God of War is an action-adventure game franchise created by David Jaffe and developed by Sony's Santa Monica Studio. It began in 2005 on the PlayStation 2 (PS2) video game console and has become a flagship series for PlayStation, consisting of 10 installments across multiple platforms, with two further games in development. Santa Monica Studio has developed the six main entries with two additional games in the works, while Ready at Dawn, Javaground/Sony Online Entertainment-Los Angeles (SOE-LA), and Mega Cat Studios developed the four side games. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has published all games except the mobile phone installment, which was published by Sony Pictures Digital.
Based on ancient mythologies, the series' main plot follows Kratos, a Spartan warrior who becomes the God of War and comes into conflict with various mythological pantheons. The earlier games in the series 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, as they come into conflict or interact with various Norse deities and figures. Laufey, Kratos's second wife and Atreus's mother, will be introduced as a main protagonist in the next installment that is in development, which will introduce other mythologies to the series, such as Egyptian and Mongolian mythologies.
The first seven games plus the 2026 title make up the Greek era of the franchise. God of War (2005), God of War II (2007), and God of War III (2010) comprise its main trilogy; the first two were released on the PS2 with the third on the PlayStation 3 (PS3). A prequel and the fourth mainline title, Ascension (2013), was also released for the PS3. Other games include Chains of Olympus (2008) and Ghost of Sparta (2010) for the PlayStation Portable (PSP), and the two-dimensional (2D) side-scroller, Betrayal (2007), for mobile phones that supported the Java Platform, Micro Edition (Java ME). The series returned to the Greek setting with Sons of Sparta (2026), a 2D Metroidvania game that takes place during Kratos's youth and was released for PlayStation 5 (PS5).
The Norse era currently only comprises two games: God of War (2018) and Ragnarök (2022), the latter of which received an epilogue in the form of an expansion pack titled Valhalla (2023). A third Norse era game, Laufey, is in development for a 2027 release. Both the 2018 installment and Ragnarök were released for PlayStation 4 (PS4), with Ragnarök simultaneously released on PS5; both received Windows ports in January 2022 and September 2024, respectively. The 2018 installment was also accompanied by a short prequel story, A Call from the Wilds (2018), a text-based game that was available through Facebook Messenger for a limited time. Laufey is in development for the PS5 as the seventh mainline title, which will be a spin-off featuring Laufey, also known as Faye, as the main character, with the game's narrative occurring simultaneously with that of both the 2018 installment and Ragnarök, following her journey in the afterlife where she comes into conflict with the gods of war of other mythologies. Another untitled game was also confirmed to release after Laufey with Kratos back as the main character and connecting directly to Laufey.
Games in the series have been praised as some of the best action games of all time. The series has received numerous awards, including several Game of the Year recognitions for the 2005 and 2018 installments. Some games have also been remastered for newer PlayStation platforms, and a remake of the original trilogy is in development. As of November 2023, the franchise has sold an estimated 66+ million games worldwide, and is PlayStation's most profitable first-party brand. Strong sales and support of the series led to the franchise's expansion into other media, such as three comic book series and three novels. A film adaptation of the original installment had been in development but was ultimately canceled; however, a television series adaptation of the Norse era is in development for Amazon Prime Video. Merchandise includes artwork, clothing, toys, and prop replicas, as well as the games' soundtracks, including a heavy metal album, Blood & Metal (2010), featuring original music by various bands, who were inspired by the Greek era of the series.
Games
Greek mythology God of War was first released in North America on March 22, 2005, for the PlayStation 2. After 10 years in the service of the Olympian gods, Spartan soldier Kratos is tasked by Athena to find Pandora's box, the key to defeating Ares, the God of War, who is running amok through Athens. A series of flashbacks reveals that Kratos was once the servant of Ares, who saved Kratos and his army from annihilation in battle, but tricked him into killing his family, which forced his metamorphosis into the "Ghost of Sparta". Kratos eventually finds Pandora's Box, and after finally killing Ares, he ascends to Mount Olympus to become the new God of War.
God of War II was first released in North America on March 13, 2007, for the PlayStation 2. Angry at his fellow gods, Kratos runs amok across the city of Rhodes. Zeus intervenes and betrays Kratos, who is saved by Gaia. She tells him he must now find the Sisters of Fate, who can change his fate and prevent his death at the hands of Zeus. Kratos is ultimately successful and as he is about to kill the god, Athena sacrifices herself to save Zeus and preserve Olympus, and tells Kratos that he is Zeus' son and that he betrayed Kratos out of fear. Kratos then joins forces with Gaia and the Titans to attack Olympus.
