The story of God of War Ragnarok is packed with complexity and concludes with a somewhat unexpected ending. Many big moments in the final act warrant an in-depth breakdown, as the lore behind these plot points is expansive and requires a solid understanding of the games that came before. This is especially true for the more understated details that give the story so much meaning and power.
[Warning: This article contains spoilers for God of War Ragnarok.]
One of the prominent motivating factors driving Kratos and Atreus’ journey in God of War Ragnarok is attempting to subvert destiny. God of War ended with the harrowing revelation of a prophecy of Kratos dying during Ragnarok. However, evading prophecy is usually a surefire way to make it come true. Kratos witnessed as much in his time in Greece, and several characters in this game succumb to this reality as well. Despite the odds and with some serious soul-searching, Kratos and Atreus ultimately break fate and live to see a heartwarming ending. Several key events transpire on the way to the game’s final moments that must be discussed to fully grasp the meaning of Kratos and Atreus’ story in God of War Ragnarok.
God Of War Ragnarok Ending - Odin’s Disguise As Tyr
The endgame of God of War Ragnarok begins when Atreus returns to Sindri’s house with Odin’s mask. There is still much mystery surrounding the mask’s origin and purpose, but Odin is under the impression that it will allow him to safely peer into a realm tear that will give him infinite knowledge, which is different from actual Norse mythology. Odin looked into this tear previously and lost his eye because of it, yet he remains curious and continues to seek out its secrets. He plans to use whatever knowledge he gains from the tear to prevent Ragnarok and his death. When the mask is snatched from his grasp, he becomes desperate and loses his composure.
This leads him to hastily reveal that he was magically disguising himself as Tyr the entire time so he could listen in on Kratos’ plans. In the process, he murders Brok and invokes the wrath of Kratos and his allies, who then decide to begin Ragnarok and kill Odin. Odin’s story in God of War Ragnarok is almost tragic, as he fell into the trap of prophecy. In all his attempts to evade his fate, he ended up being the cause of prophesied death. It ties into what the Norns told Kratos about destiny earlier in the game, that it doesn’t exist, and the only thing that does is the choices one makes. When one fails to change, they are destined to make the same choices over and over. Odin doubled down on whom he is as a person, failing to change his nature. That is why he could not escape his foretold fate.
Ragnarok Begins & Asgard Falls In God Of War Ragnarok's Ending
Before Kratos blows the horn that will begin Ragnarok, he and Atreus travel to Muspelheim using God of War Ragnarok's realm seed so they can recruit Surtr to fight with them. When they reach him, he refuses because, in order to transform into the giant being that will destroy Asgard, he must merge with his wife, Sinmara. This will ultimately kill her. However, lifetimes ago, the couple exchanged hearts so they could be together even when apart. Surtr determines that, with Sinmara’s heart in his possession, she may live while he sacrifices himself to fight in Ragnarok. This is precisely what happens.
Once the situation with Surtr is settled, Kratos leads their armies from across the realms into Asgard, and Ragnarok officially begins. However, Odin and his Aesir forces are prepared and swiftly destroy the realm towers to prevent further reinforcements from arriving, and they wipe out vast amounts of Kratos’ soldiers. Nonetheless, Kratos’ forces persevere, and several vital allies arrive just in time, including the World Serpent from God of War, Jormungandr. Although this version of Jormungandr is younger, Atreus created it when he traveled to Jotunheim earlier in the game. He placed the soul of a giant into a snake, which quickly grew to an enormous size. Jormungandr fights Thor for most of the battle, which is so intense that the serpent gets sent back in time. This explains how it recognized Atreus in God of War.
As they get closer to Odin, Kratos and Atreus realize that the All-father placed Midgardian civilians outside of the wall so they would get caught in the crossfire and slow down Kratos’ forces. In a show of maturity he has gained in his old age by GoW Ragnarok's story, Kratos revises the plan so that the Midgardians can be rescued, and he determines that they will not fight this war in the name of vengeance but for justice instead. Thor’s wife and daughter, Lady Sif and Thrud, join Kratos’ side after this, as they are tired of living under Odin’s thumb.
Kratos and Thor then battle it out. Thor is defeated, but instead of killing him, as Kratos would have done in Greece, he decides to spare him. This is an important choice for Kratos because it shows that he is trying to change who he is. The Norns told him his fate is predictable because he has consistently chosen to pursue vengeance against the many gods he has killed before GoW Ragnarok. Kratos defies this expectation again later after Odin is defeated. He chooses to let others decide Odin’s fate. Freya and Atreus both spare Odin, but Sindri is the one to claim vengeance for Brok’s murder. The only remaining threat is Surtr, who no longer has control over his mind and will not stop wreaking havoc until Asgard has been destroyed. Freya’s brother, Freyr, holds Surtr at bay while everyone else escapes, but he dies in the process.
God Of War Ragnarok's Ending Shows How Faye Helped Kratos & Atreus
When everyone safely returns to Midgard, Angrboda shows Kratos and Atreus a hidden Jotnar shrine. It was painted by Kratos’s wife and Atreus’ mother, Faye, who was introduced in 2018's God of War prior to God of War Ragnarok. It reveals her pivotal role in helping them subvert their supposed destiny. Faye was responsible for destroying the mural in God of War's realm of Jotunheim. She didn’t want them to know the fate that the giants wanted for them. Instead, she wanted them to choose their own path and, in doing so, protect them.
Atreus then tells Kratos about what he learned in Ironwood earlier in the game. He speaks of the giants who are still out there somewhere and that he must find them. Atreus is clear that he must undergo this journey by himself. Kratos grants his blessing, stating that Atreus is ready and no longer needs his training or protection. This heartwarming moment shows how far their relationship has come from the beginning of God of War through to the ending of God of War Ragnarok.
After Atreus departs, Kratos discovers God of War's hidden Jotnar shrine has another painting on the back. This one depicts the story of Kratos arriving in the Norse lands and his journey with Atreus to scatter Faye’s ashes in Jotunheim. It ends with something Kratos had never imagined for himself in all his years as a god. Faye painted a statue of Kratos being praised by the masses. Seeing this overwhelms Kratos with emotions. He knows now that he has been walking the path to becoming a god that people worship and pray to, something he has never known until now.
God Of War Ragnarok - Brok’s Funeral & The Epilogue
There is still much to repair across the realms after the credits roll on Sony Santa Monica's sequel. Kratos, Freya, and Mimir vow to unite to clean up loose ends and bring peace, including what happened to Tyr in God of War Ragnarok. Before they embark on this journey, they attend the viking funeral being held for Brok in Svartalfheim. All of Brok’s friends are in attendance. Sindri arrives just before Brok is sent out to sea. Sindri is broken by Brok’s death, for which he blames Kratos and Atreus. He can’t even bring himself to speak to Kratos at the funeral. When Brok’s boat is set ablaze, Sindri departs to grieve alone. There is hope that he will return to his bright demeanor, but not until he has had a great deal of time to deal with his loss.
Even with the grave losses of close friends and allies, God of War Ragnarok’s ending is mostly uplifting. It demonstrates healthy ways to deal with mistakes and seemingly unrepairable relationships. It sends the message that even the most unredeemable individuals can change their nature and become better. God of War Ragnarok is a fitting end for Kratos’ story and a bright beginning to Atreus’ should his story continue.