God of War Ragnarok launched on November 9th to feverish excitement and universal aplomb – and now that the dust has settled, its players look forward to the future of the franchise, with many hoping to see a Mesoamerican setting next. For a game to meet its expectations is a rare thing in today's world of video games, but God of War Ragnarok has transcended its own hype by delivering a stunningly crafted sequel to 2018's God of War.
Though Ragnarök masterfully concludes the Norse mythology saga established in the preceding game, and arguably concludes the story of Kratos himself, it unquestionably leaves the door open for further projects in the franchise – most likely featuring Atreus as the next God of War protagonist, a role that he has been groomed toward since 2018. Without delving too much into the major spoilers of Ragnarok's ending, the developers at Santa Monica Studios establish a new, overarching plot that promises to blow open the captivating setting of the God of War games.
With the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, ancient Mayan and Aztec culture has trickled its way into the public's consciousness. The popularity of Namor and the underwater kingdom of Talocan has many God of War players suddenly clamoring for a sequel set in the Mesoamerican world. This sequel would hypothetically have Atreus explore a deeply intriguing mythology which had rarely been given the love and attention it deserves, and its potential still remains vastly untapped.
The subject was broached by Comfortable-Science4 on the official subreddit of the God of War games, and was met with a lot of support from the community overall. While it would be enjoyable to have Atreus go up against the feathered serpents of Central America, the game seems to imply a different direction for the God of War franchise that may cast an even wider net. To put it bluntly: it is very likely that the next game will explore more than one mythology, covering all the places referenced in Tyr's Temple and taking Atreus (or whoever the protagonist ends up being) to the Land of the Pharaohs, the Land of the Sun, and the New World.
With the confirmation of Mimir's true identity in God of War Ragnarok, some players also speculate that a possible pivot from the Scandinavian setting might be Celtic mythology, though it would seem that most players would prefer Japan, Egypt, and Mesoamerica instead. Though it is too early to tell where Santa Monica may take the franchise, Ragnarok has ensured that the God of War franchise will stick around for many years to come.
God of War Ragnarok is available now for PS4 and PS5.