Kratos is tired. If you've played the most recent entries, you can see it in the way he sighs or how he reluctantly grips the Leviathan Axe. But before he was a weary father in the Nine Realms, he was a literal nightmare in Greece. Keeping track of the full list of god of war games is actually harder than it looks because Sony didn't exactly release them in chronological order. We got prequels, mid-quels, and mobile titles that most people completely forgot existed until they started hunting for Platinum trophies.
Honestly, the timeline is a bit of a mess if you just look at the release dates.
You’ve got the original 2005 classic that started the whole "angry bald man vs. Olympus" vibe, but then Santa Monica Studio and other developers like Ready at Dawn started filling in the gaps. They gave us handheld titles on the PSP that, surprisingly, weren't just watered-down ports. They were essential pieces of the lore. If you skip Ghost of Sparta, you’re missing the entire emotional core of why Kratos hates the gods specifically because of his brother, Deimos.
Where it all started (and where it ended up)
The franchise is generally split into two distinct eras: the Greek Era and the Norse Era. The gameplay shift between them is jarring. You go from a fixed-camera, hack-and-slash spectacle to an over-the-shoulder, intimate character study.
The first game, God of War (2005), introduced us to the Blades of Chaos. Those chains are iconic. They represent Kratos’ servitude to Ares, the actual God of War. People forget that Kratos wasn't the "God of War" at the start; he was just a very successful, very pissed-off Spartan general who made a bad deal.
Then came God of War II in 2007. This is often cited by old-school fans as the peak of the PS2's technical capabilities. It was massive. It had the Sisters of Fate, time travel, and an ending that was one of the biggest cliffhangers in gaming history. I remember finishing that game and realizing I’d have to wait years—and buy a PS3—to see the resolution.
The Handhelds that Mattered
Don't let the small screen fool you. God of War: Chains of Olympus (2008) and God of War: Ghost of Sparta (2010) are mandatory reading. Chains of Olympus acts as a prequel to the first game, showing Kratos during his ten years of service to the gods. It’s got a heartbreaking scene with his daughter, Calliope, that proves he wasn't always just a screaming ball of rage.
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Ghost of Sparta is even better. It bridges the gap between the first and second main games. It explains the "Mark of the Spartan" and why Kratos has that specific red tattoo. It turns out, it’s not just a cool design; it’s a tribute to his brother.
The Full List of God of War Games in Release Order
If you want to play them exactly as the world experienced them, here is the sequence. It's a wild ride through three generations of PlayStation consoles.
- God of War (2005 - PS2): The introduction of the Ghost of Sparta.
- God of War II (2007 - PS2): Kratos takes on Zeus and the Colossus of Rhodes.
- God of War: Betrayal (2007 - Mobile): A 2D side-scroller. Yes, it’s canon, but good luck finding a phone that runs it today.
- God of War: Chains of Olympus (2008 - PSP): The first handheld masterpiece.
- God of War III (2010 - PS3): The end of the Greek world. Pure, unadulterated scale.
- God of War: Ghost of Sparta (2010 - PSP): A deep dive into Kratos' family history.
- God of War: Ascension (2013 - PS3): A prequel that introduced multiplayer. It’s the "black sheep" for some, but the combat mechanics were incredibly refined.
- God of War: A Call from the Wilds (2018 - Facebook Messenger): A text-based adventure featuring Atreus.
- God of War (2018 - PS4): The soft reboot. New mythology, new camera, new Kratos.
- God of War Ragnarök (2022 - PS4/PS5): The conclusion of the Norse saga.
- God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla (2023 - PS5): A free DLC that functions as a rogue-lite epilogue.
The "Black Sheep" and the Lost Media
God of War: Ascension is a weird one. By 2013, people were a bit tired of the Greek setting. The game focused on Kratos breaking his blood oath to Ares, and while it looked stunning—seriously, it still looks better than some PS4 games—it felt a bit redundant. It didn't help that they tried to force a multiplayer mode into a series that was always about the solo experience.
And then there’s God of War: Betrayal. It was a Java-based mobile game. You play as Kratos while he’s still the God of War, leading his Spartan army across Greece. It’s surprisingly violent for a 2007 phone game. Most people exclude it from their list of god of war games, but if you’re a completionist, it counts.
The 2018 "reboot" was the biggest risk Sony ever took with the franchise. They took a character who was basically a one-dimensional avatar of anger and turned him into a grieving widower trying to raise a son he doesn't understand. Cory Barlog, the director, basically bet the house on this "Dad of War" direction. It paid off.
Understanding the Valhalla DLC
We have to talk about Valhalla. Usually, DLC is just extra "stuff." But Valhalla is a psychological autopsy of Kratos. It forces him to confront his past—literally. You see enemies from the Greek games rendered in modern graphics. It’s a bridge between the two eras that finally allows Kratos to forgive himself. If you haven't played it, you haven't finished the story.
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Chronological Order: Playing for the Plot
If you want to experience the story from the very beginning of Kratos' life to the end of the Norse saga, the order changes significantly. You start with Ascension, then move into Chains of Olympus, followed by the 2005 original.
After that, you play Ghost of Sparta, then God of War II, and finally God of War III. This creates a massive, continuous arc of Kratos slowly losing his mind and destroying the world.
The transition to the 2018 game after God of War III is powerful. You go from the literal end of the world—floods, darkness, and chaos—to a quiet, snowy forest in Midgard. It makes Kratos’ silence much more meaningful. You know what he’s hiding. You know the blood on his hands.
Technical Milestones and Why They Matter
The list of god of war games isn't just a list of stories; it’s a history of hardware.
- God of War III used a "no-cut" camera for certain sequences, which eventually became the standard for the entire 2018 game and Ragnarök.
- Ascension pushed the PS3 to its absolute limit with its lighting engine.
- The 2018 game utilized the PS4's power to create a seamless world with zero loading screens (if you don't count the World Tree walking).
There’s a lot of debate about which game is "best." Purists love God of War II for its pacing and boss fights. Modern fans prefer Ragnarök for its emotional weight and complex side quests.
Actionable Steps for New Players
If you’re looking to dive into this series now, don't just start with the newest one. You’ll miss the weight of the references.
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Start with the God of War III Remastered on PS4/PS5. It gives you the best "classic" experience with modern performance. It’s cheap, it’s fast, and it explains why Kratos is so guarded in the later games.
Don't sleep on the "Mastery" levels in Valhalla. If you’ve finished Ragnarök, the Valhalla DLC is free. It’s not just a challenge mode; it contains the actual ending of Kratos’ character arc.
Watch a lore recap for the PSP games. If you can't get your hands on a Vita or a PSP, at least watch the cutscenes for Ghost of Sparta. It changes how you view Kratos’ relationship with his father, Zeus. It makes the final confrontation in God of War III feel like justice rather than just revenge.
The franchise is currently in a state of rest. With the Norse saga wrapped up, rumors are swirling about where Kratos (or perhaps Atreus) goes next. Egypt? Japan? The Maya civilization? Wherever it goes, the foundation is built on nearly twenty years of some of the tightest action-adventure gameplay ever designed.
Check your library. If you've only played the Norse games, you’ve only seen half the man. Go back and see the monster he used to be. It makes the man he became much more impressive.