Kratos is a monster. Or he was. Honestly, if you only jumped into the series with the 2018 "Dad of War" reboot, you’ve probably got a skewed view of the guy. You see a bearded, stoic father trying to do better. But to really get why that transformation matters, you have to look at the absolute trail of bodies he left across Greece first.
It’s been over twenty years since David Jaffe and Santa Monica Studio unleashed the Ghost of Sparta on the PS2. Since then, the franchise has morphed from a button-mashing gore-fest into a complex, "one-shot" cinematic masterpiece.
The Greek Era: Pure, Unadulterated Chaos
The original God of War games didn't care about your feelings. They were about rage. Pure and simple.
In the 2005 original, we meet a Kratos who is already at the end of his rope. He’s serving the Olympian gods to scrub the nightmares of his past away—nightmares of him accidentally butchering his own wife and daughter in a blood-frenzy fueled by Ares. Most people forget that Kratos wasn't just some victim; he was a power-hungry Spartan commander who made a literal deal with the devil to win a war.
Then came the sequels. God of War II and God of War III took the "bigger is better" mantra and ran off a cliff with it. You weren't just fighting soldiers anymore. You were climbing Titans the size of mountains. You were literally ripping the head off Helios to use as a flashlight. It was grotesque, it was over-the-top, and it was glorious.
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But there were also the "side" games. Don't let the handheld labels fool you. Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta on the PSP (and later PS3) added a ton of emotional weight. Ghost of Sparta in particular dives into Kratos’ brother, Deimos, and his mother, Callisto. It shows that Kratos’ hatred for the gods wasn't just "I'm edgy," but a response to a lifetime of being their cosmic punching bag.
The Chronological Nightmare
If you’re trying to play these in order of the actual story, it’s a bit of a mess. You start with God of War: Ascension (2013), which shows Kratos breaking his blood oath to Ares. Then you hit Chains of Olympus, the original 2005 game, Ghost of Sparta, and then the massive cliffhanger of God of War II leading directly into the total annihilation of the world in God of War III.
By the end of the third game, Greece is basically a flooded, dark, plague-ridden wasteland. Kratos "dies" (spoiler: he doesn't), and the saga seemingly ends.
The Norse Shift: Why It Actually Worked
After Ascension underperformed, everyone thought the series was dead. It felt like a relic of the "edgy 2000s." Then, 2018 happened.
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Cory Barlog and the team took a massive risk. They changed the camera from a fixed cinematic view to a tight, over-the-shoulder perspective. They gave Kratos a son, Atreus. They replaced the frantic Blades of Chaos with the weightier, more deliberate Leviathan Axe.
The 2018 God of War and its sequel, God of War Ragnarök, aren't just about killing gods. They’re about the cycle of violence. They’re about whether a "monster" can ever truly change. While the Greek games were about externalizing pain by killing everyone else, the Norse games are about internalizing it and trying to grow.
The Impact of Valhalla
The recent (and surprisingly free) Valhalla DLC for Ragnarök is the bridge many fans didn't know they needed. It forces Norse Kratos to literally sit in a chair and talk to his younger, Greek-era self. It’s a meta-commentary on the franchise. It acknowledges that you can't just ignore the "angry" years; you have to accept them to move forward.
What’s Coming in 2026?
The rumor mill is currently on fire. Reliable industry insiders, including Jeff Grubb, have hinted at a massive expansion of the franchise coming in 2026.
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While nothing is officially "Sony-stamped" yet, the talk of the town is a potential return to Greece—but not how you think. There are whispers of a 2.5D Metroidvania-style spin-off featuring Kratos’ brother, Deimos. There is also heavy speculation about the next mainline "God of War 6" (or whatever they call it) moving into Egyptian mythology.
Imagine Kratos facing off against Anubis or traversing the shifting sands of the Duat. Given how Valhalla ended with Kratos taking a seat on a new kind of throne—a God of Hope rather than just War—the stage is set for him to be a proactive protector in a brand new pantheon.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you’re looking to get into the series or revisit it before the 2026 wave hits, here is the best way to handle it:
- Play the Norse Duology First: If you want a modern, polished experience, start with God of War (2018) and Ragnarök. You'll miss some references, but the story stands on its own.
- Don't Skip the DLC: Valhalla is essential. It’s a roguelite, sure, but the story beats are some of the best in the entire series.
- The "Classic" Fix: If you want the Greek history, the God of War III Remastered on PS4/PS5 is the easiest way to see Kratos at his most brutal. For the others, you’ll likely need a PS Plus Premium subscription to stream the older titles.
- Keep an Eye on the Rumors: With 2026 being the target date for new projects, expect a big reveal at a State of Play or The Game Awards late in 2025.
The series has come a long way from the "sex minigames" and simple hack-and-slash loops of 2005. It’s grown up alongside its audience. Whether we’re heading to Egypt or back to a rebuilt Greece, one thing is certain: the Ghost of Sparta isn't done with us yet.