When you first hear the word "Giant," you probably think of a massive, lumbering oaf with the IQ of a brick. Blame Jack and the Beanstalk for that. But in the world of Santa Monica Studio’s Norse saga, the God of War giants—or the Jotnar—aren't defined by their shoe size. They’re a race of builders, sorcerers, and tragic prophets. Honestly, the biggest misconception most players have is that they all had to be the size of a skyscraper like Thamur. They didn't. Some were just regular-sized folks who happened to have a knack for seeing the future and getting murdered by Thor.
It’s a grim story. If you've played through the 2018 reboot and God of War Ragnarök, you know the Jotnar are basically a ghost story by the time Kratos and Atreus start their journey. But why? Why did a race so powerful that even Odin feared them end up as piles of dust on a mountain in Jotunheim? The answer isn't just "Thor hit them with a hammer," though that was a big part of it. It’s about a desperate, cross-realm cold war where the Giants tried to outsmart fate itself.
The Jotnar Aren't Just Big People
Let’s clear this up right now. Being a "Giant" in the God of War universe is more about your soul and your lineage than your height. Look at Atreus. He’s half-giant, and he’s a skinny kid. Look at Faye (Laufey the Just). She was a legendary warrior who went toe-to-toe with Thor, yet she was small enough to live in a modest cabin in Midgard and pass for a human. The term Jötunn is closer to "Devourer" or "Other-being" than "Tall-person."
- Thamur was the classic giant, so big his falling corpse reshaped the geography of Midgard.
- Jörmungandr, the World Serpent, is a giant whose soul was stuffed into a snake’s body by Atreus and Angrboda during a time-travel mishap.
- Surtr and Sinmara are elemental giants who basically embody the beginning and end of the world.
The diversity is wild. You have some who are basically walking mountains and others who look just like the Aesir gods. This biological flexibility is likely why Odin was so obsessed with them. He didn't just want their land; he wanted their Sight. The Giants had a natural affinity for "The Spark," the primordial magic of the universe, and many of them could see the threads of destiny before they were even spun.
The Genocidal Campaign of the Aesir
Odin is a paranoid hoarder. That’s the simplest way to explain why the God of War giants were hunted to near-extinction. In the lore revealed through the Jotnar Shrines—those wooden triptychs you find scattered across the realms—we see a pattern of Odin trying to "partner" with giants like Mimir or Groa to steal their prophecies. When they refused or when the prophecies didn't favor him, he sent Thor.
Thor was the blunt instrument. The stories Mimir tells as you row the boat are harrowing. He talks about Thor killing giants for sport, for a laugh, or just because they existed. The "Stonemason" Thamur wasn't a warrior; he was a builder looking for his son. Thor killed him anyway. This wasn't a fair war. It was a systematic purge designed to ensure that the Jotnar’s knowledge of Ragnarök stayed out of Odin’s enemies' hands.
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The tragedy is that the Giants were mostly peaceful. They retreated to Jotunheim and broke the travel towers specifically to get away from the Aesir. They didn't want the throne; they just wanted to be left alone to paint their prophecies and live in peace. But in Odin’s mind, if you aren't with him, you’re a threat that needs to be neutralized.
Faye: The Giant Who Outsmarted a God
Laufey the Just is the most important character you never actually see alive. As the mother of Atreus and the wife of Kratos, she is the primary architect of the entire Norse saga. She was a giant who stayed behind in Midgard when the rest of her people retreated or died. But she wasn't just hiding. She was preparing.
Everything Kratos and Atreus do in the 2018 game was choreographed by her. The yellow markings on the ledges? Those weren't just "video game UI." Within the story, those were marks Faye left behind to guide them. She knew they would need to reach the highest peak in Jotunheim. She knew they would meet Jörmungandr. She even knew Atreus would eventually discover his name was Loki.
