Santa Monica Studio basically changed how we look at third-person action games back in 2005. Before Kratos, we had platformers and some decent hack-and-slash titles, but nothing really captured that raw, unadulterated rage quite like the original God of War. If you're looking for a list god of war games to figure out where to start—or where to go next—you've gotta realize that this series isn't just about swinging blades anymore. It’s a messy, violent, and surprisingly emotional journey that spans two different pantheons and multiple console generations.
Honestly, the timeline is a bit of a nightmare if you try to play them in chronological order. You'd be jumping from PSP titles to PS2 classics, then back to a prequel that came out years later. Most people just stick to the release order, and honestly? That’s probably the best way to see how Kratos evolved from a one-note vengeful Spartan into a tired, grieving father trying to do better by his son.
The Original Greek Trilogy
The PS2 era was something else. When God of War dropped in 2005, it felt massive. You weren't just fighting guys; you were scaling the back of a Titan while fighting guys. It introduced the world to the Blades of Chaos, those iconic chained daggers that feel just as good to use today as they did twenty years ago. The first game was a revenge story, pure and simple. Kratos was tricked by Ares into killing his own family, and he wanted blood.
Then came God of War II.
A lot of fans still think this is the peak of the "old" style. It pushed the PlayStation 2 to its absolute breaking point. The scale was ridiculous. You’re fighting the Colossus of Rhodes in the first twenty minutes, and it only gets crazier from there. It expanded the lore, brought in the Sisters of Fate, and ended on one of the biggest cliffhangers in gaming history.
By the time God of War III hit the PS3, the goal was simple: kill everyone on Mount Olympus. And Kratos did exactly that. The opening sequence on the back of Gaia remains a technical marvel. It was brutal, maybe even a little too much for some people, but it provided a definitive (or so we thought) end to the Greek era. The gore was cranked up to eleven—I'm talking about ripping Helios' head off with your bare hands. It was the logical, if incredibly dark, conclusion to a decade of rage.
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The Handhelds and the Prequel Problem
You can't talk about a list god of war games without mentioning the stuff that didn't come out on a home console first. Ready at Dawn handled the PSP entries, and they did a shockingly good job. Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta aren't just "side stories." They actually fill in some pretty massive gaps in Kratos' psyche.
Ghost of Sparta, specifically, dives into Kratos’ brother, Deimos. It’s probably the most "human" Kratos felt before the 2018 soft reboot. If you skip these, you’re missing out on why he hates the gods so much—it wasn't just the one trick Ares pulled; it was a lifetime of being a celestial plaything.
Then there’s God of War: Ascension.
This one is the black sheep. Released in 2013 on the PS3, it felt like the series was spinning its wheels. It was a prequel to the first game, focusing on Kratos breaking his blood oath to Ares. While the combat was refined and the graphics were stunning, the "Fury" mechanics and the addition of a multiplayer mode (yes, really) didn't sit right with everyone. It's a good game, but it felt like the world was ready for Kratos to move on.
Entering the Norse Realms
After a long hiatus, Cory Barlog and the team at Santa Monica did the unthinkable. They changed everything. The 2018 God of War took the camera from a fixed perspective and glued it right behind Kratos’ shoulder. No more jump button. No more Blades of Chaos (at least at first). Instead, we got the Leviathan Axe and a kid named Atreus.
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It was a massive gamble.
Changing a beloved franchise usually results in a fan backlash, but 2018 was a masterpiece. It turned Kratos into a person. The "Boy!" memes were everywhere, but underneath the shouting was a story about generational trauma and the fear of being a parent. The combat moved away from mindless button mashing toward something more tactical and deliberate. It felt heavy. Every hit with the axe felt like it had weight behind it.
God of War Ragnarök took that foundation and just went bigger. It’s a massive game. Some might argue it’s a bit too long, especially during certain sections in Jotunheim, but the emotional payoff is undeniable. It deals with destiny, the end of the world, and whether or not people can actually change their nature.
Breaking Down the Full List
If you're keeping score at home, here is the chronological list of the games as they exist in the world's timeline, rather than when they hit shelves:
- God of War: Ascension (The very beginning of Kratos' rebellion)
- God of War: Chains of Olympus (Kratos serving the gods before the first game)
- God of War (The 2005 classic where he takes the throne)
- God of War: Ghost of Sparta (Kratos searching for his brother)
- God of War: Betrayal (The 2D mobile game that most people forget exists)
- God of War II (The war against Zeus begins)
- God of War III (The destruction of the Greek world)
- God of War (2018) (The move to Midgard)
- God of War Ragnarök (The end of the Norse saga)
Why Most People Get the "Best Order" Wrong
There’s a huge debate about whether you should play these in the order they were released or the order of the story. Honestly? Chronological is a mistake for newcomers. If you start with Ascension, you’re playing a game that assumes you already know who Kratos is and why he’s angry. It lacks the impact of the 2018 title because you haven't seen the "Monster" he’s trying to hide from his son.
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The best way to experience a list god of war games is to start with the 2018 Norse entry.
I know, it sounds sacrilegious to the old-school fans. But 2018 is designed to be an entry point. You learn about Kratos’ past through his vague hints and his obvious shame. When the "big reveal" happens halfway through that game, it hits so much harder if you then go back and play the original trilogy as a "prequel" to understand the weight he's carrying.
The Impact of Valhalla
We also have to talk about the Valhalla DLC for Ragnarök. It was a free update, which is rare these days, and it basically acted as a bridge between the two eras. It’s a roguelite mode, but it’s packed with story. It forces Kratos to literally confront his past selves. Seeing the Greek-era enemies rendered in modern graphics was a massive nostalgia trip, but it served a narrative purpose. It allowed Kratos—and the players—to finally forgive him for what happened in the PS2 and PS3 days.
What's Next for Kratos?
There’s a lot of speculation about where the series goes from here. Egypt? Japan? Maybe the Aztec empire? Santa Monica Studio has been pretty quiet about the future, but the ending of Ragnarök leaves things in a very interesting spot. Kratos isn't the same man who crawled out of the underworld three or four times. He's something different now.
The series has moved from being a power fantasy to a character study. That's why it has stayed relevant for over two decades. Most action games from the early 2000s are dead and buried, but God of War kept evolving. It grew up with its audience.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're looking to dive into the series right now, here is exactly how you should handle it:
- Start with God of War (2018): It’s available on PS4, PS5, and PC. It’s the best "modern" entry and requires zero prior knowledge to enjoy, even if the references go over your head.
- Play God of War Ragnarök: Don’t skip the Valhalla DLC. It’s free and contains the actual emotional ending of Kratos’ character arc.
- Go Back to the Beginning: If you have PlayStation Plus Premium, you can stream the older games. Play the original 2005 God of War and God of War II. They are fast, arcadey, and still incredibly fun.
- Ignore the "Order": Don't worry about playing Ascension or the handheld games until you're a hardcore fan. They are great, but they can lead to burnout if you try to marathon all nine games in a row.
- Watch the Documentaries: "Raising Kratos" on YouTube is a fantastic look at how the 2018 game was made. It gives you a lot of respect for the sheer amount of work that went into pivoting the franchise.
The reality is that any list god of war games is going to be subjective when it comes to quality, but the cultural impact is objective. This series defined two different eras of gaming. Whether you're here for the gore and the combos or the quiet moments in a rowboat with a son who just wants his dad's approval, there's something in these games that sticks with you long after the credits roll. It’s one of the few franchises that actually earned its status as a legend.