God of War without Kratos: what could happen in the saga?

For a long time, God of War was synonymous with blood, rage, gore, gods being executed in the most cruel ways possible, and Kratos, the Ghost of Sparta, wreaking havoc in the spotlight.

One fine day, Santa Monica, inspired by the life phase of the team's great mastermind, Cory Barlog, decided to make him more "calm and rational". A son, a story in the Norse myths, and suddenly an epic clash with Thor. Great story, beautiful reimagining, the adventure in the lands of the Allfather is complete.

Of course, after the remake of the Greek trilogy was announced and Sons of Sparta, a Metroidvania within the IP's universe, emerged, fans would already be fed enough games. Even more so with the Prime Video series on the way, it's good to remember that. Believe it or not, we were wrong. God of War may change direction, once again.

Important: Beware of spoilers!

Atreus became a playable character in God of War: Ragnarok, the second game in the series where Odin's ravens watched over everything. Even at the end of the first game, released in 2018, the boy's divine powers were revealed. He’s Loki, the same one, the trickster that many see as a villain.

Within the game, where Thor himself deviated from Marvel's usual formula and presented himself as a burly, red-haired man with a great thirst for fighting—one of the most fitting presentations possible, it must be said—Loki also experienced his own troubles. After meeting the daughter of the god of Thunder and Angrboda, another giantess, he decides to set off to learn more about his origins.

This is where one of the loose ends of the series remains: where did Loki go? Jotunheim? A place not yet shown in the franchise? Well, we don't know, but he seems to be a god thirsty for wisdom.

This thread of wisdom, used by Odin in an evil way to try to reverse his cruel fate, connects not only Atreus, but also a significant character from the Greek saga: Athena. The secret behind the artifact remained unclear, and recently, through datamining, a link between it and Kratos' son was discovered.

Beyond the trilogy remake, apparently the winds of Greece are still blowing strongly within the IP. How will Atreus be used in this context? That's in the hands of the excellent writers at Santa Monica Studio. Of course, this also comes with a challenge: making it interesting enough to succeed without Kratos. Is this the path chosen by the PlayStation developer?

In God of War: Ragnarök, Faye doesn't just appear as a distant memory. The character, also called Laufey, is the invisible force that drives the events of the plot. Even after her death, Atreus' mother influences decisions, reveals secrets, and connects the past to the fate of Ragnarök.

Faye was a giantess of the Jotnar and known as Laufey, the Just. Unlike the fragile image Kratos initially constructed, she was a powerful warrior, respected in Jotunheim. Furthermore, she hid her true identity from her own husband for years, protecting secrets that would change the course of history.

In God of War, it’s Faye's last wish that begins the journey: scattering her ashes from the highest point of the realms. However, Ragnarök deepens this legacy. The game reveals that she already knew part of the giants' prophecies and made calculated decisions to break the predicted cycle.

The relationship between Faye and Kratos also gains new layers. Flashbacks show that she knew who he was even before he told her about his past. Still, she chose to stay by his side. More than that, she believed that Kratos could change, defying the prophecies that pointed to him as an inevitable destroyer.

Finally, Faye represents the link between two worlds: Kratos' Spartan legacy and Atreus' giant heritage. Her influence is what drives the transformation of both characters throughout God of War Ragnarök. Even physically absent, she’s one of the most important figures in the entire Norse saga.

Now, according to rumors, she’ll have her own game. In the style of Devil May Cry and as a prologue? Cory Barlog and Santa Monica haven’t yet publicly commented, but speculation does point to this fate. There’s a moment in the narrative of the second game where we see a scenario completely destroyed by the fight between Faye and Thor, for example. Could this title be the stage for this million-dollar showdown?

It's also important to highlight the fact that PlayStation is handling its franchises in very different ways. The Ghost of series emerged after the success of Ghost of Tsushima and the reveal of Ghost of Yotei. The island defended by Sakai gave way to Atsu's revenge story with a simple change of region and historical period of the country. It wouldn't be the first time.

A series called "God of" would open up space for many other stories. And in so many other mythologies. A feast for those who enjoy the inventions and interpretations of these narratives. Without Sakai, Atsu found several easter eggs about the Ghost, and is even called that. Without Kratos, who will ascend Olympus to bring the future to the IP? Tell us in the comments!