Kotaku’s Weekend Guide: 5 Games To Shield You From The Cold - Page 2 of 6

God of War Ragnarök

Play it on: PS5, PS4
Current goal: Play through the Valhalla DLC
Buy it from: Amazon | Best Buy | GameStop

I was late to the party with God of War (2018), because all the then-new dads in my circle were constantly rhapsodizing about the relationship between Kratos and Atreus, and frankly the vibes were extremely dude-centric. So when I finally played it, I was dazzled by its restrained yet moving character development amid all the blockbuster spectacle. And with the mythological Ragnarök being essentially a time-bending, world-spanning apocalypse, I had high expectations for the 2022 sequel.

God of War Ragnarök is a whole lot of fun, but it doesn’t hit quite as hard as its predecessor. This is partly for spoilery reasons I won’t get into, and also because Ragnarök ditches the 2018 game’s impactful awkward silences between father and tween. Instead, a rotating cast of supporting characters prattle on endlessly and incessantly about their backstories and emotions. I know more about Freya and Angrboda’s family drama than that of some of my closest friends. So when I heard the Valhalla DLC was a solo jaunt for Kratos, I was delighted. I can’t wait to decimate some draugr and trolls again—without having to mute my TV this time. — Jen Glennon