Two of God of War Ragnarok’s Best Side Quests Share a Strength an Atreus Game Could Amplify

Highlights

• Speculation around Atreus potentially leading the next God of War game offers exciting narrative and gameplay possibilities.
• Atreus’ gentle nature and connection to animals could shape a unique and magical experience for players in a potential Atreus-led game.
• Leveraging Atreus’ distinct personality and abilities through creature-centric side quests could bring a fresh and immersive twist to the series.

God of War fans have long speculated that the next entry in the series will be centered around Atreus, considering the circumstances of Ragnarok‘s ending. Although there are some risks associated with putting Atreus at the helm of the next God of War, there’s also a great deal of potential, as the character could provide a new dimension for the series to explore, both in terms of gameplay and narrative.

It must be noted that Santa Monica Studios has not made any statements about Atreus leading the
God of War
franchise, and any discussion about him taking Kratos’ place as protagonist is pure speculation.

Atreus is fundamentally different from Kratos in a number of key ways: he has inherited some of Kratos’ rage, but he is generally far more gentle and peace-oriented. Growing up in a remote hut in the forest, he has an affinity for the natural world that isn’t exactly shared by Kratos, who grew up in Sparta and was a soldier from a young age. This difference in personality and origin is reflected in Atreus’ approach to combat and problem-solving, as he is more in tune with the mystical world and uses magic not only to fight enemies, but to commune with nature. This is particularly evident in Atreus’ relationship to animals and mythological creatures, which his potential God of War game could hone in on.

God of War Ragnarok’s Creature-Centric Quests Would Be Right at Home in an Atreus-Led Game

God of War Ragnarok’s Major Creature Quests Are Among Its Best

God of War Ragnarok is replete with meaningful side content, and The Weight of Chains and Secret of the Sands represent the best that the game has to offer. They are perhaps the most memorable side quests, centering around unshackling two mythical creatures: a hafgufa in Secret of the Sands, and Lyngbakr, a giant whale-like creature, in The Weight of Chains.

Naturally, these side missions resonate with Atreus’ affection for animals and mythical creatures, with the young man being both awed by their majesty and saddened by their circumstances. Atreus’ feelings for these creatures are not the focal point of the missions, but they certainly play a role in their storytelling, as Atreus offers a more empathetic, humane perspective on the treatment and condition of beings that many would consider monstrous. This aligns with Atreus’ shapeshifting abilities and his uncanny ability to communicate with non-verbal creatures, both of which support the notion that he is spiritually linked to the mythological animal kingdom.

An Atreus God of War Game Could Flesh Out Animal-Based Side Content

With Atreus having such an affinity for animals and magical beasts, it seems like a no-brainer for his theoretical game to draw heavily from Secret of the Sands and The Weight of Chains, putting Atreus in the role of a mythical, magic-wielding animal rights activist of sorts. This quest archetype has a wealth of potential, as Atreus’ game could feature long-running quest chains about saving smaller animals or helping various at-risk species. Similar quests in other games can feel like filler, but they would serve a narrative purpose in Atreus’ God of War game, given the character’s personality. It would also be a fun and organic way to flesh out God of War‘s mythic bestiary, giving the game a clean excuse to introduce more unique creatures.

An Atreus God of War game could be radically different from the previous entries in the series, and it arguably should—there’s little use in making this potential game just a re-skinned version of the last two God of War titles. Leveraging Atreus’ distinct personality and abilities through character-appropriate side content would be a great way to do this, and with how good Ragnarok‘s creature-based side quests are, there’s no reason not to pursue this route.