God of War Ragnarök — Review (2026): Is It Worth Playing?
God of War Ragnarök is the sequel to the 2018 reboot and the finale of Kratos and Atreus's Norse saga, released in November 2022 on PS4 and PS5, with a PC port in 2024. One of Sony's highest-rated exclusives: massive story, brutal combat, and an emotional ending to a decade-long journey.
What is the game about
Years after the first game, Fimbulwinter — the long winter before Ragnarök — has engulfed the nine realms. Kratos and Atreus travel between mythological realms to find a way to stop the end of the world and uncover the mystery of Atreus's origins. Along the way they meet Thor, Odin, Freya, and other gods, while the father-son relationship is put to the ultimate test.
Gameplay
- Combat with Kratos's weapons: the Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos — two distinct fighting styles with upgrades and runes.
- Companions and tactics: Atreus, Freya, and other companions assist in battle and flesh out the story.
- Realm travel: explore nine worlds — from the dwarven Svartalfheim to the gods' Asgard.
- Giant bosses: battles with Jörmungandr, Thor, and other creatures from Norse mythology.
Should you play it in 2026
Absolutely. Ragnarök is a benchmark action-adventure with excellent combat, gorgeous locations, and one of the strongest endings in gaming. On PC it runs beautifully with ultra-wide and unlocked framerate support. If you missed the 2018 game — start there, as the story is directly connected.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Powerful story and characters | Some side quests are repetitive |
| Polished combat | The world is slightly less interesting than 2018 |
| Impressive graphics on PS5/PC | Valhalla DLC is for series veterans |
| Emotional finale to the saga | Requires playing the first game |
FAQ
Do I need to play God of War 2018 first? Yes, the story directly continues the first game.
Is there Russian voice acting? Text and subtitles in Russian; voice acting is in English.
How many hours? About 25 hours for the main story, 40+ with side content.
Is it on PC? Yes, the port released in 2024 on Steam and Epic Games Store.