2018's God of War was a breathtaking adventure, that was huge in both size and scope. The PlayStation exclusive introduced gamers to an intriguing version of Norse mythology, in which the protagonist Kratos and his son Atreus set out on a journey that would change their lives. The duo's quest took them all across the Nine Realms, and, using a powerful key called the Bifrost, they were able to frequently jump between most of these realms as they needed to. God of War Ragnarok is looming ever closer, and fans are hoping that the highly anticipated sequel will grant them access to the parts of the Nine Realms that were not accessible in the first game.
Details of Ragnarok have slowly been released, including a map of the Nine Realms, and confirmation that this adventure will span all of them, including the three that didn't feature in God of War. These three missing realms are Asgard, home of the Aesir and the great hall of Valhalla, Vanaheim, the home of the Vanir and a land of lush gardens and fields, and Svartalfheim, home of the dwarves. Each of these three new locations should offer players a new perspective on Kratos' world.
The Realm of Asgard
Asgard is the home of the Aesir, one of the two tribes of Norse gods that exist within this universe. The Aesir's king, the mighty Odin, resides here along with the infamous Thor, the God of Thunder. Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will likely be familiar with Asgard, as it is a location that has frequently featured in several of Marvel's Thor movies. This version of Asgard will likely be very different though.
As one of the realms of the gods, Asgard was also the battleground for a mighty war between the Aesir and the Vanir, and it's likely that several remnants of that war will still be on full display when Kratos and Atreus finally visit. It is foretold that when Ragnarok arrives, it is Asgard's destiny to burn at the hands of the mighty fire giant, Surtr the Brave, before the world is born anew. Since Kratos is at loggerheads with Thor and Odin during the events of Ragnarok, Asgard will likely be the setting for some epic battles set to take place.
Vanaheim Realm
The second of the realms yet to be visited is Vanaheim. Home of the Vanir, the second of the two tribes of Norse gods, Vanaheim is said to be a beautiful place, rich in greenery, with gardens and fields as far as the eye can see. Vanaheim was also ravaged during the war between the Vanir and the Aesir. What the realm has in store for Kratos and Atreus, though, is not yet known.
The marriage of the Vanir leader Freya to Odin, King of the Aesir, brought about peace to the land as well as the other realms. When this marriage broke down, however, Odin cut off the path to Vanaheim, and it is only through a magical window in Freya's house that players managed to get a glimpse of the beautiful realm so far. However, it is likely they will see far more of it in the sequel.
Svartalfheim Realm
The third and final realm that was not accessible was Svartalfheim, home of the dwarves. Odin sealed the entrance to this realm, in order to halt any sign of an alliance between the dwarves and the Vanir. Footage of Ragnarok has given gamers a good look at this realm, and on the surface, it appears to be similar to Midgard. It looks to be heavily populated by dwarves and their various machinery, with a diverse landscape of mountains and islands. The strong dwarven steel, known simply as 'Svartalfheim steel' is located in various rare chests scattered across the nine realms, and offers another indication of the highly revered dwarven craftsmanship. Atreus and Kratos will be able to find both allies and enemies while venturing through this realm.
With the six other realms all confirmed to feature once again, Kratos and Atreus are set to embark on an even bigger adventure than last time in God of War Ragnarok. When it releases in November, gamers will be able to form a complete, detailed view of the Nine Realms, which is an exciting prospect not just for fans of God of War, but also those with a keen interest in Norse mythology.
God of War Ragnarok releases November 9 on PS4 and PS5.