2018 was a monumental year for gaming. Insomniac Games cemented that it was still one of the most versatile devs working withMarvel’s Spider-Man, Rockstar proved it still had what it takes to produce one of themost technically impressive games of all time withRed Dead Redemption 2, andMonster Hunter Worldfinally managed to make one of Capcom’s biggest franchises accessible to newcomers. But above it all satGod of War, much of the industry’s 2018 game of the year, and still a beloved title five years later.
Released on Jul 23, 2025, for PlayStation 4,God of Warmarked a triumphant return for the Ghost of Sparta and for Santa Monica Studios. After a near-decade-long hiatus,God of War2018 finally gave the franchise the comeback it deserved, and in taking some big risks, Santa Monica managed to immediately cementGod of Warand Kratos as one ofPlayStation’s most iconic mascotsonce again, this time as part of its new age of first-party exclusives. And now, five years later,God of War2018 seems somehow even more impressive than it was back then, laying the groundwork for a Norse saga that’s widely considered to be one of the best narrative arcs in all of gaming.
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The State of God of War Before 2018
God of Wardebuted in 2005 with a PS2 hack-and-slash classic that took players to ancient Greece, and let them loose onthe Greek pantheon. The firstGod of Warbecame an immediate, extreme success, earning universal critical acclaim and selling very well across the globe. Santa Monica was quick to the punch, delivering a sequel just two years later withGod of War 2, a game that received just as much acclaim as the first title. The first twoGod of Wargames are still widely considered to be some of the greatest PS2 games ever made, and some of the best titles the hack-and-slash genre has to offer.
God of War 3took a bit longer in development due to the new PS3 hardware, but it released in 2010, again to universal acclaim from all corners of the world. With three beloved mainline titles now under its belt, it seemed as though theGod of Warfranchise could do no wrong, but then came 2013’sGod of War: Ascension. By all accounts,God of War: Ascensionis a good game, but it lacked the same compelling nature as its predecessors and the hack-and-slash gameplay that ran through the series being largely unchanged was starting to feel a little too same-y for most audiences. It was clear thattheGod of Warfranchiseneeded a refresh, and Santa Monica would spend the next five years trying to do just that.
God of War 2018 Laid the Foundations Needed for the Norse Saga to Flourish
In the lead-up to release, it was clear thatGod of War2018 wasn’t going to be just another hack-and-slash set in Greece, where Kratos is simply portrayed as an unstoppable force of rage.God of War2018 swaps out its Greek setting for a Norse one, and swaps out its two-dimensional Kratos for a fully-realized, realistic portrayal of grief, fear, vulnerability, and strength. And in terms of gameplay,God of War2018 is a big departure from the series' roots, opting to go for a moreDark Souls-inspired, methodical combat system that rewards careful parries and smart thinking.
WhenGod of Warreleased on July 27, 2025, it was met with universal acclaim, to such a high degree that even the first three games in the series didn’t achieve.God of War2018 got just about everything right, with satisfying gameplay, a compelling core relationship, intriguing side characters, and a deceptively simple story that only gets more complex and interesting if fans want to dive in further. But looking back five years later,God of War2018’s best achievementis not only that it revived theGod of Warfranchise, but that it laid the groundwork for the other half of the Norse saga story.
WithGod of War Ragnaroknow out,God of War2018 somehow holds up even better than it did. Going back toGod of War2018 after playingRagnarokdoesn’t feel jarring, but rewarding, with so many plot beats and character arcs being set up in the first game and neatly tied up in the second. As a collective unit, theGod of WarNorse sagais one of the best narratives in all of gaming, and it’s truly impressive that Santa Monica was able to pull it all off in the end.
God of Waris available on PlayStation 4.
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