God of War Games in Order: Full Timeline & Story Guide

The franchise has sold over 66 million units across all titles, with God of War (2018) and Ragnarök being the highest-selling. Ragnarök sold 11 million copies in its first three months.

This franchise of God of War has already turned into one of the most legendary games of all time. This quest is not only an action game because it takes place in ancient Greek mythologies and Norse myths, so it is a story of anger, suffering, and forgiveness. If you are a novice or you just want to play all the God of War games in order. 

This blog will run through all the God of War games in sequence, enabling you to play the games in the order in which the storyline occurred. Gameplay comprises going through the entire chronological scheme and seeing how Kratos transformed on his way to killing gods and becoming a father. At Cubix, we specialize in building narrative-driven RPGs and action games, helping studios craft experiences with the same depth and progression fans love in God of War.

Quick View: All God of War Games in Order

Here’s a summary list of all entries by timeline:

• God of War: Ascension
• God of War: Chains of Olympus
• God of War (2005)
• God of War: Ghost of Sparta
• God of War: Betrayal
• God of War II
• God of War III
• God of War: A Call from the Wilds
• God of War (2018)
• God of War Ragnarök

All God of War Games in Order

The guide entails every game in the God of War series in chronological order and with brief descriptions and facts you need to know about each one.

1. God of War: Ascension (2013)

Ascension, the earliest God of War games in order, is established before Kratos turns into the Ghost of Sparta. We find him racked with guilt as he murdered his wife and kid at the order of Ares. Kratos, a prisoner in chains of insanity, has to free himself from the grip of the Furies, ancient custodians of divine vows. In this game, it reveals a weaker Kratos, and it builds a reason for why he starts questioning the gods to whom he has been devoted. At Cubix we builds similar narrative arcs for clients who want to show vulnerability, progression, and transformation in their RPG protagonists.

Key highlights:

• The first game in chronological order of the God of War games
• Here are the Furies and the oath-breaking legend
• Discusses the humanity of Kratos and his guilt
• New gameplay mechanics are time-shifting and tethering
• The game only has multiplayer
• Establishes the mood of the series emotionally

2. God of War: Chains of Olympus (2008)

The next God of War games in order of Olympus, which follow Kratos through his ten years in the service of the gods. One finds that the sun god Helios is gone, and the world is in darkness. Kratos gets to the Underworld and encounters Persephone, who lures him back to his earlier life with his daughter. This entry creates a sense of emotional burden and shows the continued suffering of Kratos under his wrath.

Key highlights:

• PSP game featuring console-level combat
• In the underworld, Kratos encounters his daughter Calliope
• Combat involvements with Persephone and Atlas
• Digs deeper into the actions of the gods upon Kratos
• A brief yet influential chapter of the God of War series
• Intensifies the internal struggle that Kratos has gone through

3. God of War (2005)

This is the renowned start of Kratos’ war with Olympus, but it is the third historic event. Kratos is still under servitude to the gods and ordered to slay Ares, the God of War, who had deceitfully made Kratos kill his family. Through the artillery of Pandora’s Box, Kratos kills Ares to assume the mantle as the new God of War. This was the start of this brutal tone, the mythological position that defines the series.

Key highlights:

• Kratos kills Ares and becomes one of the gods
• Blades of Chaos, epic battles are introduced
• Consists of features, puzzles, and mythological monsters
• The origin of the white skin curse of Kratos
• Conventional fixed camera controls
• To begin with God of War games were released

4. God of War: Ghost of Sparta (2010)

This PSP family maximum-drama is played by Kratos, who is in search of his missing brother, Deimos, who, in his mind, is dead. Coupled with his battles in Atlantis against Thanatos, the God of Death, Kratos realizes the hurtful secrets of his past. Ghost of Sparta is halfway between God of War I and II, opting out of all action-packed aspects and giving a much-needed insight into the emotional conundrum Kratos acts in to demonstrate that he is still as littered with guilt and pain that even godhood could not suck that out through the power of its vacuum.

