Here’s When & Where Every God of War Game Takes Place

The God of War gaming saga has been one of the most popular within its genre for many years, with a stream of amazing titles that become increasingly more fascinating with each release. With the launch of God of War: Ragnarök, many fans are eager to find out exactly how the God of War games connect with each other – as well as exactly when and where every God of War game takes place.

God of War Games in Chronological Order

The God of War gaming saga was initially introduced back in 2005 by Santa Monica Studios, surprising fans with some incredibly cinematic action, gruesome combat, and a loveable yet mysterious anti-hero named Kratos. Many gamers expected the first God of War installment to be a once-off deal, but its success foreshadowed a lengthy series of gaming titles that would lead to a storyline that’s just as complex as it is impressive.

While the sheer number of God of War titles has created a rather detailed and gripping tale for fans to enjoy, with each title including extra detail and lore, it can also become quite confusing to follow. Below are all of the main God of War games, when and where they take place, as well as how they tie into other God of War game titles.

God of War: Ascension (2013)

Fans had to wait quite a few years before catching a glimpse of Kratos’ origins and backstory, which were shared in gruesome and grim detail with the release of God of War: Ascension in 2013. God of War: Ascension is set approximately 6 months after Kratos was tricked into slaughtering his own wife and daughter, and the entire installation relies heavily on details fans would have learned from prior releases.

By this point in the saga, fans who had already played the original God of War games would already know that Kratos had sold his soul to Ares in exchange for power. God of War: Ascension highlights additional, pertinent information surrounding this arrangement, revealing that Ares only agreed to the deal because he felt Kratos would make an excellent pawn in his greater plans.

This release was possibly the most ground-breaking for fans, as it made a huge difference to the rest of the storyline. In a plot-twisting series of events, Kratos ends up absolving his oath to Ares but recalling the tragic truth of what happened to his family in the process, igniting the flames of revenge that would fuel the rest of the God of War timeline.

God of War: Chains of Olympus (2008)

God of War: Chains of Olympus was the creation of Santa Monica Studios and Ready at Dawn, taking place sometime within Kratos’ 10-year sentence in service to the Gods of Olympus. Kratos was desperate to relieve himself of the trauma brought by remembering the murder of his family, keeping himself busy by doing odd jobs for the gods.

However, things take a drastic turn when Kratos is sent to help resolve some issues between the gods themselves. After Kratos is sent down a winding path of either battling or helping certain gods, he manages to save Helios, the god of the sun, after which Helios sets Kratos down peacefully near the Aegean Sea – where the events of the original God of War game would begin.

God of War (2005)

This leads into the initial God of War installment, starting off at the Aegean Sea and following Kratos on his mission to defeat Ares. The game is occasionally intercepted by various flashbacks alluding to Kratos’ past, taking players through a version of mythical Greece – although, filled with violence, bloodshed, and monsters.

Kratos manages to finally defeat Ares by the end of the game, only to find out that the gods who sent him on this mission do nothing to rid him of his pain and guilt. Kratos attempts to take his own life, but Athena stops him and instead makes him the new God of War seeing that Ares has been defeated.

God of War: Betrayal (2007)

God of War: Betrayal was created for mobile (although, this was more akin to retro flip phones rather than what we know as smartphones today). The storyline described in God of War: Betrayal does not add much more to the timeline, although it does take place after Kratos becomes the new God of War and is considered to be canon.

God of War: Ghost of Sparta (2010)

Following on from the same timeframe seen in God of War: Betrayal, God of War: Ghost of Sparta also takes place after Kratos becomes the new God of War. This installment focuses on Kratos’ childhood, as he embarks on a journey that leads him to Atlantis – where he would uncover more about his brother, whom the gods of Olympus feared, as well as his birth mother.

There were a variety of plot twists that many fans already anticipated, especially considering that God of War 3 was released before God of War: Ghost of Sparta. However, it is revealed that Kratos has some interesting ancestry and that he is actually the marked warrior that the gods should have feared.

God of War 2 (2007)

God of War 2 is set around 13 years following the original God of War released in 2005. It shows that Kratos has taken the role of Ares, but has not been accepted by the other gods since he intends to overthrow Greece – although, Kratos has still not forgiven them for breaking their promise.

After entering into battle with the gods, Kratos is tricked into vulnerability by Zeus – after which he is killed. However, he does manage to escape the Underworld, and the title ends with Kratos pulling titans from the past with the help of Gaia in order to go up against the gods ruling in the present day.

God of War 3 (2010)

God of War 3 starts off almost immediately after the closing scene of God of War 2, showing Kratos following an alliance with the titan Gaia. In a not-so-unexpected turn of events, Gaia reveals that Kratos was just a pawn, and tosses him back down to the Underworld where he meets Athena.

There are tons of events in this game, which ultimately lead Kratos into opening Pandora’s box and unleashing great evils in the process – Kratos had unknowingly caused the events that transpire in God of War 2. Kratos ends his own life but is shown to be recovered in the game’s post-credits scene.

God of War (2018)

God of War was a soft reboot taking place sometime after God of War 3, following Kratos after he left Greece behind and entered the Norse lands of Midgard. He settles down with a new wife named Faye and has a son with her named Atreus – taking a sharp turn from the God of War we had seen up until this point.

It seems that all Kratos wants is to be a good father, especially considering his family troubles as well as the fact that his wife dies before the game even begins. The game ends with some further details regarding Kratos’ family views, the origins of his now-deceased wife, as well as the father and son duo getting caught up in the midst of an upcoming Norse apocalypse after Kratos kills Freya’s son, Baldur.

God of War: Ragnarök (2022)

God of War: Ragnarök picks up only a few years after God of War, taking place in a snow-covered Midgard in the midst of a 3-year blizzard known as “Fimbulwinter” – which had apparently been brought on by Kratos killing Baldur. Of course, there’s still tons to find out about the new God of War release, but it will undoubtedly take players on a fun ride through the Nine Realms of Norse mythology – it may even answer some burning questions that remain after previous God of War installments!

That’s everything there is to know about when and where each of the God of War games takes place, with images thanks to the official PlayStation website. While the God of War storyline is already pretty complex and intricate, they are all related to each other in some way – fans are hoping that future God of War installments will bring even more adventures for avid gamers worldwide.

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