With God of War Ragnarok coming out in 2022 and a live-action television series on the way, the God of War franchise shows no signs of slowing down. For nearly two decades, God of War has been a tentpole franchise for PlayStation. The games have expanded to each generation of console, including portable gaming, and have had several remasters and collections released.

Fans cannot get enough of Kratos and have followed his journey from Greek Mythology to Norse Mythology. Most of the games have received huge critical acclaim, with praise for their storytelling, ability to turn mythological gods into compelling characters, ground-breaking visuals, and gaming mechanics. However, not all God of War games are created equal.

Updated on Dec 9th, 2022 by Jomari Elauria:

There’s no doubt that God of War Ragnarok, the most recent installment in the franchise, has been well-received by both critics and fans. The game’s elevated combat, enthralling story, and seamless continuation of Kratos’ and Atreus’ story has some fans proclaiming it as one of the best games in the franchise. But when it comes to Metacritic scores, where does God of War Ragnarok stand?

12 God Of War Collection (Vita) 2014 – 73

Cover for the God of War Collection.

God of War Collection is a remastered version of the original two games, God of War and God of War 2 both made for PS2. After their successful rerelease on PlayStation 3 in 2009, they were ported for PlayStation Vita in 2014.

The reviews were less positive than the PlayStation 3 version. The game is still fundamentally the same, but some players found the downgrade in graphic quality frustrating as well as finding some Vita features shoehorned in just for the sake of it. While PlayStation Vita is now an easily forgotten console, God of War has proven in the past it is a franchise capable of releasing great handheld games.

11 God Of War: Ascension (PS3) 2010 – 80

Kratos imprisoned in God of War: Ascension.

God of War: Ascension is a prequel to the original God of War and is the very first game chronologically, featuring a younger Kratos as he seeks to free himself from his blood oath to Ares. It is the only game in the series to have a multiplayer feature.

The game is an enjoyable addition to the franchise, but it does not hold the same level of love from fans. The controls are almost identical to previous games and the story is considered less compelling than in other games. The multiplayer was successful featuring various game modes and maps from within the franchise. It serves as a bonus, but the spin-off is often looked over by new gamers who are looking to get into the main storyline.

10 God Of War III Remastered (PS4) 2010 - 81

Kratos in God Of War 3 Remastered

The fifth installment in the God of War franchise was remastered and released for the PlayStation 4 in 2015. It was also remastered in commemoration of the franchise’s tenth anniversary. The remastered game has an upgraded resolution of 1080p and a frame rate of 60 fps.

Many critics and gamers found the remastered version to be a pleasant experience, due in large to its impeccable graphics that matched well with the PlayStation 4’s capabilities. In addition, gamers also appreciate the game’s photo mode, which permitted players to edit and share photos they take in-game.

9 God Of War: Origins Collection (PS3) 2011 – 84

Artwork for the game God of War Origins Collection

God of War: Origins is a remastered version of the two PSP entries, Ghost of Sparta and Chains of Olympia, now available to play on PlayStation 3. This version featured Stereoscopic 3D for the first time in the God of War series.

This proved to be a worthy addition to the franchise and a justified rerelease. The addition of DualShock3 features, trophies, and 3D effects only improved the gaming experience and allowed fans who missed out on the stories in their first release to experience them.

8 God Of War: Ghost Of Sparta (PSP) 2010 – 86

Kratos in God of War: Ghost of Sparta.

One of the two games released on PSP that feature in the 2011 Origins Collection. Ghost of Sparta is set between God of War and God of War 2 and has Kratos in Atlantis with his Mother, who sends him on a journey to find his long-lost Brother and battle against God of Death, Thanatos.

The game was well-received and considered to be one of the best-looking games on PSP. It provided players with a deeper look into Kratos' family backstory, with the tragic death of Deimos being one of the franchise's most emotional moments. However, the gameplay and controls as very similar to the previous PSP entry, which makes the game struggle to create its own identity.

7 God Of War Collection (PS3) 2009 – 91

Artwork for the PS3 God of War Collection.

