Should I Play God of War Before Ragnarök?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You want the full narrative impact. God of War (2018) introduces Kratos’s changed personality, his relationship with Atreus, the Norse setting, and major characters such as Freya, Baldur, Mimir, and the World Serpent. Experiencing this first makes Ragnarök’s emotional beats and callbacks land much harder.
• Good fit: You want to learn the combat and progression systems at a natural pace. Ragnarök assumes you understand the Leviathan Axe, Blades of Chaos, shield types, and RPG-style gear upgrades. Playing the first game lets you build that fluency without the sequel throwing advanced mechanics at a new player.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: You are sensitive to backtracking and dated pacing. God of War (2018) is widely praised, but some players find the boat travel, repeated enemy encounters, and slower opening hours less engaging than modern releases. If your main goal is to experience the newest game, forcing yourself through the prequel may cause fatigue.
• Warning sign: You are short on money or time and only want to play Ragnarök. The 2018 game is a substantial 20-to-40-hour experience depending on side content. If your budget or schedule is tight, Ragnarök’s built-in recap and lower difficulty options can help you start the sequel without the full investment.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Stronger emotional investment. The father-son arc, major deaths, betrayals, and revelations in Ragnarök carry far more weight when you have lived through the events of the first game alongside the characters.
• Smoother gameplay transition. You will already understand weapon combos, runic attacks, status effects, equipment upgrades, and enemy weaknesses, which lets you enjoy Ragnarök’s deeper combat from the start.

Cons

• Time and cost commitment. Playing God of War (2018) adds a significant amount of gameplay before you can start Ragnarök, and purchasing both titles may not fit every budget.
• Possible pacing whiplash. The 2018 game is more methodical and exploration-heavy in places. Players who prefer the faster, more combat-dense structure of Ragnarök might find the prequel’s pacing uneven.

Decision Checklist

• Do I care most about story, combat, or just seeing the latest big release?
• Do I have enough free time to finish a 20-to-40-hour game before starting Ragnarök?
• Am I comfortable using Ragnarök’s recap and online story summaries if I skip the first game?

Alternatives to Consider

If you do not want to play God of War (2018) in full, several middle-ground options exist. You can watch a reputable story recap video, read a plot summary, or use the recap feature included in Ragnarök itself. Another option is to play the 2018 game on an easier difficulty and focus only on the main story to save time. Finally, you can wait for a sale or bundle that includes both titles at a lower combined price.

Final Recommendation

If you value story continuity and emotional payoff, play God of War (2018) before Ragnarök. If you are pressed for time, money, or patience, start with Ragnarök’s recap and consider returning to the first game later. Since this is a low-stakes entertainment decision, choose the path that best matches your schedule and what you want from the experience.