Originally, many fans thought God of War Ragnarok would be part two of a trilogy. Well before its name was released, before it was teased, and so on, it just seemed right to capture the Norse mythology this way. However, now that Santa Monica has confirmed that God of War Ragnarok is the end of the Norse story, mainly because of how long these games take to develop, it recontextualizes things.
It’s clear in the new God of War Ragnarok trailer that Kratos and Atreus are trying to stop the prophecy and save the Norse folk from Ragnarok. Atreus talks about war with Asgard, Kratos rallies against it, they seek out Tyr, and Thor/Freya hunt Kratos and Atreus. Indeed, a lot is apparently going on and it revolves around ending Ragnarok, and with that in mind, it’s possible one tease didn’t mean what fans thought it did at first.
NOTE: This is pure speculation based on the God of War Ragnarok trailer, known themes of the franchise, and the events of God of War, particularly its ending. As such, this article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for anyone who has yet to beat the 2018 game.
The God of War Mural Recontextualized with Ragnarok and Loki
The end of God of War saw Kratos discover a mural, in which it seems Atreus, or Loki, is draining Kratos of his life force. Some have pointed out that it doesn’t necessarily look like Kratos, but now that Tyr and other gods have been shown, the only real possibility—other than Kratos—is Odin, whose role seems smaller in comparison to other characters. (Perhaps there is something to be said of time travel and Loki, perhaps Atreus is draining Loki's power, but that seems very unlikely compared to other possibilities.) As such, from Kratos’ eyes, it’s likely meant to be taken at face value: this is Atreus, holding a dying Kratos, who has somehow been stripped of his tattoos.
This is the simplest reading of the mural and one that fits in God of War’s overarching theme of sons killing fathers. There is a lot left unsaid by this mural, though, making it all the more mysterious. At the same time, there is so much hinting at Kratos’ death in God of War Ragnarok that it just feels like a Red Herring. It’s far too on the nose, either taking away from that potential moment in the upcoming story or subverting it. With the end of the Norse stoyline in mind, there could be another reading to this mural: not that Atreus has killed Kratos or is draining his life force…but giving his own to save his father, likely dying in the process.
Kratos and Atreus Must End Ragnarok Before It Begins in Full
Fimbulwinter has already begun in God of War Ragnarok, and while the game is in no way behold to Norse mythology, there are some important details in the myth. In full, Ragnarok begins with Loki’s escape from imprisonment, his children (Fenrir and the Serpent) wreaking havoc on the world, and a massive battle of Gods—something Kratos seems to be actively trying to avoid. In the end, this leaves everyone dead, and those events lay at the feet of Loki.
Atreus doesn’t yet seem to understand that he is Loki, but that discovery will likely come during the game. Knowing that the giants could see the future, the events of Ragnarok will likely become apparent, and somehow, somewhere, Atreus’ role and connection to Loki and Angrboda (a child in God of War Ragnarok, yet mother of the serpent in the myth) will have to factor in.
Perhaps in Ragnarok “proper,” Kratos dies and Atreus is captured. He and Angrboda manage to have children, and the time travel/circular nature of Ragnarok begins at this point—even if it doesn’t happen quite yet. Perhaps this “timeline” has already been broken thanks to the early arrival of Fimbulwinter. To explain the world’s serpents’ existence, though, Ragnarok has already had to happen in the future. And, in learning his role in it, Atreus may have to save his father and prevent this event, ending Ragnarok at the cost of his own life and breaking God of War's cycle of patricide.
The Norse story ending with a child saving their father is a strong twist and reversal of common God of War themes. This is only speculation, Atreus is just a child after all and there are a lot of unknowns, but if Atreus is the key to Ragnarok, he’s also the key to stopping it. Such a fate indubitably has a high price, and players may see Kratos once again leave behind a home, in pain, over the loss of his loved ones, Atreus and his mother. It would be a heartbreaking, if fitting, ending to Kratos' adventures in the Norse world of God of War Ragnarok.
God of War Ragnarok releases on PS4 and PS5 in 2022.