Thor, god of thunder and son of Odin, plays a major role in God of War Ragnarok, wielding enough power to eliminate any major characters in the series' newest game. God of War Ragnarok's Thor is a radically different version than his MCU counterpart, instead operating as a brutal warrior committed to Odin's bidding. As the game begins the long journey toward the titular Ragnarok, it becomes clear that Thor could have killed anyone in his path if he chose to, which comes as a surprise when Thor comes into contact with a certain character. Why Thor didn't kill this character, however, lends itself to the complexity of God of War Ragnarok's twisting narrative.
[Warning: This article contains spoilers for God of War Ragnarok.]
God of War Ragnarok introduces more Norse gods to the pantheon-heavy series, and Thor's presence in Ragnarok means a world of hurt for Kratos. In 2018's God of War, Kratos and Atreus were responsible for the death of Thor's two sons, Modi and Magni, as well as his half-brother Baldur (whose death has also drawn the ire of Freya, Baldur's mother and Odin's ex-wife). This, when paired with Thor's fiery demeanor in God of War Ragnarok, would be more than enough for Thor to destroy Kratos on the spot. As the plot unfolds in God of War Ragnarok, however, it becomes clear that Thor's decision to spare Kratos in the beginning seems very intentional.
Odin Would Have Lost Atreus' Trust If Thor Killed Kratos
Even if current players haven't played the prequel to God of War Ragnarok, Thor's fury for the loss of his family is quickly communicated in his brutal attack against Kratos. However, after Kratos lands a solid punch to Thor's jaw, momentarily jarring him, he simply acknowledges the god of war for his title and flies away, leaving Kratos to keel over in pain. Thor could have fulfilled his blood payment by simply offing his family's killer.
As the narrative of God of War Ragnarok comes to a close, it becomes clear that Odin's influence over Thor was a major motivator for Thor's hesitation to kill Kratos. If Thor had killed Kratos, Atreus would have never trusted Odin, and would likely have refused to help Odin in his quest for knowledge of all things. A major part of beating God of War Ragnarok's main story is discovering the freedom in choices, and this version of Thor was entirely bound to his father's commands.
Even though Kratos had killed most of Thor's family, Thor spared Kratos because Odin had plans for Atreus. Many Norse gods die in God of War Ragnarok, but it would be a daunting challenge to the future of the God of War series to kill its long-time lead, especially near the beginning of the game. Whether there will be a sequel to God of War Ragnarok remains to be seen.