The God of War saga, renowned for its Norse mythology, stands as a pinnacle of PlayStation’s iconic franchises. Launched in the PS2 era, the series gained fame through dynamic action gameplay, a compelling narrative of divine vengeance, and the unforgettable Spartan demigod Kratos. Two decades later, God of War has evolved into a landmark action-adventure series, refining its combat mechanics, deepening its lore, and centering on a wiser, more compassionate Kratos.
With God of War Ragnarok securing its status among gaming’s elite, we’ve crafted this chronological guide for players eager to experience or revisit the series from its origins.
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How to play chronologicallyHow to play by release dateHow Many God of War Games Exist?
Sony has published 10 God of War titles — six for home consoles, two for portable consoles, one for mobile devices, and one text-adventure on Facebook Messenger.
God of War: The Complete Collection
Explore every God of War title since the series began. See All
We’ve omitted the second mobile release, God of War: Mimir’s Vision, as this AR title offers lore without advancing the main storyline. Similarly, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is excluded, despite its lighthearted nod to the God of War canon.
The series also includes stories in novels and comics, but this guide focuses solely on games.
Which God of War Game to Start With?
While God of War: Ascension is the chronological starting point, we recommend beginning with God of War (2018). Available on PS4, PS5, and PC, it’s an ideal entry for newcomers to the series.
For PlayStation God of War (2018)
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These summaries include mild spoilers, covering characters, settings, and key plot points.
1. God of War: Ascension (2013)
Ascension, the seventh title by release but first in the timeline, delves into Kratos’s early journey from Spartan demigod to God of War, driven by a quest for vengeance.
Set months after Kratos was tricked into killing his wife and daughter by Ares, the Greek God of War, Ascension follows a traumatized Kratos as he breaks his oath to Ares. This sparks a conflict with the Furies, three deities tasked with punishing betrayal, whom Kratos must defeat to escape his vow. The story concludes with Kratos abandoning his Spartan roots, still haunted by grief.
Available on: PS3 | IGN’s God of War: Ascension Review
2. God of War: Chains of Olympus (2008)
This PSP title, Chains of Olympus, follows Kratos midway through his decade-long servitude to the gods, five years before the original God of War, with the promise of freedom from his haunting visions.
Kratos is tasked by Athena to rescue Helios, the Titan God of the Sun, from the underworld. There, he faces Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, who offers him a chance to reunite with his daughter. Kratos grapples with the catastrophic consequences of this choice and his duty to restore Helios to the gods.
Available on: PS3 (Origins Collection), PSP | IGN’s God of War: Chains of Olympus Review
3. God of War (2005)
Occurring roughly a decade after Ascension, the original God of War opens with a despairing Kratos leaping from a cliff into the Aegean Sea. A flashback three weeks prior reveals the events driving him to this point.
Nearing the end of his servitude, Kratos is tasked by Athena with defeating Ares to save Athens from his siege. In exchange for absolution, Kratos seeks Pandora’s Box to kill Ares. His journey takes him through the underworld and back, culminating in a battle against the God of War. Despite victory, Kratos remains tormented, leaping from the cliff as seen in the opening. Athena rescues him, granting him a throne on Olympus, marking his rise as the God of War.
Cutscenes reveal Kratos’s past as a revered Spartan captain. Facing defeat by barbarians, he pledged himself to Ares for victory. Ares obliged, binding Kratos with the Blades of Chaos.
Available on: PS3 (God of War Collection), PS2 | IGN’s God of War Review
4. God of War: Ghost of Sparta (2010)
The second PSP title, Ghost of Sparta, set between God of War and God of War 2, draws its name from Kratos’s pale appearance, caused by an oracle’s curse binding his family’s ashes to his skin.
Kratos journeys to Atlantis, encountering his mortal mother and long-lost brother Deimos, abducted by the gods to thwart Olympus’s prophesied downfall. The story peaks as Kratos and Deimos battle Thanatos, the Greek God of Death. Despite their victory, Kratos faces another tragic loss, fueling his growing rage against the Olympians.
Available on: PS3 (Origins Collection), PSP | IGN’s God of War: Ghost of Sparta Review
5. God of War: Betrayal (2007)
This 2D mobile sidescroller, confirmed as canon by Sony Santa Monica’s Bruno Velazquez, sees the gods attempt to curb Kratos’s bloodlust by sending Argos, a multi-eyed giant serving Hera. An unknown assassin frames Kratos for Argos’s death, straining his ties with Olympus. Zeus dispatches a messenger to halt Kratos’s destruction, but Kratos responds with violence, foreshadowing God of War 2 with the warning: “Soon, the fury of Zeus would rain down upon [Kratos].”
