Is God of War Ragnarok Better Than God of War (2018)?

The verdict: Yes, God of War Ragnarok is the better game due to superior combat, exploration, world-building and length. However, God of War (2018) still stands as an incredible achievement and starting point for this new saga.

God of War (2018) was a groundbreaking soft reboot that took the franchise in a bold new direction. It introduced a over-the-shoulder camera, Leviathan Axe combat, and a deeply personal father-son story focused on Kratos and Atreus. This intimate adventure laid the foundation for Ragnarok to build upon.

Ragnarok evolves the formula even further by expanding the abilities, enemy roster, realms, customization options, story scope and length of playtime. Across the board, Ragnarok represents the pinnacle of this new God of War era.

Let‘s dive deeper into the biggest factors that set Ragnarok above its predecessor.

Combat: Ragnarok Perfects the Formula

The combat in God of War Ragnarok takes everything that worked so well in 2018 and adds new layers of depth. Kratos has more ways to unleash his rage on enemies with the revamped Blades of Chaos and shield abilities. Atreus plays a bigger role, with new types of arrows and skill trees to support different playstyles.

There is simply more you can do during combat:

• Kratos‘ Leviathan Axe has several new moves like the Whiplash ability to hit multiple enemies. His Runic attacks create ice clones and meteor slams to devastate foes.

• The Blades of Chaos return with new moves like the Hyperion Grapple to pull enemies in. Runic attacks launch infinite fireballs and unleash a rain of fire.

• The Dauntless and Stonewall shields add parrying and bashing options. You can bash shields into enemies to stagger them.

• Atreus can swap between different arrow types on the fly to stun, detonate, slow down or distract enemies.

• New relics like the Draupnir Spear provide temporary abilities to change your playstyle.

Ragnarok also introduces more enemy types like the mystic Seidr to keep you on your toes. Enemies are smarter about dodging, blocking and working together. They‘ll counter your moves and put pressure on you to use the full breadth of your skills.

According to reviews, these evolutions make combat even more tactical and satisfying than before. There‘s a sense of mastery as you learn to use Kratos‘ expanding repertoire of punishing skills against increasingly lethal foes.

More Realms to Explore: Dense With Secrets

2018‘s God of War focused mostly on Midgard, with brief trips to Alfheim and Helheim. This kept the game feeling intimate. Ragnarok blows the doors wide open, letting you explore wondrous new realms derived from Norse myths.

Each realm has completely unique enemies, landscapes, architecture and secrets to discover. Paying homage to Norse mythology, they give the game a grand sense of scale and adventure. The level of detail put into each environment is extraordinary.

There is a sense of wonder when exploring these realms and uncovering their hidden secrets. For example, Svartalfheim has you navigating dark, winding mines with caverns branching in all directions. Niflheim is a deadly mist-filled forest where you‘ll stumble onto elusive treasures.

Ragnarok encourages you to revisit realms to fully uncover their secrets. Optional Favors open up new areas and challenges. Overall, the world feels more dense with activities and purpose compared to the 2018 game.

Story: A Sweeping, Emotional Epic

God of War (2018) was praised for its emotionally charged story centered on Kratos and Atreus. Their relationship evolves from distrust to understanding as they journey together, leading to deep character development.

Ragnarok takes this strong foundation and expands the scope. New characters like Freya, Thor and Odin play pivotal roles. The stakes feel grander as Ragnarok looms. There are some truly spectacular set pieces, like an epic showdown while traveling between realms.

At the same time, Ragnarok retains the touching moments between Kratos and Atreus. We see how much their bond has strengthened after the events of the first game. Atreus grapples with living up to expectations and comes into his own as a young man.

Both games have phenomenal stories, but Ragnarok edges ahead by blending the intimate family moments with a sweeping mythological epic. The conclusion wraps up this saga in a meaningful way.

Length and Replay Value

God of War Ragnarok is approximately 1.5x longer than its predecessor based on average playtimes:

• God of War (2018): Main story takes 20-25 hours. Completionists spent 35-40 hours for 100% completion.

• God of War Ragnarok: Main story takes 30-35 hours. Completionists have spent 50-60+ hours aiming for 100%.

The increased length is partly thanks to letting players explore the full breadth of the Norse realms. There are also more side quests and Favors to take on compared to the first game.

Ragnarok adds a New Game+ mode, allowing you to replay the story while keeping all your skills, weapons and gear. This provides more replay value compared to the 2018 game.

Final Verdict

In the end, God of War Ragnarok represents a refined version of the formula established in 2018‘s God of War. The combat, exploration, world-building and scope have all been dialed up to 11 while keeping the touching character drama.

However, the 2018 game was revolutionary in how it reimagined the franchise. It laid the groundwork that allowed Ragnarok to soar even higher. Both games are absolute triumphs and arguably two of the greatest PlayStation games ever made.

So while Ragnarok has the edge overall, you can‘t go wrong by playing both from start to finish. What do you think – is God of War Ragnarok the definitive God of War experience? Let me know in the comments!