God of War: Ragnarök (PS5)

February 05, 2026

God of War: Ragnarök (PS5)

More Gods, More Problems

God of War (2018) was a good game but not a great one, at least in my personal opinion. It blended tight combat with a surprisingly solid and emotional story. With all the praise God of War Ragnarök has received you would think it would be a masterpiece. Unfortunately the story did not click with me and although I like the exploration and some of the puzzle design, the combat and enemy variety quickly become repetitive.

On a technical level, however, Ragnarök is immaculate. The visuals are stunning across all Nine Realms, packed with detail, dramatic vistas, and cinematic flair. Everything looks expensive, polished, and carefully crafted, and it’s hard not to admire the sheer production quality on display.

Kratos and Atreus return for an even heavier and more dramatic journey through Norse mythology. Ragnarök is obsessed with prophecy, fate, and feelings and it really wants you to know it. The game drowns the player in lore, exposition, and emotional monologues, often delivered while you’re busy fighting or traversing the environment. I don't know if it's just me, but I sometimes felt that Important story beats ended up competing with gameplay, making it surprisingly easy to miss something crucial.

Combat remains weighty and satisfying… at first. Over time, the constant stream of basic enemies with inflated health bars starts to wear thin. Fights drag on longer than they should, and the game seems almost allergic to quiet moments. There’s always another enemy lurking nearby, as if the developers were terrified you might check your phone if nothing explodes for ten seconds.

I actually quit the game about halfway through, bored and burned out by the relentless pacing and uninspired combat. Nearly a year later, I came back and powered through to the end. Finishing it didn’t suddenly change my opinion, but there were still moments I genuinely enjoyed. New weapons also made the combat a bit more fun and the puzzles and exploration, in particular, feel like a welcome break from a game that’s constantly demanding your attention.

By the time the credits rolled, I felt a bit conflicted. I wanted to like it but Ragnarök felt less like a tightly told saga and more like an endurance test wrapped in AAA spectacle. It’s a technically outstanding game with strong performances and flashes of brilliance but one that ultimately didn't quite click with me. However, for fans of the franchise I'm sure there is a lot here to enjoy.