The God of War series has always engulfed its player base into a lore-rich world that connects the game’s world to classical mythological stories and legends. Following the departure from Greek Mythology, Kratos now resides in Midgard, one of the Norse realms, and his adventures in 2018’s God of War have had him travel to many of the other realms. Like in previous games, both 2018’s God of War, and the upcoming God of War: Ragnarok take certain liberties in lore and world design, making the nine realms slightly different from how they are described in classic Norse Mythology.
God of War: Ragnarok is set to give players the chance to explore all nine realms as Kratos and Atreus take the fight to Asgard and the Aesir. However, fans are wondering about the realms that Kratos did not visit in the first game. While there is not a lot of information about these realms, certain items, quests, and conversations reveal details of these mysterious and unexplored lands. With certain elements of the realms revealed, the nine Norse realms in the God of War mythos and their significance becomes clearer.
Midgard
Midgard is most famous for being the home of humans but is still very different from what other religions may consider Earth. Midgard is a cold place that is abundant in thick forests, and snow-capped mountains, and houses the Lake of Nine at its center, upon which Tyr’s Temple can be found. It has long been used as a battlefield for the gods, and with the Draugr and other creatures moving in, most of the humans have either fled or been killed. In the God of War mythos, Midgard is the home of Atreus and Kratos and is the starting point for the events of 2018’s God of War.
Asgard
Asgard is the home of the Aesir, the Norse gods, and houses the legendary Halls of Valhalla, where true warriors’ souls go to rest after their death. It is ruled over by Odin and is where Baldur, Magni, and Modi, three of the gods that Kratos fights in 2018’s God of War, live. As the home of the Gods, Asgard is heavily fortified and considered to be impenetrable, however, according to the legend of Ragnarok, the realm is destined to be destroyed along with the Gods. There have been no accounts regarding the physical description of Asgard, since Odin has restricted all travel to and from the realm for everyone except the Aesir.
Jotunheim
The ultimate destination of 2018’s God of War, and the tallest of all the realms, Jotunheim is the ancestral home of the giants and is the location where Kratos learns of the prophecy that his life may be in danger. The landscape is littered with mountains and the corpses of deceased giants who were killed by the Aesir fearing that the giants would start Ragnarok. Odin ordered the destruction of the gate to Jotunheim and sealed off most other entrances to the realm, making it nearly impossible to travel there.
Alfheim
A realm filled with lush forest and dominated by light, Alfheim is home to both the Light Elves and the Dark Elves and was the setting for the war between the two races when Kratos and Atreus first arrived. Like Midgard, Alfheim is also dominated by a lake, known as the Lake of Light, and houses the Temple of Freyr at its heart, the location from where the Light of Alfheim fills the sky. The landscape looks eerily different depending on which of the races is ruling the realm, with the Dark Elves preventing much of the light from leaving the temple, while the Light Elves fill the sky with blinding light.
Helheim
Also known as Hel, this realm is the coldest and one of the most dangerous; it is the location of the Norse afterlife. The souls that wind up in Hel are subjected to repeated illusions of their greatest fears and defeats and are tortured by Hel-Walkers. There are certain parts of the realm that are shrouded in mystery due to how dangerous they are. Mimir even warned Kratos not to venture into one of them after an image of Zeus appeared in the sky, proving that even Gods are not safe from the illusions and torture in Hel.
Muspelheim
A realm of eternal fire and home to the Fire Giants, Muspelheim is ruled by Surtr, one of the main figures in the classical version of Ragnarok. Its landscape is dominated by volcanoes, rivers of lava, and clouds of ash. It is also the location where the greatest warriors prove their mettle by undergoing certain trials and defeating countless waves of enemies. According to the legend of Ragnarok, the fire from Muspelheim will consume Midgard and Asgard when Surtr and the other Fire Giants attack the home of the Aesir.
Niflheim
A primordial plane of ice and former home for the dwarf alchemist Ivaldi, Niflheim is dominated by a dangerous mist that poisons anything that encounters it. According to legend, the mist was cursed by Odin, and like Muspelheim, Niflheim is a realm where many warriors go to test their abilities. It is also one of the smallest yet most unforgiving realms.
Svartalfheim
The ancestral home of the Dwarves, it is the only realm that is restricted to every race other than the Dwarves, including the Aesir, a reward given by Odin for the Dwarves' service. The realm houses some of the most significant innovations by the Dwarves that exceed understanding. Not much is known about this realm and the Dwarves are hesitant at giving outsiders any information about it, leaving it shrouded in mystery.
Vanaheim
Homeland of the Vanir Gods, rivals to the Aesir, Vanaheim is the most mysterious of all the realms and is covered in dark and light forests. The realm is filled with wild magic and was ruled over by Freya before she departed following her falling out with Baldur. Entry into the realm is impossible without the permission of the Vanir, even for the Aesir. The realm reflects the powerful magic that the Vanir control and is considered the most bizarre of all the realms.
With God of War: Ragnarok’s release date inching closer, fans are hoping to explore all nine realms of the Norse world and see how the game depicts these realms. While 2018’s God of War gave fans a look into a few of these realms, many are still shrouded in mystery, and some have only been explored partially. Thanks to the confirmation that God of War: Ragnarok players will visit every realm in the upcoming game, fans are eagerly awaiting the chance to experience the Nine Realms and witness the destruction that Kratos and Atreus bring with them.
God of War: Ragnarok is set to release on November 9, 2022, for PS4, and PS5.