Selling over 11 million copies in its first three months, it's safe to say that God of War Ragnarok was the monumental hit that Sony was expecting it to be, and it also feels safe to say that fans haven't seen the end of the God of War franchise just yet. Though God of War Ragnarok wrapped up the Norse saga in a satisfying and natural way, there's still a lot of room for future God of War titles to expand the franchise, whether it's through a mainline sequel or a smaller-scale, side-story spin-off. And if Santa Monica decides to go for the latter option, then there's one character already primed for the spinoff treatment.
Santa Monica's God of War Norse saga has introduced fans to a plethora of now-beloved characters, from the first game's main antagonist Baldur, to the sequel's Odin, and every other Norse god or goddess along the way. And while many fans believe that the natural course for a God of War spin-off would be to revolve around Atreus, it's one of these newly introduced gods or goddesses that may tell the more engaging story.
A God of War Ragnarok Spinoff Should Focus on Thrud
One of the most welcome surprises of God of War Ragnarok was the introduction of Thrud, Thor's daughter. While fans knew that Thor and Odin were going to play major roles in God of War Ragnarok's story, many weren't expecting to see the rest of the Norse god family, but fans are thankful that they did. Thrud is first introduced in God of War Ragnarok as a young but seasoned warrior, and a fairly trusting one at that, harboring a friendship with Atreus despite their family's opposition to one another.
Throughout God of War Rangarok's story, Thrud's character undergoes several changes, but her optimistic personality continues to shine through, even despite everything she's faced. Thrud's relationship with her father Thor and her grandfather Odin adds another important layer of emotional resonance to Ragnarok's story, showing fans how these "enemies" think and feel, and how Odin's emotional manipulation has led the Asgardian family to this point. When players finally get to the end of Ragnarok's story, and they see Odin's betrayal of Thor, it's that core relationship between Thrud and her father that elicits an emotional response, and it's that relationship that would lay the foundations of a Thrud-led God of War spin-off game.
After the battle of Ragnarok and Odin's defeat, players can find Thrud and her mother Sif in the camp at the bottom of the mountain. Here, the two comfort each other, being the last of their once-large Asgardian family. Thrud briefly mentions to Atreus that she needs to find something before she can continue her own journey, and after the credits roll, players find out what that is. When visiting Alfheim after the game ends, players can find Thrud kneeling before Mjolnir, who utters a promise that she'll keep her father's legacy alive, before taking up the hammer and leaping into the sky.
A God of War spin-off that centers around Thrud already has the perfect structure laid out for it. The game could take place immediately after she takes up Mjolnir, following her first adventures as the new Thor, and exploring everything that means for her as a character, as well as the entirety of the Nine Realms. This premise would also let players finally wield Mjolnir, which is something that many fans were hoping to experience in God of War Ragnarok. While Atreus is a natural pick for a God of War spin-off, Thrud's journey has the potential to feel even more emotionally resonant and satisfying.
God of War Ragnarok is available on PS4 and PS5.