ghost of Sparta is a must-play that has more to offer than just “portable GoW.” In some ways (story), it is better than the PS3 entries. Similar to Chains of Olympus, the campaign is short and can be completed over a weekend.
You should play everything from this point on.
4
God Of War: Ragnarok
Intense Action, Varied Locations, Plenty Of Companions, And Consistently Engaging Story
God of War Ragnarok
10/10
- Released
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November 9, 2022
- Improved Combat (From 2018’s God of War)
- More Exploration
- Satisfying Conclusion To Norse Arc
With 2018’s God of War, Santa Monica confidently launched a new era in Kratos’ story, one that set high expectations for the foreshadowed sequel. Except for perhaps Elden Ring, Ragnarok was probably the biggest game of 2022, and the game is more than capable of carrying the weight burdened by this attention. On the surface, the sequel does not deviate too far from its predecessor, offering hefty combat alongside smart character work. However, Ragnarok is not happy to merely retread past glories and smartly picks which areas to evolve and expand.
God Of War Ragnarok: The Best Blades Of Chaos Attachments, Ranked
Kratos may resent the Blades of Chaos in God of War Ragnarok, but they are a cool and fiery weapon that can be improved with the best attachments.
In terms of storytelling, Ragnarok is an ambitious and cinematic conclusion to the franchise’s Norse mythology era. As told in the tales of old, Ragnarok refers to a cataclysmic series of events that brings devastating destruction to the world of humans, along with the demise of key Norse figures such as Odin and Thor. Santa Monica uses this myth to craft an explorative romp that directs Kratos and Atreus to the Nine Realms.
Ragnarok emphasizes exploration quite a bit as well, providing quite a few open areas that each contain loot and optional content. While pretty short for the most part, side quests are great for lore and world-building, and they usually emphasize a companion’s history (Freya, for example). Speaking of companions, Ragnarok juggles quite a few secondary characters who join Kratos and Atreus on their (respective) journeys, including one or two surprises that will not be spoiled here. The sequel improves upon its predecessor’s combat significantly, offering far more variety and customization options.
Telling a gripping story about grief, anger, and regret, Ragnarok is a character-driven epic that balances quieter personal moments and large-scale set pieces. If there is one major criticism that can be thrown at Ragnarok, it would have to be the story’s final act. Considering Ragnarok is built up to be such a cataclysmic deal, the actual event is surprisingly underwhelming and lasts for just about two hours. The ending feels rushed, particularly Kratos’ final battles with Thor and Odin.
Also, Atreus’ sections can be polarizing, particularly one overly long excursion to Ironwood that, while introducing some important plot threads and lore details, brings the campaign to a screeching halt. Due to focusing on ranged combat, Atreus plays very differently from Kratos, which is both a positive and a negative. While he should not have been a copy of his father, Atreus is just not as fun to use as Kratos.
The PC version of God of War Ragnarok launched on September 19, 2024, introducing arguably the most expansive entry in the franchise to a whole new audience. Admittedly, the fact that none of the pre-2018 games are available on PC is a detriment since PC-only players cannot directly experience Kratos’ formative years, losing some context that influences the protagonist’s behavior and mentality in the latest offerings. Still, God of War and Ragnarok are worth playing in isolation, although newcomers should start with the former before picking up the latter.
Valhalla
Ragnarok presents a strong case for being one of the best God of War games on its own, but the “Valhalla” DLC brings things up a few notches. Santa Monica’s franchise is not exactly known for dropping post-release content, so Valhalla came as something of a surprise; furthermore, the release is free and adds potentially hours upon hours of gameplay. This release is so good that the mode could have probably been expanded into a spin-off game, and it would not have seemed like a cash grab.
Why God of War Ragnarok’s Sequel Being a Kratos-Led Game Isn’t Off the Table
Atreus has been assumed to inherit the lead role in God of War, but there’s still a chance for Kratos to remain at center stage.
Kratos is summoned to Valhalla, a place that forces the warrior to reminisce over his long and blood-soaked history. Reduced to his essential weapons, Kratos must work his way through Valhalla’s halls, battling enemies from the past along the way. En route, he finds resources and upgrades that grant him a boost, although they are lost if the protagonist falls in battle. This DLC follows the structure of a roguelite, a concept that emphasizes Ragnarok‘s combat while still incorporating narrative depth.
3
God Of War 3
A Relentless Blockbuster And The End Of Kratos’ Original Story
Putting aside something like Ascension, God of War 3 is arguably the most divisive but still beloved entry in the franchise. In terms of pure excess, the 2010 release represents Santa Monica’s series at its absolute peak, especially when it comes to the classic pre-genre shift era. As the culmination of the Ancient Greece arc, God of War 3 revels in glorious over-the-top mayhem, pushing Kratos to effectively dismantle an entire pantheon in pursuit of revenge. Sure, he comes into this chapter with the blood of gods already on his hands, but the Spartan baths in their remains throughout this massacre.
Focusing solely on gameplay, God of War 3 is arguably unmatched. The combat is fast-paced, fine-tuned, and relentless. While satisfying on the easiest levels, the system shines when played on the tougher difficulties, showcasing that there is more depth here than just a mindless hack and slash. The visuals are fantastic and grandiose, with Kratos’ battle with Cronos being the definition of epic. The campaign builds beautifully up to the final fight with Zeus, which serves as a fitting climax for the original trilogy.
As great as God of War 3 is, the story does not quite have the nuance of its predecessors. At this point, Kratos is completely and utterly fueled by revenge, which can make him come across as one-dimensional. His characterization slightly undermines the Greek Tragedy aspect that was part of the first two God of War games, resulting in arguably a shallower experience. Honestly, after this entry, Kratos needed a substantial reboot as he had nowhere left to go.
God of War 3 Remastered is the version to play nowadays, but it is too similar to the original release to warrant a separate entry.
2
God Of War (2018)
Starting A New Era On A High Note
This is exactly the radical reinvention the series needed in 2018. The PS4’s God of War is a more methodical adventure guided mostly by character. An older Kratos coming to terms with his past and trying to build a better future for his son makes for an exceedingly compelling relationship, and the pair’s attempts to find common ground are some of the most poignant moments in the series.
Upcoming Games Like God Of War
These upcoming action-packed games will satisfy God of War fans with their brutal combat, gripping stories, and fantastical settings.
The gameplay reflects that intimate perspective, as it’s much slower, more focused on strategy, and the camera is much closer to the action. While it’s a bit clunkier than previous entries, the battle system still nails the brutality and flavor of God of War. Of course, it helps that the game mines just as much intriguing lore from Norse legends as the previous ones did with Greek mythology. All of this helped revitalize the franchise, leaving fans excited about the next entry, Ragnarok.
God of War also marked a significant first for the franchise as it was ported to a non-PlayStation ecosystem (that was not mobile). In January 2022, God of War made its way to PC, following in the footsteps of Days Gone and Horizon Zero Dawn. It is a decent port that opens up the franchise to an audience that might have never directly experienced Kratos’ story.