Released in 2007 before smartphones, Betrayal is unavailable on modern platforms and requires a Java emulator to play. It can be skipped without missing key story elements.
Available on: N/A (previously available on mobile) | IGN’s God of War: Betrayal Review
6. God of War 2 (2007)
God of War 2 sets Kratos against Zeus, King of Olympus. Shunned for his relentless rampage, Kratos ignores Athena’s call for peace, continuing his havoc across Greece. This prompts Zeus to intervene, killing Kratos on the battlefield.
Gaia, mother of Titans, allies with Kratos, guiding him to rewrite history and save himself. After a journey through the Underworld, Kratos confronts the Sisters of Fate, seizing control of the Loom of Fate. Returning to his death, Kratos’s plan to kill Zeus is interrupted by another Olympian, revealing his true lineage. Kratos rallies the Titans for a future assault on Olympus, setting the stage for God of War 3.
Available on: PS3 (God of War Collection), PS2 | IGN’s God of War 2 Review
7. God of War 3 (2010)
Following directly from God of War 2, God of War 3 concludes Kratos’s Greek saga, resolving his conflict with Zeus and the Olympians.
Kratos and the Titans wage war against the Olympians, with devastating consequences. Betrayed once more, Kratos descends into the Underworld, allying with a familiar figure to defeat Zeus. Back on Earth, Kratos unleashes a brutal campaign against gods and Titans, culminating in a climactic battle with Zeus. In the end, Kratos ends his quest for vengeance, sacrificing himself to restore hope to humanity amid a ruined world.
Available on: PS4 (Remastered), PS3 | IGN’s God of War 3 Review
8. God of War: A Call from the Wilds (2018)
God of War: A Call from the Wilds, a Facebook Messenger text-adventure, was released before 2018’s God of War. This 30-minute story introduces Atreus, Kratos’s son, exploring his extrasensory abilities and his relationships with Kratos and his mother, Faye, set before her death.
No longer playable, this title can be skipped, though full playthroughs are available on YouTube.
Available on: N/A (previously available on Facebook Messenger)
9. God of War (2018)
Years after God of War 3, the 2018 title relocates Kratos to the Norse realm of Midgard, where he lives with his son, Atreus. They embark on a quest to fulfill Faye’s final wish: scattering her ashes from the highest peak in the Nine Realms.
Their journey spans multiple realms, encountering Norse figures like Baldur, Freya, Thor’s sons Magni and Modi, the giant Jörmungandr, and Mimir. Kratos grapples with fatherhood and the secrets he keeps from Atreus about his past and heritage. Their adventure triggers Fimbulwinter, a three-year prelude to Ragnarök.
Available on: PS5, PS4 | IGN’s God of War 2018 Review
10. God of War Ragnarok (2022)
To avoid spoilers, this summary of Ragnarok remains vague due to its recent release.
God of War Ragnarok, the latest and most narrative-driven entry, takes place three years after 2018’s God of War, as Fimbulwinter nears its end and Ragnarök looms.
Returning characters join new faces like Odin and Thor, with the story centering on Kratos and Atreus. Atreus explores his emerging powers and identity, while the duo navigates all nine realms and the Realm Between Realms, battling Asgardians to survive Ragnarök.
The journey leaves room for future stories, with a New Game Plus mode available for replay.
Available on: PS5, PS4 | IGN’s God of War Ragnarok Review
How to Play God of War Games by Release Date
God of War (2005)God of War 2 (2007)God of War: Betrayal (2007)God of War: Chains of Olympus (2008)God of War 3 (2010)God of War: Ghost of Sparta (2010)God of War: Ascension (2013)God of War: A Call from the Wilds (2018)God of War (2018)God of War Ragnarok (2022)What’s Next for God of War?
Sony has not yet revealed plans for a new God of War title, but the critical and commercial triumph of God of War (2018) and Ragnarok suggests more entries to come. Recently, God of War Ragnarok launched on PC, with a guide available for the PC port.
A God of War TV series is in development for Amazon’s Prime Video, adapting the 2018 game’s story. Production faced challenges in 2024 after showrunner Rafe Judkins and executive producers Hawk Ostby and Mark Fergus departed.
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