God of War is one of PlayStation’s most popular and iconic video game franchises. It has usually been a PlayStation-exclusive release (barring a couple of titles), but with God of War (2018), the team expanded the official availability to Windows PCs. It is continuing this approach with the latest God of War: Ragnarok (2022), which is set to debut on Windows on September 19.
If you plan to play the game and want to dive deep into the God of War universe, we are here to help. The franchise currently has 10 games that were released on different PlayStation consoles. However, one of the games was released for Java mobile phones, and another was a text-based game on Facebook Messenger.
Another thing to note is that the God of War storyline was inspired by Greek mythology until the soft reboot in 2018 when the narrative shifted to Norse mythology. So, with those details out of the way, here is the right way to play God of War games in chronological order.
God of War Games in Chronological Order
God of War: Ascension (2013)
God of War: Ascension is the seventh game in the series but the first one in chronological order. It tells the story of Kratos’ transformation from a Spartan to the God of War. The story takes place a few months after Kratos was tricked into murdering his wife and daughter by Ares, the Greek God of War.
After being traumatised by the killings, Kratos breaks his blood oath to Ares, and as a result, he is imprisoned and tortured by the three Furies. This sets the story in motion, and Kratos has to kill the three Furies to get freedom.
Released On: PlayStation 3
God of War: Chains of Olympus (2008)
God of War: Chains of Olympus takes place about halfway through Kratos’ decade-long servitude to the Olympian Gods. He is sent to defend the city of Attica against the Persian army, which he does successfully. This is when he sees the Sun falling from the sky, and Athena tells him to find Helios, the Greek God of the Sun, in the Underworld.
He ends up meeting the Queen of the Underworld, Persephone, who allows him to reunite with his daughter. The game shows the complicated sides of Kratos’s nature and whether he chooses personal desires or the greater good.
Released On: PlayStation 3 and PSP
God of War (2005)
God of War is the first game that launched the franchise, but it is ranked third chronologically. It takes place 10 years after GoW: Ascension. The game has a storyline in which the Goddess Athena tasks Kratos with killing Ares, the Greek God of War. As the story progresses, Kratos discovers the manipulative nature of the gods.
It is the game that explains why Kratos and the gods are not exactly on good terms. It also explains how Kratos became a servant to Ares and received his iconic Blades of Chaos.
Released On: PlayStation 2
God of War: Ghost of Sparta (2010)
God of War: Ghost of Sparta is a game that sheds light on Kratos’ past. The story features Callisto, his mother and Deimos, his brother. Kratos is haunted by visions of the past and explores his origins to find answers. He then fights the God of Death, Thanatos, to rescue his brother.
Released On: PSP
God of War: Betrayal (2007)
God of War: Betrayal is a side-scroller mobile video game that was released before the rise of smartphones. This means that you cannot play this game now unless you find an old Java mobile phone or a Java emulator. As far as the story is concerned, Kratos pursues an unidentified assassin who has framed him for the murder of Argos, a many-eyed giant.
He is confronted by Ceryx, son of Hermes, who is sent by Zeus to make him stop his blood thrust. The game once again establishes a complicated and spoiled relationship between Kratos and the Olympian gods.
Released On: Java mobile phones
God of War 2 (2007)
God of War 2 is the second release in the series and depicts the showdown between Kratos and the King of the Gods, Zeus. It starts with Kratos rejecting Athena’s request for peace, resulting in Zeus coming to the battlefield and killing him.
However, Titan Gaia comes to the rescue and tells Kratos how he can go back in the past and prevent his death from Zeus. The game features multiple significant events and reveals Kratos’ true parentage.
Released On: PlayStation 2
God of War 3 (2010)
God of War 3 continues right after the events of the previous instalment. It serves as the completion of the troubled and blood-shedding saga between Kratos and Zeus. He ascends to Mount Olympus and kills multiple gods and monsters. The game features the ultimate showdown between Kratos and Zeus.
This also marks the end of the original God of War trilogy. While all the games so far are worth playing in their own ways, this is undoubtedly the best of them.
Released On: PlayStation 3
God of War: A Call from the Wilds (2018)
God of War: A Call from the Wilds is a text-based video game released on Facebook Messenger. It was a prequel to God of War (2018) and introduced Kratos’ son, Atreus, as a new main character. The game offers an introduction to his personality and capabilities. It also sets up the complex father-son relationship that eventually becomes the main theme for the next major game in the series.
God of War (2018)
God of War (2018) is essentially a soft reboot of the series that shifts the narrative from Greek to Norse mythology. It shows Kratos trying to live a peaceful life in Midgard with his son Atreus. His second wife, Faye, has passed away, and the duo must travel together to complete her last wish: to scatter her ashes from the highest peak in all of the Nine Realms.
During this journey, the father-son duo travels to different realms and fights gods, monsters, and creatures. Apart from the usual action, the game also shows an emotional side as Kratos tries to connect with his son. The game ends by revealing a major detail about Atreus’ true identity.
Released On: PlayStation 4 and PC
God of War: Ragnarok (2022)
God of War: Ragnarok is the most recent entry in the saga. It takes place a few years after the events of the previous release. The story still revolves around Kratos and Atreus as they travel to different realms to navigate the looming end of the world, Ragnarok.
It is the first game in which Atreus is available as a playable character. As it stands, the game completes the North mythology side of the sage.
Released On: PlayStation 5, Coming to PC on September 19
