God of War Ragnarok: a beginners guide to the Norse gods

God of War Ragnarok is giving us more Norse mythology for Kratos and Atreus to contend with. So, to help settle you into the world of Aesir, we have written up a guide to acquaint you with the major contenders you might be unfamiliar with.

God of War Ragnarök will have new gods from Norse mythology and gods that appeared in God of War (2018). We are rounding them up for you in a neat guide to help get you prepped for the world of the primary Aesir gods of Asgard, the secondary Vanir gods of the rest of the nine realms, and Kratos' place within it.

This guide is spoiler free for Ragnarok, but will use information from God of War (2018) and the Ragnarok trailers.

God of War Ragnarok features the Aesir god Loki

Who is Loki?

Launching straight into those God of War (2018) spoilers (it's one of the best PS4 games didn't you know?), we now understand that Kratos' son Atreus is actually the trickster Aesir god Loki, whom we are certain you are familiar with from popular culture. The original tales from the prosaic and poetic Eddas — the two 13th-century Icelandic sagas with the Norse myths — recount that giant Fárbauti and the mysterious mother Laufey birthed Loki. The handsome, malicious young man is taken in by the Aesir and joins the pantheon, but constantly strives for power and uses tricks to try and make it so — particularly enjoying those on his honourable half-brother Thor. Eventually, Loki manages to get himself into trouble after his son, the ever-growing wolf Fenrir, is foretold to kill Óðinn. We will leave it there for the sake of potential Ragnarök spoilers.

In God of War, Atreus' father Kratos appears to be taking on the role of the giant Fárbauti and the deceased mother Faye was revealed to be Laufey the Just at the end of the previous game. Thor purged the realm of Jötunheimr, so Laufey had to escape and seemingly struck up a relationship with the mythology-hopping Greek god Kratos, possibly on her interdimensional travels. When father and son go on a quest to deliver her ashes back to the land of the giants, it is revealed that Atreus' given name is Loki and it is prophesied that Loki and Kratos have a big role in Ragnarök's lengthy story — the end times of Norse mythology.

God of War Ragnarok features Thor the Aesir

Who is Thor?

The god of thunder and holder of the legendary hammer Mjölnir, Thor, is pretty much a known entity. In the original myths, Thor's father is Óðinn, his mother is Jörðis (giant goddess of the earth and notably not Óðinn's wife Frigg), and the thunder god is the brother of Baldr. While we know you probably have a sense of his bullish character from popular media, it is worth noting that in the myths he is stereotypically honourable — thus easily preyed upon by Loki — but also a god of agriculture and fertility as an Aesir of the sky. Thor has a pretty pivotal role in Ragnarök in the myths, but we are hesitant to elaborate in case of spoilers for the latest Studio Santa Monica adventure.

In God of War, Thor's role appears to be slightly more malicious than that of the traditional cut-and-dry honourable warrior. Thor beats his son Magni, whom you fight in the first game in a weakened state. Thor is responsible for the massacre of the giants, the Jötuns, and thus presumably the death of Laufey the Just, Atreus' mother. In the first game, the giants lock down their realm to keep the attacking Aesir out, causing trouble for Kratos and Atreus who are trying to enter. Eventually, it is revealed that Laufey had the Leviathan Axe Kratos uses made as a match for Thor's Mjölnir. While the exacting lore is yet to be untangled, it seems like Thor works on behalf of the Allfather Óðinn and is not best pleased with Kratos for killing his brother Baldur.

God of War Ragnarok features Aesir god Týr

Who is Týr?

Týr is arguably one of the most fascinating gods in the Norse pantheon and looks to pick up that title in the next God of War entry. He is an Aesir and has a sporadic selection of appearances in the Edda, but ones that indicate he was brave and clever — a warrior figure. He has a deep rivalry with Loki in the books thanks to an encounter with Loki's son Fenrir, which we won't spoil for you. Indeed, Týr is a man of justice and was associated with chief god Mars in the Roman pantheon, suggesting that the importance of Týr has been lost in the literature since the Viking age.

Indeed, there is plenty of academic debate that suggests Týr's mythological origins reside in a much more esteemed Indo-European god called Dyeus whom the Norse borrowed from. In turn, it seems the PlayStation Studios is using Týr not only as a justice bringer and a peaceful god of war in Norse myth but also a mythological traveller. In the first game of the reboot, Týr is the maker of the Bifröst at the centre of the Lake of the Nine that allows Kratos and Atreus to travel the nine Norse realms using the roots of Yggdrasil, the world tree.

