God Of War’s Norse Saga Needs The Miles Morales Treatment

The recently released God of War Ragnarok ends the mythic franchise’s Norse mythology era, but one more short adventure in the style of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales would help fully conclude the series’ latest saga. The highly anticipated sequel to 2018’s God of War sees Kratos and Atreus journey across the Nine Realms to face Odin and their shared destinies. God of War Ragnarok is truly massive and gives the saga a solid send-off, but the game does leave some loose ends dangling. A full-blown third game in the Norse saga is unnecessary, but a short standalone game like Spider-Man: Miles Morales could help give the story a definitive ending and transition into the franchise’s next phase.

[Warning: This article contains story spoilers for God of War Ragnarok.]While God of War Ragnarok’s ending leaves Asgard destroyed and most of the Norse gods dead, the game does leave certain plot threads untied. At the end of the story Atreus ventures to parts unknown to find more Jotun survivors, leaving Kratos to clean up the Nine Realms with the help of Freya. A mural suggests that Kratos’ will find redemption by becoming a noble and beloved god, which seems like a set-up for the next God of War era. Atreus’ story is left much more open, meanwhile, with his journey to find his lost people likely leading him to new lands for encounters with more mythic figures. While Atreus’ fate could also be explored in a full-blown future GoW game after God of War Ragnarok, a smaller standalone title in the style of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales could be a much better venue.

A God Of War Spin-Off Can Spotlight The God Of Mischief

Released in 2020, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a short sequel to Marvel’s Spider-Man that sees a young Miles adjust to his role as New York City’s newest superhero. While the game tells an original story that progresses the narrative of Insomniac’s Marvel universe, Miles Morales is a small experience that sticks closely to the gameplay and open-world design of its predecessor. New powers, gadgets and enemies help gameplay in Miles Morales feel fresh, but the game’s campaign is shorter than average and there is less side content to explore. The release of a short spin-off rather than a full-scale sequel follows in the footsteps of other games, like the 2017 Uncharted series spin-off Lost Legacy and Dishonored: Death of the Outsider.

A standalone spin-off of God of War Ragnarok, focusing on Atreus and Angrboda’s journey to find the Giants, could definitively cap off the series’ Norse saga. This game could develop Loki’s mythic children like Fenrir and Jormungandr, while possibly introducing other unseen offspring like Hel and Sleipnir. As the game’s sole playable character Atreus could receive a plethora of new moves and gear other than his Talon Bow, making him just as engaging to control and develop as his father. Atreus’ relationships with characters like his former best friend Sindri and Thor’s daughter Thrud could also be concluded before the series’ potential transition into a new world. God of War director Cory Barlog also recently promised an answer to the 2018 game’s biggest question, referring to the identity of the person who blew the horn to summon Jormungandr while Atreus was ill. God of War Ragnarok shockingly fails to shed light on that mystery, but a spin-off title starring Atreus could possibly explain the event as a reunion between the hero and his serpentine son through time travel.

God of War’s Norse saga works very well as a simple duology, but some plot points need to be addressed before the franchise explores a new mythology. Loki’s remaining Jotun children must be introduced, and the identity of the one who blew the World Serpent horn in the first game must be unveiled. A short epilogue to God of War Ragnarok could be a massive success by following the formula laid out by Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales.