The turn for the God of War series arrived in the last game, which steered the setting away from the Greek world to the Nordic realms. And yet, there were many characters that didn’t have a definitive conclusion, while certain others had such a deep connection to Kratos that their story can still be expanded.

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To this end, the next game can bring back many Greek Gods that have already been featured. These were seen in the original series, with some having been killed off by Kratos while others went absent inexplicably with no explanation. Regardless, all of them can play a crucial role in potential storylines in the sequel.

10 Athena

Kratos sees Athena in God of War

Athena did appear in God of War PS4, although it was just for a cameo. Once the greatest of Kratos’ allies, Athena was revealed as an antagonist at the end of God of War III. The way the next game can use her is by making Athena a recurring antagonist for Kratos.

Rather than the occasional reference, Athena should return the same way she did in God of War PS4, only this time being a constant menace to Kratos as a reminder to him of his actions in the Greek World.

9 Artemis

Artemis’ role in the Titanomachy remains an unresolved storyline, as she never reappeared after her first and only appearance in the first God of War. Since she was shown to be a fierce God who boasted about slaying Titans, she can return with a vengeance.

Artemis can be shown having developed a hatred for Kratos after his hand at ending the Olympians. With this in mind, she can be a recurring antagonist who tries to go after Kratos and Atreus as a bid for her revenge and even look to stake her claim among the Norse Gods.

8 Aphrodite

Her role in God of War III was reduced to being a side mission of sorts, with Aphrodite also one of the gods who didn’t perish in the game. She can return as an additional character in the next game, with the potential of her interactions with Atreus and the reformed Kratos certainly something that sounds humorous.

Aphrodite can be shown in a different light, in that she can be portrayed as a shadow of her former self after her life of hedonism was destroyed along with the Olympians. To this end, Aphrodite even has the potential for character development.

7 Zeus

Kratos sees Zeus in God of War

Zeus’ apparition appeared in God of War PS4, with his status remaining unresolved. The next game can build upon his role, as Kratos comes to terms with his own parentage after resolving to put an end to the cycle of children taking their parents’ lives.

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Since he had turned to his astral form in God of War III, Zeus could even return in full this way, having used this form to ensure his continued existence. The story of his memory haunting Kratos wasn’t built upon as much as it could have in God of War PS4, so the next game can go forward with the character.

6 Eos

Eos appeared in God of War: Chains of Olympus as the Goddess of Dawn, which doesn’t sound like a job that would be active anymore after Helios’ death. Still, she was never killed, and with her role being just as important in the Norse world, Eos can make a return.

She was one of the few to be able to appeal to Kratos without igniting his fury or contempt. To this end, a return in the next game sounds promising since she can have a connection to the reformed version of Kratos.

5 Morpheus

Atreus showed the power of being able to see visions in God of War PS4, which happened when he was asleep. One of the expectations from Atreus is for this aspect to be expanded, and Morpheus would be perfect in this regard due to being the God of Dreams.

He was never shown in God of War: Chains of Olympus but caused the gods to go into a deep slumber. He can resurface in the next game, this time preying on Atreus during his sleep as a way to take over the Nordic realms.

4 Hades

Hades doesn’t need to appear as a living character, as his death was pretty final in God of War III. However, Kratos was shown consuming his soul, meaning there’s a chance that Hades’ essence lives on within Kratos himself.

This can be adapted further in the next game, where Hades can appear as part of Kratos’ psyche. He can be the manifestation of Hel for Kratos, with Hades being empowered to resurface due to the environment of the Nordic underworld favoring him.

3 Hephaestus

The best way for Hephaestus to return is through the use of flashbacks. He was similar to Kratos in a way in God of War III, with Hephaestus also harboring a deep love for his daughter, whose life he tried to fight for against Kratos but perished.

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Kratos can recall Hephaestus and his love for Pandora by comparing his own dynamic with Atreus. Along with that, Kratos can remember how Hephaestus was prepared to do anything to save Pandora, giving him posthumous respect as Kratos finally understands what Hephaestus was going through.

2 Thanatos

Thanatos Cropped

There’s no doubt that the lead-up to Ragnarok will be paved with a number of deaths. Thanatos was the God of Death in the Greek world, whom Kratos and his brother put an end to. Still, that doesn’t mean Thanatos can’t return in some shape or form.

He was a fiendish creature in his true form, which can be used as one of the visions Kratos sees in the Norse world as part of his inner demons. Thanatos could resurface in full due to his status as the God of Death, where his return would be to gain revenge on Kratos by going after his son.

1 Ares

Ares is the God who began Kratos’ descent into the lowest depths of the Greek world. One of the storylines the next game can have is Ares being the one to torment Kratos as Zeus did in God of War PS4. After all, Ares has just as deep an antagonistic connection as their father.

Kratos had shared experiences of his time in Greece with Atreus in the previous game, so Ares can show up in flashbacks where Kratos elaborates on his time as Ares’ greatest general.

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