She used the Giants' gift of prophecy not to change the future, but to ensure the right version of the future happened. She saw a path where her husband and son could break the cycle of violence. It’s a beautiful, subtle bit of storytelling. While Odin was trying to use prophecy to save himself, Faye used it to save the world.
The Soul Marbles and the Last Stand
By the time we get to Ragnarök, we learn about the Soul Marbles. This is where things get really "high-concept" fantasy. Sensing their end, many of the God of War giants didn't just die; they transferred their souls into small, colored spheres. They hoped that one day, someone—a savior—would find a way to put them back into new bodies.
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Angrboda, the young giantess living in the Ironwood, is the guardian of these souls. Her life is incredibly lonely. Imagine being a teenager and being the sole librarian for the souls of your entire dead race. It’s heavy stuff. When Atreus arrives, it’s the first time in ages the Jotnar have had a glimmer of hope.
The Ironwood itself is a pocket dimension, a sanctuary that Odin couldn't find. It’s lush, vibrant, and filled with the remnants of Jotunn culture. It serves as a stark contrast to the barren, corpse-littered wasteland that the rest of Jotunheim became. It’s the last heartbeat of a dying civilization.
The Prophecy of Loki
The name "Loki" carries a lot of weight. In the myths, Loki is a trickster. In God of War, Loki is the "Champion of the Giants." The mural at the end of the first game shows Atreus/Loki standing over a dying Kratos, but as we see in the sequel, prophecies are tricky. They are "kinda" like weather forecasts—they tell you what might happen if nothing changes.
Atreus eventually realizes that his role as a giant isn't to lead an army, but to preserve the souls of his people. He chooses his own path. This is a huge thematic shift. The Giants were always defined by their "fate," but the game argues that "fate is only a lie told by the gods." By the end of the story, Atreus sets out to find the remaining soul marbles scattered across the realms. He becomes a seeker, a protector of what’s left of the God of War giants.
Why the Giants Matter for the Future of the Series
Even though the "Norse Chapter" is technically closed, the legacy of the Giants is far from over. Atreus is out there. Somewhere. He has a bag full of souls and a mission to find his people. This opens up massive possibilities for future games. Are there giants in other lands? Did some flee to the lands of Egyptian or Japanese myth?
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The Giants represent the idea that history is written by the winners—until someone comes along and finds the hidden triptychs. They remind us that power isn't just about how hard you can hit with a hammer, but how much you're willing to sacrifice for the future.
How to Piece Together the Full Story
If you’re looking to truly understand the depth of this lore while playing, you should focus on a few specific activities:
- Hunt the Jotnar Shrines: Don't just open them for the XP. Listen to Mimir's narration. Each one tells a specific story about a Giant’s life and their interaction with the Aesir.
- Pay Attention to the Colors: Giant magic is almost always associated with specific hues and "The Spark." It helps you identify their influence in the world even when they aren't present.
- Read the Lore Tabs: The journal entries written from Atreus’s perspective offer a more personal, emotional look at what it means to be the last of your kind.
- Explore the Ironwood Thoroughly: There are small environmental details in Angrboda’s home that explain how the soul-transfer process actually worked.
The story of the God of War giants is a tragedy, but it’s also a story of survival. They didn't "lose" in the end. They outlasted Odin. They outsmarted the "All-Father." And through Atreus, they have a chance to actually have a future that isn't dictated by a mural on a wall.
When you’re exploring the realms, look at the architecture. Look at the ruins. Almost everything beautiful or complex in Midgard was built by the people Odin called "monsters." It makes you realize that the real monster wasn't the giant hiding in the mountains, but the god sitting on the throne in Asgard.
To get the most out of the Jotnar lore, revisit the shrines in Jotunheim after completing the main story of Ragnarök. The dialogue changes based on your progress, and you'll pick up on nuances about Faye’s rebellion that you definitely missed the first time around. Stop looking for big bosses and start looking for the story behind the dust. That’s where the real giants are.