Kratos changed everything. When Santa Monica Studio soft-rebooted the franchise in 2018, they didn't just give a perpetually angry Spartan a beard and a kid; they redefined what we expect from third-person action-adventure titles. Everyone wants that same high. That "weight" you feel when the Leviathan Axe snaps back into your palm. But finding god of war like games isn't as simple as looking for another guy with a weapon and a tragic backstory.
Honestly, the term is a bit of a trap.
If you go looking for a carbon copy, you’ll end up disappointed by mediocre clones that have the look but none of the soul. The magic of the modern God of War series lies in the intersection of "weighty" combat, environmental puzzles that don't feel like chores, and a camera that stays so close it feels claustrophobic in the best way possible. You want games that respect your intelligence while letting you smash things into dust.
The "Weight" Problem in Action Games
Most games feel floaty. You press a button, a sword swings, and the enemy loses some health. In God of War, when Kratos hits something, the screen shakes just enough, the sound design thuds in your chest, and the animation has a specific "hit-stop" that makes the impact feel real.
Very few developers pull this off.
Take Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. It’s often cited when people ask for recommendations, and for good reason. Ninja Theory focused heavily on the tactile nature of combat. It’s tight. It’s personal. It’s also deeply uncomfortable because of the binaural audio design. If you're chasing the Norse vibes and the psychological weight of Kratos’ journey, Hellblade is probably the closest you’ll get to that specific emotional resonance. It’s not a power fantasy, though. It’s a struggle. You aren't a god; you're a person trying not to break.
Why Elden Ring and Sekiro are (and aren't) the answer
We have to talk about FromSoftware.
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A lot of people will tell you that if you like God of War, you’ll love Elden Ring. That’s only about 40% true. Yes, the scale is there. The bosses are massive, and the lore is buried in every item description. But the combat philosophy is the polar opposite. God of War makes you feel like the most dangerous thing in the room. Elden Ring makes you feel like an ant trying to trip a giant.
However, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice hits a different nerve. It has that rhythmic, "clash of steel" feel that mirrors the parry-heavy gameplay of the higher difficulties in God of War. If what you loved about Kratos was the mastery of a specific weapon—learning every nuance of the blades or the axe—Sekiro provides that same obsession with a single katana. You can’t just button mash. You have to learn the dance.
The Devil May Cry Contrast
Then there's the "Character Action" subgenre. Devil May Cry 5 is brilliant, but it’s the antithesis of the modern Kratos style. It’s fast. It’s stylish. It’s about air juggles and "S-S-Stylish" rankings. While the original PS2-era God of War titles shared DNA with Dante, the new ones have moved toward a more grounded, deliberate pace. If you go from Ragnarok straight into DMC5, the lack of weight might give you digital whiplash.
The Best God of War Like Games You Haven't Played Yet
If you’re looking for that specific blend of exploration, gear upgrades, and brutal combat, there are a few outliers that nail the vibe better than the AAA blockbusters.
- A Plague Tale: Requiem: It’s much more stealth-heavy, but the relationship between Amicia and Hugo mirrors the Kratos and Atreus dynamic so closely it’s almost eerie. The emotional stakes are just as high, and the world-building is top-tier.
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor: This is basically "God of War with a Lightsaber." Cal Kestis moves with a similar weight, the "meditation points" act like the mystic gateways, and the map design is heavily inspired by the "hub-and-spoke" model used in the Lake of Nine.
- Darksiders III: Often unfairly maligned at launch, this game actually captures the "Metroidvania-lite" exploration of the Norse God of War games better than almost anything else. You unlock new powers, backtrack to open new paths, and the combat is punishing but fair.
The Darksiders franchise in general is basically a love letter to the original God of War trilogy, mixed with The Legend of Zelda. It’s got the puzzles, the platforming, and the massive bosses. Darksiders II even adds a heavy loot system that feels remarkably similar to the armor crafting in Ragnarok.
The Narrative Architecture
What people often forget is that God of War (2018) was heavily influenced by The Last of Us.
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The "over-the-shoulder" camera wasn't just a stylistic choice; it was a narrative one. It keeps you tethered to the protagonist's perspective. When searching for god of war like games, you have to decide if you want the gameplay or the feeling.
If you want the feeling of a parent protecting a child in a world that hates them, you play The Last of Us Part I. If you want to kill gods in a sprawling open world, you might actually find more joy in Ghost of Tsushima, even though the combat is more grounded in reality. Jin Sakai’s journey isn't supernatural in the same way, but the "Stance" system allows for a level of combat expression that feels very "Kratos-esque." Switching from Stone Stance to Water Stance to deal with different enemy types feels exactly like swapping from the Axe to the Blades of Chaos.
Misconceptions About Difficulty
There’s this weird idea that "God of War like" means "Souls-like."
It doesn't.
God of War on "Give Me a Challenge" difficulty is hard, sure. But it’s a different kind of difficulty. It’s about crowd control and using your cooldowns effectively. In a Souls game, difficulty is about stamina management and timing a single roll.
If you want that "power fantasy" where you can eventually become an unstoppable force of nature, look at Black Myth: Wukong. It’s been the breakout hit for a reason. It leans heavily into the mythological boss-rush style that defined the earlier God of War games while maintaining the high-fidelity presentation of the modern ones. The staff combat is fluid, and the transformations add a layer of tactical depth that rivals Kratos' runic attacks.
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Realizing the Scale
Another thing that sets Kratos apart is the "sense of scale." Seeing Jörmungandr for the first time is a core memory for many gamers.
Shadow of the Colossus is the only game that truly rivals that feeling of being a speck in a world of giants. While the combat is minimal compared to the gore-fest of God of War, the emotional payoff and the sheer "how do I kill that thing?" logic is identical.
Actionable Steps for Finding Your Next Game
Don't just look at trailers. Look at the "gameplay loop."
- Check the camera angle. If it’s a wide, bird's-eye view, the combat won't feel like God of War. You want that tight, over-the-shoulder perspective for the same level of intimacy.
- Look for "Hub-and-Spoke" maps. Games that use a central area that changes over time (like the Lake of Nine) usually offer the same satisfying sense of progression.
- Evaluate the "Companion" mechanic. If you enjoyed the combat synergy with Atreus, look for games like Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. It sounds weird, but the way you command your teammates to perform specific moves while you focus on the main action is strikingly similar to how you use Atreus’ arrows.
- Prioritize Sound Design. If the hits sound "thin" in gameplay videos, you won't get that Kratos satisfaction. Look for games where the environment reacts to your weapons—walls chipping, sparks flying, enemies stumbling.
The reality is that Santa Monica Studio has a massive budget and a decade of refinement. You won't find a perfect 1:1 replacement. But by breaking down what you actually liked—the paternal story, the heavy hits, or the Norse setting—you can find a game that scratches that specific itch without being a direct clone.
Go start Black Myth: Wukong if you want the spectacle. Pick up Hellblade if you want the emotional weight. Or, if you’ve never played it, grab Darksiders: Warmastered Edition for a few bucks. It’s the closest thing to the "Old God of War" soul wrapped in a slightly more modern package.