God of War (franchise)
A flagship PlayStation series spanning Greek and Norse mythologies.
God of War is an action-adventure series from Sony's Santa Monica Studio, originally dreamed up by David Jaffe. Launched in 2005 on the PlayStation 2, it grew into one of PlayStation's most important franchises, with ten games released across different platforms and two more on the way. The six main games were built by Santa Monica Studio, while four side titles came from Ready at Dawn, Javaground/Sony Online Entertainment-Los Angeles, and Mega Cat Studios. Sony Interactive Entertainment published everything except the mobile phone game, which was handled by Sony Pictures Digital.
The series draws on ancient myths, centering on Kratos, a Spartan soldier who rises to become the God of War and clashes with various pantheons. The early games, set in Greek mythology, follow Kratos on a vengeful rampage against the Olympian gods. Later entries shift to Norse mythology, where Kratos seeks redemption alongside his son Atreus, interacting with Norse gods and figures. The next game in development will introduce Laufey—Kratos's second wife and Atreus's mother—as a main protagonist, and will bring in other mythologies like Egyptian and Mongolian.
The Greek era covers the first seven games plus a 2026 title. The core trilogy includes *God of War* (2005), *God of War II* (2007), and *God of War III* (2010), with the first two on PS2 and the third on PS3. A prequel and fourth mainline game, *Ascension* (2013), also hit PS3. Side games include *Chains of Olympus* (2008) and *Ghost of Sparta* (2010) for PSP, plus the 2D side-scroller *Betrayal* (2007) for Java ME phones. The Greek setting returns with *Sons of Sparta* (2026), a 2D Metroidvania set during Kratos's youth, released on PS5.
The Norse era currently has two games: *God of War* (2018) and *Ragnarök* (2022), with a downloadable epilogue called *Valhalla* (2023). A third Norse game, *Laufey*, is in development for a 2027 release. Both 2018 and *Ragnarök* launched on PS4, with *Ragnarök* also on PS5; Windows ports arrived in January 2022 and September 2024, respectively. The 2018 game had a short text-based prequel, *A Call from the Wilds* (2018), available through Facebook Messenger for a limited time.
Quick Facts
- Title
- God of War
- Genre
- Action-adventure / Hack and slash
- Publisher
- Sony Interactive EntertainmentFormerly Sony Computer Entertainment. Published all installments except Betrayal. / Sony Pictures DigitalPublished Betrayal for mobile phones
- Creator
- David Jaffe
- Artist
- Charlie Wen
- Writer
- Marianne Krawczyk (Greek games) · Matt Sophos (Norse games) · Richard Gaubert (Norse games)
- Platforms
- PlayStation 2 / Java ME / PlayStation Portable / PlayStation 3 / PlayStation Vita / PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5 / Windows
- First Release Date
- March 22, 2005
- Latest Release Version
- God of War Sons of Sparta
- Latest Release Date
- February 12, 2026
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series' main plot follows Kratos, a Spartan warrior who becomes the God of War. The earlier games are based on Greek mythology, referred to as the Greek era, and see Kratos follow a path of vengeance against the Olympian gods. The later games are based on Norse mythology, referred to as the Norse era, and see Kratos on a path of redemption while also introducing his son Atreus as a secondary protagonist. Laufey, Kratos's second wife and Atreus's mother, will be introduced as a main protagonist in the next installment in development, which will introduce other mythologies such as Egyptian and Mongolian.
Reader's Guide
The God of War franchise is notable as PlayStation's most profitable first-party brand, with over 66 million games sold as of November 2023. Games in the series have been praised as some of the best action games of all time and have received numerous awards, including several Game of the Year recognitions for the 2005 and 2018 installments. The series has expanded into other media, including three comic book series, three novels, and a television series adaptation of the Norse era in development for Amazon Prime Video. A film adaptation of the original installment was ultimately canceled. Merchandise includes artwork, clothing, toys, prop replicas, and soundtracks, including a heavy metal album, Blood & Metal (2010). Some games have been remastered for newer PlayStation platforms, and a remake of the original trilogy is in development.
Did You Know?
- The series began in 2005 on the PlayStation 2.
- The franchise has sold an estimated 66+ million games worldwide as of November 2023.
- A television series adaptation of the Norse era is in development for Amazon Prime Video.
- The next installment, Laufey, will introduce Egyptian and Mongolian mythologies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is God of War and where did it start?
God of War is an action-adventure video game series created by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It debuted on the PlayStation 2 in 2005 and has since grown into one of PlayStation's most recognizable franchises, with ten released titles and two more currently in development.
Who is Kratos and what can he do in combat?
Kratos is a former Spartan soldier who seizes the power of the Greek god of war before later becoming a father navigating Norse mythology. In battle he wields iconic weapons such as the Blades of Exile and the Leviathan Axe, supplemented by divine abilities he absorbs from various gods throughout the series.
Why is God of War considered so important in gaming?
The franchise helped shape the modern action-adventure genre by pairing brutal, physics-driven combat with deeply personal storytelling rooted in classical myth. Its 2018 Norse reboot is frequently cited as a turning point that redefined expectations for cinematic single-player experiences on PlayStation.
How many God of War games are there and who developed them?
Ten titles have shipped to date: six core entries built by Santa Monica Studio and four side games produced by studios including Ready at Dawn, Javaground, and Mega Cat. Sony Interactive Entertainment published all of them except the mobile phone entry, which fell under Sony Pictures Digital.
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