Odin is the perfect foil character against Kratos in God of War Ragnarok because he highlights Kratos’ growth as a person. Unlike Zeus who has a muscular build and intimidating visage, Odin is designed to look like a charming old man who seems to fit the role of a wise mentor better than a villain, but this is only a mask, as players quickly discover.

[Warning: The following article contains spoilers for God of War Ragnarok.]

God of War Ragnarok introduces Odin early in the game by making him visit Kratos and Atreus’ home together with Thor. At first, Odin appears to be a reasonable person and proposes a truce to Kratos, offering to take care of Freya for him, but Kratos rejects his proposal, which causes Odin to drop his pretense and order Thor to deal with Kratos. This quick interaction shows Odin’s true nature as God of War Ragnarok's scheming villain.

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Odin Is Similar To Young Kratos In God Of War Ragnarök

Odin talking to Kratos in God of War Ragnarok.

In God of War Ragnarok, Odin and young Kratos have a lot of similarities, like how the two characters cannot see past themselves and only care about their own problems. Young Kratos is driven by hatred and will do anything to burn Olympus to the ground, even at the cost of innocent lives, while Odin does not care about hurting others if it can satisfy his curiosity and alleviate his fears. Although Kratos has good reasons behind his hatred and actions, they do not change the fact that he has done many wrongs.

Kratos Overcomes His Past By Beating Odin In God of War Ragnarök

Image of Thor and Odin sitting at a wooden table with Kratos as they try to hash out their differences.

Kratos has prevailed over his past self and his misguided values by beating Odin in God of War Ragnarok, undoing his plans and stopping him from causing further harm to the Nine Realms. Players can also learn the wisdom Kratos has gained in his old age through his dialogues with other characters as they attempt to halt Odin’s machinations, like when he confronts Freya about the folly of revenge and how she will not find peace even if she kills him.

Kratos has always been a great character since the original series, but he has only found closure for all the grievances he has experienced in recent GoW games. While young Kratos is pushed onward by his hate and sorrow, old Kratos is driven by his need to be better than his past self, which makes Odin the ideal villain to highlight Kratos' growth in God of War Ragnarok, because Odin embodies the misguided values that Kratos once followed when he was younger.

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