Summary
TheGod of Warfranchise has come a long way since beginning in 2005. As one of gaming’s most popular hack-and-slash franchises, it remains one of Sony’s most consistent single-player series and an occasional PlayStation mascot. For almost twenty years,God of Warhas dished out satisfying combat as it adapted the Greek and Norse mythological pantheons into its antihero’s tragic saga. Things are looking better for Kratos and his son Atreus now, but many enemies and tragedies had to be overcome on the way.
In terms of quality,God of Warhas held to a high standard befitting a first-party PlayStation franchise. There have only beennine completeGod of Wargamesin total, and none of them are bad in the grand scope of action games. What mainly divides them is how their strengths and weaknesses compare to their peers, and fortunately, most are still worth playing for one reason or another.
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S Tier
God of War 2-An old adage about video games proposes that every game is allowed one sequel that is the same, but better.God of War 2is an ideal sequeland remains a shining star that action game fans still respect as the zenith of the series’ gameplay. With just the right mix of traversal, fighting, puzzle solving, and Greek drama,God of War 2will continue to motivate older PlayStation fans to break out older PlayStation consoles for another run.
God of War Ragnarok-The aforementioned gaming proverb also holds true forGod of War’s latest entry,God of War Ragnarok. Expanding on the gameplay and narrative of the 2018 game,Ragnarokaccomplishes the mind-boggling task of bringing the Norse saga to a satisfying close after just two games. Apart from this makingGod of War Ragnaroka little long in the tooth, the game addresses every complaint directed at its predecessor and currently sits as one of the best first-party titles on the PlayStation 5.
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A Tier
God of War 3-Many small gameplay and story nuances keepGod of War 3belowGod of War 2on many fans' personal tier lists, but the game is still undoubtedly a classic.God of War 3’s spectacle was so far beyond its predecessors that evenGod of War Ragnarokmay not have as many gargantuan setpieces across its runtime. These do sidetrackGod of War 3’s combat and storytellingsomewhat, and overemphasize its quick time events for players who don’t like them, but that’s a small price to pay for the most epic final showdown between Kratos and the Olympian gods possible.
God of War (2018)-Fans were initially apprehensive towardGod of War’s soft reboot in 2018, with concerns ranging from its pivot to RPG systems to its new camera angle, and to how the story would carry on fromGod of War 3’s ending. Despite all that,God of War (2018)proved to be a smash hitand quickly endeared its Norse setting and characters to fans. Apart from limited enemy variety that weighed down the game’s standout side quests,God of War (2018)proved thatGod of Warcould take many forms.
B Tier
God of War (2005)-The originalGod of Warlaunched the franchise in 2005, setting a strong example for all that followed. Combat, puzzles, and even the story of Kratos seeking vengeance for his family despite being their killer all got off to a good start. Besides some pacing issues, the only thing that bringsGod of War 1down is that it’s not its sequels, so it can’t benefit from their iteration and polish. As long as one understandsGod of War’s context in 2005, revisiting it should be met with a good time.
God of War: Ghost of Sparta-MostGod of Warspin-offs couldn’t live up to their mainline counterparts, but the second PSP entryGod of War: Ghost of Spartamanaged to distinguish itself. On top of polishingChains of Olympus' gameplay,Ghost of Spartais best known for its meaningful additions toGod of War’s story. Featuring thesole appearance of Kratos' brother, Deimos, this short but sweet game is worth digging up by fans interested in Kratos’ origins.
C Tier
God of War: Chains of Olympus-The first PSP entry,Chains of Olympus, isn’t quite as worthwhile. While it does translate classicGod of Wargameplay and visuals to a PSP, itsalready short run time for aGod of Waris filled with too many block-pushing puzzles. Combined with a bare-bones plot,God of War: Chains of Olympusis little more than the prelude toGhost of Sparta.
God of War: Ascension-Players may not have expected much fromGod of War’s portable offerings, butGod of War: AscensionfollowingGod of War 3on console proved a mistake.Ascensionisthe earliest game inGod of War’s chronologybut doesn’t enhance the series’ narrative in any way. The gameplay was also divisive, sporting many changes that split the fanbase and an unsteady camera that could obscure combat at its worst.God of War: Ascensionisn’t a bad game, and its multiplayer had some interesting ideas, but it fails to stand out in a star-studded franchise.
God of War: Betrayal-While it’s been lost to time now, one ofGod of War’s greatest curiosities is the side-scrolling phone beat-‘em-upGod of War: Betrayal. This game can’t compare to the fully 3DGod of Wargames, but it’s still impressive for a mobile Java title and delivers an authentic compactGod of Warexperience. Finding it will be difficult, but some dedicated fans may still be able to appreciateGod of War: Betrayal’s unique qualities.