While this is the same game that features at the start of the list, a rerelease of the original two games, its PlayStation 3 entry is hugely different from Vita. The remastered version of God of War and God of War 2 was the first game to be released under Sony’s ‘Classics HD’.

While the version on Vita had some mixed reviews, the PlayStation 3 version had a much better reception. The game benefited from the addition of trophies, improved graphics, and higher frame rate. This game managed to improve upon the underwhelming end product of PlayStation Vita and brought a whole new generation of fans to the series.

6 God Of War: Chains Of Olympus (PSP) 2008 – 91

Kratos looking up at something in God of War: Chains of Olympus.

God of War: Chains of Olympus was the first game in the series to move to handheld. The game serves as a prequel and has gamers play as Kratos as he searches for Sun God Helios after encountering his Daughter in Elysium.

The game holds up against others in the franchise despite the limited capability of the PSP. The game continues the series' reputation as the best hack-and-slash. The puzzle-solving element is much weaker, but the combat and narrative are highly praised. It is an enjoyable spin-off, but it is the main series of the franchise that has achieved immortality in gaming history.

5 God Of War III (PS3) 2010 – 92

Kratos killed many gods in God of War III.

Three years after the cliffhanger at the end of God of War II The series made a welcome entrance to PlayStation 3 with God of War III. This was the last game in the main series to focus on Greek mythology and features Kratos on a quest to find The Flame of Olympus and Pandora’s Box on a mission to defeat Zeus.

The game makes a huge step up from the other two installments in terms of graphics and boss fights. It was intended to be the end of the series, but the best was yet to come.

4 God Of War II (PS2) 2007 – 93

An image of Kratos on the God of War II game front cover. He is seen looking towards the city.

In the second installment of the series, Kratos, having recently become the new God of War following the death of Ares in the previous game, finds himself betrayed by Zeus and banished to the underworld. His revenge mission is almost complete until the realization that he is Zeus’s son.

The task of following on from the first game was tough. But God of War II just about did the impossible and lived up to expectations. The game introduced more magic elements which help to increase the scale of the action sequences and ends with a fight against one of God of War's hardest bosses, Zeus. However, the cliffhanger ending is one of the biggest talking points of the game, with fans feeling cheated as the game ends at arguably its most exciting part. Ending aside, it is a near-flawless addition to the series.

3 God Of War (PS2) 2005 – 94

Kratos holding his weapons in God of War.

Where the Brutality began. An unforgettable introduction to the ultimate hack-and-slash hero Kratos, his Blades of Chaos, and their gory work. The game follows Spartan Soldier Kratos and his journey to get revenge on Ares for tricking him into killing his family and ultimately becoming God of War.

The game made a violent entrance with exciting combo-based combat, puzzles, and a variety of enemies and bosses. It is considered by many as one of the best games of all time. However, one game might argue against that.

2 God Of War (PS4) 2018 – 94

Promo art of Kratos and Atreus sailing on a boat in God of War

God of War came to PlayStation 4 in 2018. The game made a lot of changes from previous installments. Players meet Kratos now attempting to live a peaceful life, having just lost his wife and having to raise his son alone. God of War 3 was a satisfying end to the story for most fans, so creating a follow-up set years later about Kratos and his relationship with his son, shifting focus onto Norse Mythology and variations to the overall tone and gaming mechanics, was a big risk.

These risks paid off, and the game is a masterpiece. With beautiful visions, huge-scale action sequences, and the most emotional storyline to date, the game brought back the love for the franchise while spawning a whole new generation of fans.

1 God Of War Ragnarok (PS5) 2022 - 94

God of War: Ragnarök promo art featuring Kratos and Atreus on the frigid landscape.

Kratos’ and Atreus’ journey in the nine realms continues in God of War Ragnarok. The second game in the franchise to feature Norse mythology, God of War Ragnarok featured notorious gods such as Odin and Tyr. The game has been well-received by gamers due to its impeccable voice acting, improved combat, and intriguing narrative.

What sets God of War Ragnarok apart is its emphasis on important themes such as fatherhood, forgiveness, and vengeance. There’s also the enhanced level design and combat features that allow it to not only be considered the best title in the franchise, but also in all of gaming history.

NEXT: Every God Of War Game In Chronological Order