Norse gods like Óðinn believe that Týr was helping the Jötuns and possibly Atreus's mother Laufey and thus he is believed exiled or executed by all those Kratos meets along his journey. A temple at the Bifröst shows that the peacemaker was actually a traveller learning about other mythologies — this is possibly how Kratos found himself transferring from Greek myth to Norse. Indeed, there are indications in the temple that he travelled to Egyptian myth — an exciting prospect for the future of the series. We aren't quite sure the marketing does him justice!

God of War: Ragnarök features Freya the Vanir

Who is Freya?

Freya was introduced in God of War (2018) as a major player but will be returning in Ragnarök. In the Edda's, Freya's role isn't that of an Aesir, but of a Vanir — a secondary set of gods once rivalling the Aesir and frequently considered to be more associated with the mystic arts. Freya's role in the game is blended with the Norse myth of Aesir goddess Frigg — Óðinn wife and the mother of Baldur (The Stranger who is sent to kill Kastos' wife). Frigg and Freya are argued over by scholars as to whether they are the same god, but there are different myths attached to both.

The important one to know from the Edda is that her son, Baldr, dreamed of his own death. So, Frigg begs all the spirits of the nine realms that her son is made invincible from harm to try and ensure his survival against whatever his fate might be. The wish is granted, but Loki finds out that during Frigg's meeting with the spirits, the mistletoe was too young to grant such an oath and Baldr can still be killed with it. Subsequently, he tricks Baldr's brother Höðr into killing him with an arrow barbed with mistletoe. Frigg, in grief, asks the Aesir to travel the road to the realm of Hel to retrieve Baldr... a story we will leave there.

In God of War, Freya is a witch of the woods who recognises Kratos as a god. Outed from the Aesir home after trying to leave her husband Óðinn, she was stripped of her position as Queen of the Valkyries (this isn't a thing in Norse myth) and had a spell cast upon her so she couldn't harm anyone or leave the realm of Midgard. To protect her son Baldur from Óðinn, she made him immortal — until Kratos ends his life with mistletoe after Baldur turns on his mother Freya. It is revealed that Baldur was sent to kill Kratos' wife for Óðinn. After the game wraps up, it is revealed Freya is trying to get a hold of the Valkyrie wings to take down Kratos in revenge for her son's death — the conflict of which even graces God of War Ragnarok's art book.

God of War Ragnarok

Who is Óðinn?

Here we go, the shady stranger operating behind the scenes in God of War (2018): Óðinn. This is the Allfather of Norse mythology who lets crows do the talking for him most of the time and resides at the head of the Aesir family. He helps create the world by slicing the primordial figure Ymir down, bringing about the nine realms and creating humanity. He is the father of Thor and Baldr via two separate goddesses (though Jörðis is less like a god and more like a stand-in for the Earth). He is selfishly enthralled in his own fate after the severed head of Mímir foretells of Ragnarök — the end times. The god oversees Valhalla where the greatest Norse heroes feast. He is often a reflection of power in human society, an entity that mimics the heralded roles of the father figure, powerful god, king, and crown warrior. With that comes boastfulness, vanity, pride, callousness and greed — something the Edda reflects on frequently.

In God of War, Óðinn isn't seen but his presence is felt. We enter the world of Norse myth after Óðinn commands the destruction of the giant race. He sends his sons Thor and Baldur to do the job and kill any stragglers. He banishes Freya after she tries to leave him and disappears Týr thinking he is working for the giants. Access to Asgard, home of the Æsir gods, has been blocked at his command from the Bifröst that Týr made. Óðinn will no doubt play a big role in Ragnarok, so keep his shadowy actions in your mind even if you've been waiting for Ragnarok to finish its cycle of development hell... or is that development Hel?

Are you content with Norse mythology being the God of War setting? Like this pantheon? Let us know in the comments and don't forget to read all about the best PS5 games!

Written by Kes Eylers-Stephenson

Editor-in-Chief Kes is our resident expert in PlayStation and Sony news. He writes about PS5 games like The Witcher IV, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and Kingdom Come Deliverance II using experience from years of PlayStation gaming. He also covers PS Plus news and some of the best PS5 games — Uncharted, God of War, and The Last of Us — before an evening swim.