For many, 2022 was the year Elden Ring was set to take the GotY throne this year, but God of War Ragnarök is something truly special. A leviathan axe to the head just as the crown seemed safe.

It probably not a surprise that Sony have stolen in at the eleventh month to challenge for the honour, though. God of War Ragnarök builds on the incredible foundation of God of War (2018) and is PlayStation’s flagship title for 2022.

The Sequel

Santa Monica Studio are back at the helm for this second outing of the rebooted series. Once again, the game follows Kratos and his son, Atreus, who is now a teenager and comes complete with all the issues and problems being that age brings. Nine times out of ten that amounts to Atreus just being mad at his father.

The tale of Ragnarök picks up three years after the events of the first game, but fear not if you haven’t played or finished it, as there is a nice catch up option before you get stuck into this new epic that will fill in the blanks for you.

Ragnarök continues the reboot’s grounded vibe that the 2018 game nailed. It also throws in a lot of the series’ old grandeur that was maybe missing just a little from the 2018 reboot.

Coming of Age

God of War Ragnarök is very much a coming-of-age tale. The game sees Atreus hungry to find out who, and what, he is. The boy is also seeking to find his place in the world. While Kratos just wants to leave his past ways and just protect his son.

There is an obvious conflict between these two goals as Atreus and Kratos fail to understand each other while caring for each other a lot.

For a series that once was about ripping out Cyclopes’ eyes and getting the highest combo, there is once again a real weight placed on the tale and its focus on the relationship between a father and son.

This is sold so well thanks in part to Christopher Judge and Sunny Suljic once again delivering note-perfect performances as the duo.

You journey through an epic tale, battling Norse gods and legends alike, all of which have been given the Santa Monica Studio treatment. God of War Ragnarök also sees you meeting a few new faces and a few returning friends along the way.

That God of War Ragnarök hits hard is, again, no surprise. It’s cut from that cinematic single-player cloth that Sony have weaved so well. The likes of Spider-Man, The Last of Us, Ghost of Tsushima and Horizon Zero Dawn.

Mechanical Mastery

Combat builds on a near-perfect foundation set by the 2018 game. The mechanics have really genuinely moved forward a step. This step forward is delivered through a number of small tweaks and additions. Each refinement is small but when added to the whole package they truly enrich it.

You really feel every swing and hit of your axe, thanks, in part, to the haptic feedback. There is great attention to the selection of enemies you’ll battle across the nine realms. Santa Monica nailed the diversity in approach needed and it makes the combat come to life.

As no two have the same weaknesses or attack patterns, you have to always be on your toes. That’s before you hit the boss fights, of which there are a tonne. And, delightfully, more than a few being optional or secret encounters. No spoilers

This all translates to a more demanding level of combat. but also fulfilling as it forces you to adapt, evolve and use your arsenal of combos and weapons to the best of your ability.

Arsenal of the Gods

You get a healthy number of new tools of destruction, plus your trusty leviathan axe is back. One of the most interesting additions is that you can grapple with your blades now, which opens up combat in terms of movement but also verticality too.

You can also add an elemental effect to your weapon by holding down or smashing the triangle button, which will add the likes of ice or fire to whatever you are wielding at the time. And these elemental effects add an extra layer to the overall combat as well.

Once you have slayed your fill of beasts and baddies you can explore areas for hidden goodies that can be used to upgrade and re-spec your kit. If I am being honest is a bit more focused than the 2018 game with new loot drops being fewer and further between, but there is a depth to overall progression and build here.

Presentation of Wonder

God of War Ragnarök is a tour-de-force of technical and artistic presentation. A combination of complex geometry, incredible texturework, and advanced lighting.

The mix of these with some cutting-edge animation creates something that’s often jaw dropping. God of War Ragnarök is another title that absolutely shows what the PS5 is capable of.

The game makes use of a one-shot camera system again, which means from the start until the end, the game has zero camera cuts across its run time which really adds to its cinematic vibe.

The soundtrack is bombastic at times, a bit more introspective at others. God of War Ragnarök successfully deploys the series’ habit of using these dynamics to lend real weight to certain moments.

And, as previously mentioned, the voice acting is of AAA standard and lead duo really sell the gravity the game aims for. I’d also like to single out Alastair Duncan who brings Mimir to life and adds more than a few memorable lines.

God of War and Games

When you’re already dealing with a five-star game as a foundation, it was only natural that we would expect something truly special. Santa Monica have delivered. From combat to storytelling and even the pacing of the action, God of War Ragnarök raises the bar on the previous entry in practically every area.

God of War Ragnarök is a must-buy for fans, a system seller and a contender for GotY. Maybe even an early contender for game of the decade.

Review code provided by Sony