Key highlights:

• Explores Kratos’s relationship with his brother Deimos
• Confronts Thanatos, a major mythological figure
• Introduces Atlantis as a setting
• Connects deeper to Kratos’s childhood trauma
• High-quality visuals for a handheld
• Adds heart to the list of all God of War games

5. God of War: Betrayal (2007)

One of the most obscure entries in the God of War games in order, Betrayal is a 2D side-scrolling mobile game. Though short, it’s a canon story where Kratos is accused of murdering a fellow Olympian. The game expands the tension between Kratos and the other gods and shows the early signs of Zeus’s distrust of him.

Key highlights:

• Mobile-only game, but canon to the timeline
• Set between Ghost of Sparta and God of War II
• Shows Kratos further alienating the Olympians
• Basic platforming, but a relevant story
• Rare game among all the God of War games
• Difficult to access today

“God of War isn’t just a game; it’s a saga of rage, redemption, and the raw beauty of myth reborn in every swing of the Leviathan Axe.”

– Salman Lakhani, CEO at Cubix, a leading game design company

6. God of War II (2007)

Following Zeus’s betrayal, Kratos is stripped of his godhood and goes after revenge. Assisted by Gaia and the Sisters of Fate, Kratos travels in time to confront Zeus. God of War II raised the stakes with immense boss battles, deeper lore, and one of the best cliffhanger endings in the history of gaming.

Key highlights:

• Start of Kratos vs Zeus
• Introduction of Titans and time travel
• Large-scale environments and bosses
• Introduces new weapons such as the Barbarian Hammer
• The ending cliffhanger for the finale
• A major entry in every God of War game

Read More: God of War Cost: How Expensive Was It to Build?

7. God of War III (2010)

Kratos and Titans do total warfare at Olympus. All boss fights are monumental, Poseidon to the great Zeus and the entire world itself in Kratos wake is left in a tangled mess. The emotional twist ends the Greek saga in which Kratos poses the question whether revenge is worthwhile. 

Key highlights:

• Immense cinematic boss fights
• Ends Kratos’ war on Olympus
• Touches upon themes like guilt, sacrifice, and destruction
• Best graphics of the generation
• Introduced new weapons like the Nemean Cestus
• A turning point in the tone of all God of War games

8. God of War: A Call of the Wild (2018)

This text story came out through Facebook Messenger as a way to endorse the 2018 reboot. It is a brief adventure that follows Atreus before the primary game, and gives a hint about his talents and upbringing. It is not necessary to connect the Greek and Norse timelines but it is a way of doing it. Cubix enables studios to take bold creative leaps like this, whether transitioning mythologies, refreshing mechanics, or reshaping a franchise for modern audiences.

Key highlights:

• Prelude to the Norwegian legend
• Brings in the curiosity and ability of Atreus
• Text-based multimedia experience
• Provides mythology on the Norse worlds
• Inspired text for the narrative
• This is one of the few entries of all the God of War games

9. God of War (2018)

An entire reboot on the franchise, the 2018 release is shifting to Norse mythology. Kratos resides in Midgard together with his son, Atreus. Following the death of his wife, the two embark to have a final wish of his wife. On their journey, they have to encounter Baldur and dragons as well as more truth about gods and fate. The game becomes the reimagining of Kratos as a father, teacher, and man.

Key highlights:

• After introducing Leviathan Axe, and over-the-shoulder gameplay
• Sentimental father-son story
• First game with a Norse background
• Opposes adversaries such as Baldur, Magni, and Modi
• Open-world and traveling in realms
• Critically acclaimed among all the God of war games

10. God of War Ragnarok (2022)

Ragnarok is the sequel to the epic 2018 God of War game and finishes the Norse story. Kratos and Atreus meet Thor and Freya, and Odin, as the prophecies of the ultimate ending of the world are playing. This game examines their relationship, and it provides an intense emotional conclusion to the ongoing narrative.

Key highlights:

• