God of War (2018 and Ragnarök)

For more of: Melee-focused combat, tough dudes, cool monsters and side-quests
Notable differences: Not as big, more puzzles, no horse to ride, easier difficulty
Availability:
God of War (2018): Windows (Steam Deck OK), PS4, PS5
God of War Ragnarök: PS4, PS5

The rebooted God of War and its 2022 sequel, God of War Ragnarök, are fantastic third-person action-adventure games that combine melee combat, exploration, and magic together in a similar way to The Witcher 3. While The Witcher 3’s combat is a bit more intense and tricky, requiring you to prepare ahead of big fights, God of War is easier to just jump into and enjoy. (That said, some later endgame fights and optional bosses can kick your ass pretty good.)

Read More: God of War Ragnarök: The Kotaku Review

Players wanting a big open world like The Witcher 3’s will likely prefer Ragnarök over its predecessor. However, skipping right to the sequel might be a tad confusing so you might want to watch a YouTube catch-up video first. Regardless, Ragnarök, like The Witcher 3, features some really interesting side-quests off the beaten path. Some areas of the latest game even feel like a mini open world, complete with dungeons and quests you can tackle in different orders.

Kratos and Geralt share a lot in common, with both men being tough as nails and of few words. However, Geralt has the better hair and laugh. Sorry, Kratos. At least you have the cooler weapons! — Zack Zwiezen