God of War Games in Order: Release Order and Story Order

There are eleven God of War games, and the release order and story order are different, because the series kept going back to fill in Kratos's past. Release order runs from God of War in 2005 to Sons of Sparta in 2026. Story order starts with Sons of Sparta, Kratos as a boy in Sparta, and ends with the Valhalla epilogue to Ragnarök. Both lists below match the God of War timeline. (God of War (2005); God of War Sons of Sparta; God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla)

Release order#

These are the games in the order they came out. Platforms are the original launch platforms.

1. God of War (2005, PlayStation 2). Kratos, servant of the gods, hunts down Ares, the god who tricked him into killing his family. See the God of War (2005) story. (God of War (2005))
2. God of War II (2007, PlayStation 2). Zeus betrays the new God of War, and Kratos goes to the Sisters of Fate to undo his death. See the God of War II story. (God of War II)
3. God of War: Betrayal (2007, mobile phones). A 2D side game in which Kratos is framed for a murder while his army marches across Greece. (God of War: Betrayal)
4. God of War: Chains of Olympus (2008, PSP). A handheld prequel from Ready at Dawn, set during Kratos's ten years of service. See the Chains of Olympus story. (God of War: Chains of Olympus)
5. God of War III (2010, PlayStation 3). Kratos climbs Olympus with the Titans and kills the gods one by one. See God of War III ending explained. (God of War III)
6. God of War: Ghost of Sparta (2010, PSP). Kratos searches for his lost brother Deimos. See the Ghost of Sparta story. (God of War: Ghost of Sparta)
7. God of War: Ascension (2013, PlayStation 3). Kratos breaks his blood oath to Ares and is hunted by the Furies. See the Ascension story. (God of War: Ascension)
8. God of War (2018, PlayStation 4). An older Kratos and his son Atreus carry Faye's ashes across the Nine Realms. See the God of War (2018) story. (God of War (2018))
9. God of War Ragnarök (2022, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5). Fimbulwinter ends in war with Odin and the fall of Asgard. See God of War Ragnarök ending explained. (God of War Ragnarök)
10. God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla (2023, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5). A free epilogue in which Kratos faces his Greek past. See the Valhalla story. (God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla)
11. God of War Sons of Sparta (2026, PlayStation 5). A 2D prequel about a young Kratos training in the agoge with his brother Deimos. (God of War Sons of Sparta)

Story (chronological) order#

This is the order the events happen in. It is the same order the timeline uses.

1. God of War Sons of Sparta: Kratos's boyhood, training alongside Deimos before the gods take his brother. (God of War Sons of Sparta)
2. God of War: Ascension: soon after Kratos kills his wife and daughter, when he breaks his oath to Ares. (God of War: Ascension)
3. God of War: Chains of Olympus: during his ten years of service to the gods. The game never says which year. (God of War: Chains of Olympus)
4. God of War (2005): the end of the ten years, when Kratos kills Ares and takes his throne. (God of War (2005))
5. God of War: Ghost of Sparta: Kratos is now God of War, and goes looking for Deimos. (God of War: Ghost of Sparta)
6. God of War: Betrayal: Kratos's Spartan army campaigns across Greece, shortly before God of War II. (God of War: Betrayal)
7. God of War II: Zeus kills Kratos at Rhodes, and Kratos goes back in time to change it. (God of War II)
8. God of War III: picks up straight after God of War II and ends the Greek saga. (God of War III)
9. God of War (2018): many years later in Midgard, from Faye's death to Baldur's death. (God of War (2018))
10. God of War Ragnarök: three years into Fimbulwinter, ending at Ragnarök. (God of War Ragnarök)
11. God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla: after the fall of Asgard. (God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla)

The gap between God of War III and God of War (2018) is never given in years. The Fallen God comic is set inside it. (God of War: Fallen God)

Where to start#

Most new players should start with God of War (2005) and go in release order. The prequels were made for people who already knew Kratos. Ghost of Sparta's reveal about Deimos and Ascension's look at the man before the rage both depend on knowing who he becomes, so they hit harder after the main trilogy. (God of War: Ghost of Sparta; God of War: Ascension)

If the old games feel too dated, start at God of War (2018). It was made as a fresh start with a new combat system and a new setting, and it tells you what you need about Kratos's past along the way. Ragnarök follows on directly, and you should finish it before playing Valhalla, which is a reflection on everything that came before. (God of War (2018); God of War Ragnarök; God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla)

The honest catch is access. Of the PS2, PS3 and PSP games, only God of War III has been remastered for a newer console, on PlayStation 4. Betrayal ran on mobile phones of the 2000s and is very hard to play today. Skipping it costs you almost nothing. (God of War III Remastered; God of War: Betrayal)

Spin-offs, remasters and extras#

None of these are needed for the story. They're listed so you know what they are.

• God of War Collection (2009, PlayStation 3): high-definition remasters of God of War (2005) and God of War II. The same games, not new story. (God of War Collection)
• God of War III Remastered (2015, PlayStation 4): God of War III at a higher resolution and frame rate. (God of War III Remastered)
• God of War: Betrayal (2007, mobile): a short 2D game. It fills a small gap before God of War II but changes nothing. (God of War: Betrayal)
• God of War comic (2010 to 2011): a six-issue series that goes back to Kratos as a Spartan captain, searching for the Ambrosia to save his baby daughter Calliope. (God of War (2010 comic))
• God of War: Fallen God (2021): a comic set after God of War III, with Kratos wandering in Egypt and trying to rid himself of the Blades of Chaos. It's the closest thing to a bridge between the two sagas. (God of War: Fallen God)
• Novelisations: God of War (2010) retells the first game, and God of War: The Official Novelization (2018) retells the 2018 game. Neither adds much a player won't already know. (God of War (novel); God of War: The Official Novelization)

For the whole plot in one place, read God of War story explained. (God of War (2005); God of War Ragnarök)