Major spoilers ahead for God of War Ragnarok.
Highlights
- God of War Ragnarok sets the stage for a shift away from the Nordic setting towards new mythological backdrops.
- Thrud, Thor’s daughter, may play a key role in future games, potentially opening the door for Thor to reappear in some form.
- The legacy of Thor and other Norse characters may continue through Thrud, offering a unique perspective on godhood and familial relationships.
God of War Ragnarok, despite being extremely similar to its predecessor in terms of presentation and gameplay, paved the way for a number of key changes to the overarching narrative of the franchise. These changes followed the more foundational shifts that came alongside the series’ reboot in 2018, which thrust Kratos into the world of Norse mythology, allowing God of War to experiment with new mythical characters, settings, and concepts.
Many expect the series to move on from its current Nordic setting, adopting a sort of anthology format and visiting other mythological backdrops. This could very well be the case, as Atreus is setting off on his own journey, which could take him to any number of strange lands. Moreover, the ending of God of War Ragnarok was devastating for the Norse pantheon, as players saw the deaths of key figures like Odin, Heimdall, and Thor. That said, the legacy of at least one of these characters may live on, as there are characters that can memorialize him and grant players an alternate perspective, even in death.
As Thor’s daughter, Thrud is in an interesting position to provide a unique perspective, perhaps likening or contrasting her own experience as the child of a god with Atreus’.
Related
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Atreus may very well lead the next God of War story, but the shadow of Kratos looms large, and this could pose problems for this hypothetical game.
Why God of War Ragnarok’s Thor May Still Appear in a Future Game
Thor May Live On Through Thrud in the Next God of War
Although Thor seems to be out of the picture, his daughter most certainly isn’t. At the end of God of War Ragnarok, Thrud can be seen searching for Mjolnir, Thor’s mythical hammer that was cast into the abyss by Odin during their final battle. While exploring the open-world during the endgame, players can come across Thrud in Alfheim, where she appears to have found the magical weapon. She lifts it without difficulty and soars into the sky, an image that suggests her ascent into a powerful warrior, possibly a Valkyrie, wielding her late father’s hammer.
With Thrud’s newfound power, she may choose to join Atreus on his journey to seek out the remaining Giants. This would be fitting as, along with Angrboda, the three youngsters could form their own collective legacy, seeking adventure, glory, and purpose outside the confines of their ancestry. As Thor’s daughter, Thrud is in an interesting position to provide a unique perspective, perhaps likening or contrasting her own experience as the child of a god with Atreus’.
Through this examination of godhood, players could very well see Thor again, whether it be through flashbacks, visions, or spiritual encounters. Although the Norse games have seemingly pivoted away from this trope, death is not always permanent in God of War, with Kratos himself dying multiple times over the course of the series, only to claw his way back to life in some way or other. While a full resurrection of Thor seems unlikely, and would be potentially underwhelming to boot, it wouldn’t be totally implausible for Thrud to visit her father through some sort of magical means.
According to Norse mythology, Thor should currently be in Valhalla, as he died during battle. There are numerous benefits to visiting Valhalla in a future God of War title, one of which being the possibility of seeing Thor again. Thrud could get closure, and players could perhaps see a different, more sensitive side of the god, which was glimpsed only briefly before he was slain by his father.
Thor’s death is a bit of a gray area and may not technically be considered Valhalla-worthy, as he was caught off guard and wasn’t technically in the midst of a fight. In this case, Thor would be in Helheim.
It seems like God of War won’t be leaving the Norse era behind completely, as Kratos and other key characters are seemingly inextricable from it. Thrud is being teased as an important character for future releases, and with her being defined by her relationship with her father, she could be the vessel through which Thor reappears.
God of War: Ragnarok
God of War Ragnarok is an action-adventure game developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It serves as the sequel to God of War (2018) and the conclusion to Kratos and Atreus’ journey through Scandinavia. Loosely based on Norse mythology, players will fight mythological creatures while witnessing the events of Ragnarok.
- Released
- November 9, 2022
- ESRB
- M For Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