God of War: Betrayal was released on June 20, 2007, for mobile phones supporting the Java Platform, Micro Edition. It was the first game in the series to be released as a two-dimensional (2D) side-scroller and the first that was released on a non-PlayStation platform and is also the only to never receive a PlayStation release. The narrative of the game takes place between the events of Ghost of Sparta and God of War II. The God of War Kratos is framed for murder and rampages across Greece, seeking the true assassin. Kratos succumbs to bloodlust and kills Ceryx, the son of the god Hermes—an act that alienates him from his fellow gods.
God of War: Chains of Olympus was first released in North America on March 4, 2008, for the PlayStation Portable. Its narrative takes place sometime between Ascension and God of War during Kratos' 10 years of service to the gods. Kratos halts a Persian invasion of the Greek city of Attica, and learns that the world has been plunged into darkness by the god Morpheus. Kratos investigates the abduction of the sun god Helios, and prevents the Machiavellian plan of the goddess Persephone to use the Titan Atlas to destroy the world.
God of War III was first released in North America on March 16, 2010, for the PlayStation 3. Reigniting the Great War, Kratos is soon abandoned by the Titans, who were only using him to exact their own revenge. Now seeking revenge against both the Titans and Olympian gods, he is helped by the spirit of Athena, who was elevated to a new level of understanding and instructs him to seek the Flame of Olympus in order to defeat Zeus. Kratos engages the gods and the Titans in a series of battles across the Underworld and Olympus and learns that Pandora's Box is within the Flame. He discovers that Pandora herself is the key to pacifying the Flame and allowing him to open the Box, at the expense of her life. After finally killing Zeus and with Olympus destroyed, Kratos refuses to help Athena assume the role of new patron of mankind and disappears.
God of War: Ghost of Sparta was first released in North America on November 2, 2010, for the PlayStation Portable. Set between the events of God of War and Betrayal, the God of War Kratos is still haunted by visions of his mortal past and embarks on a quest to discover his origins by finding his mother, Callisto. He learns that his brother Deimos was taken by the gods and imprisoned by the God of Death, Thanatos, and decides to find and save his sibling. Although successful, Thanatos engages the brothers in combat, and kills Deimos. Kratos then kills Thanatos and returns to Olympus, further enraged at the gods.
God of War: Ascension was first released in North America on March 12, 2013, for the PlayStation 3. It was the first game in the series to feature multiplayer, which is online-only for both competitive and cooperative play. Taking place sometime between Sons of Sparta and Chains of Olympus, the game is set roughly six months after Kratos was tricked into killing his wife and daughter, and sees him imprisoned by the three Furies for breaking his blood oath to Ares. With the help of the oath keeper and Ares' estranged son Orkos, Kratos learns that the God of War and the Furies plan to overthrow Mount Olympus and that Ares chose Kratos as his servant to help him for that very purpose. The Spartan escapes his imprisonment and eventually kills the Furies, as well as Orkos, who begs for release. Although free of Ares' bond, Kratos begins to suffer the nightmares that plague him for years.
God of War Sons of Sparta was released worldwide on February 12, 2026, for the PlayStation 5. Predating Ascension, it is a prequel to the entire series as the game follows a 13-year-old Kratos as he trains at the Agoge in Sparta with his 11-year-old brother Deimos as they explore Laconia in search of a missing Spartan comrade. The story is narrated by an adult Kratos during his time as a captain in the Spartan Army, who is in between deployments and tells the story to his daughter Calliope to help her understand the meaning of duty. A Metroidvania game, it is the second installment to be presented as a 2D side-scroller as well as to feature a multiplayer component, which is only available locally (offline) in a roguelite challenge mode.
Norse mythology God of War: A Call from the Wilds was a short text-based game, released through Facebook Messenger on February 1, 2018, but it was only accessible for a limited time. It served as a prelude story to 2018's God of War, and followed Atreus on his first adventure in the Norse wilds. Additionally, a smartphone companion app called Mimir's Vision released on April 17, 2018, and provided some background for the Norse setting.
God of War was released worldwide on April 20, 2018, for the PlayStation 4, and for Windows (PC) through Steam on January 14, 2022, which marked the first main installment released on a non-PlayStation platform. The game was a new direction for the series, not only by its new mythological setting, but also by its gameplay. Many years after the events of God of War III, Kratos has ended up in the world of Norse mythology in ancient Norway in the realm of Midgard, and has a son named Atreus. After Kratos' second wife named Faye, who is also Atreus' mother, passes away, the two set out on a journey to fulfill her final wish of spreading her ashes at the highest peak of the nine realms, later revealed to be in Jötunheim by new ally Mímir. Along their journey, they are attacked by the Æsir god Baldur, who was sent by the Allfather Odin to get to Faye in order to prevent Ragnarök, unaware she had died. After Kratos eventually kills Baldur, the three-year-long Fimbulwinter begins, with Ragnarök soon to follow. While Baldur's mother, the Vanir goddess Freya, swears revenge on Kratos, he and Atreus complete their journey and discover that Faye was a Giant who had foreseen the future and that Atreus was originally named Loki.