Considering the Norse pantheon includes larger-than-life beings such as Thor and beasts like Fenrir, it can be easy to overlook who actually pulls the strings. Throughout every incarnation of the old European religion, Odin is the undisputed head of Asgard. It’s no surprise then that Santa Monica Studio’s God of War Ragnarok looks set to feature the "All-Father" prominently on PS4 and PS5.
Odin’s upcoming confrontation with Kratos is far from the only time the god has taken up a prominent role in a video game, however. Even though Ubisoft’s Assassin's Creed franchise is predominantly focused on historical events, the publisher hasn’t been afraid to dive into the realms of sci-fi or religion. That philosophy has opened the door for Odin to appear in the most recent mainline entry, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. What’s streaking about this depiction is how similar, yet unique, it is in comparison to God of War Ragnarok’s version.
God of War’s Odin
It should be noted that Santa Monica Studio hasn’t officially pulled back the curtain on its version of Odin. Instead, alleged concept art for the character has leaked online. Although the leader of Asgard has been confirmed to appear in Ragnarok, players should still take the leak with a grain of salt. Beyond the fact that things could still change before the game’s November 9 release on PS4 and PS5, there’s no guarantee the art is real or that it reflects a finalized version of the god.
If the image is shown to be accurate, it would reveal some telling details about Santa Monica Studio’s depiction of the character. From a physical perspective, it appears as though the studio has decided to lean heavily into Odin’s status as Asgard’s elder statesman. Unlike recent incarnations of the character, such as Anthony Hopkins’ take in the MCU, God of War Ragnarok’s Odin appears to be frail and more bedraggled. Those design decisions make sense considering how the character is set to deal with the Norse apocalypse.
Thanks to God of War’s soft-reboot in 2018, more concrete details about Santa Monica Studio’s Odin have been revealed. Even though the character has only ever been referenced by others, players have a good idea of what his personality is like. Based on his desire to track down Atreus, it seems as though paranoia and a desire to maintain control at all costs are central tenets of his being. Aspects of Odin’s past, such as the genocide of the giants and countless torturous outbursts, also paint the picture of a dictatorial despot who maintains order through force and fear.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s Odin
Compared to God of War Ragnarok, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla’s incarnation of the All-Father has already been explored in extensive detail. During 2020’s installment of the Ubisoft franchise, he takes up a prominent role from the very beginning, appearing first to Eivor in their post-assassination visions to offer insight and guidance. In terms of visual appearance, this vision of the character lines up closer to the traditional interpretation of Odin. He’s clearly old, yet still manages to command an imposing presence in all of his scenes.
Like most of Ubisoft’s depictions of mythological entities, it’s eventually revealed that Valhalla’s Odin isn’t all that he appears to be. Through data entries and gameplay sections set in the past, it becomes clear that Odin was once a member of the Isu: the ancient technologically-advanced species that controlled the Earth before the human race was created. While large chunks of his backstory still mirror the basic tales of mythology, and subsequently his journey within the God of War series, there’s an obvious sci-fi twist on everything.
Establishing Odin’s past through this sci-fi lens, rather than the magic of mythology, makes Valhalla’s version of the character truly unique on a fundamental level. The mythologically accurate version that Eivor interacts with in their visions is merely how they are able to perceive him from a medieval perspective. Instead of being a god or leader, in reality he’s a slightly younger person from an advanced species. Despite being similar in execution, most of his abilities come from technological sources, rather than God of War Ragnarok’s primordial magic powers.
That doesn't mean that Valhalla’s version of Odin is completely detached from Ragnarok’s. Personality-wise, both share a lot of negative character traits. Beyond being manipulative and paranoid to their cores, each is shown to be power hungry and born survivalists, often weaponizing their intelligence for selfish and morally questionable ends. Although God of War's Odin hasn't been shown in action yet, it's safe to assume based on his use of lightning that he will wield Gungnir in Ragnarok; the same spear seen in Ubisoft's game.
Odin’s Two Fates
Unlike Ragnarok’s Odin, who looks set to perish during the impending apocalypse, it’s worth pointing out that Ubisoft’s version of the character was able to escape his predestined fate. Having received advanced warning of the Great Catastrophe like the rest of the Isu, Valhalla’s Odin was able to eventually enact a plan to save himself. Becoming part of the Sage Program, he and several other members of his species were able to unlock the power of reincarnation.
Although it’s often hit-and-miss as to how much they remember of their Isu lives, Sages like Odin have popped-up throughout the series to create chaos. In a surprising twist toward the end of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, it’s revealed that Eivor is a Sage, and the reincarnated version of Odin. Each of the Isu’s visions were attempts to manipulate his dominant and unaware Viking alter-ego.
The revelation that Odin and Eivor are technically the same being means that throughout Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and its DLC expansions, Odin is actually a playable character. Although it’s possible that fans will get their hands on Thor’s Mjolnir in God of War: Ragnarok, it’s safe to assume that a playable Odin will be off the table. Based on their similarities and differences, fans can look forward to another intriguing interpretation of the character regardless.
God of War: Ragnarok launches November 9 for PS4 and PS5.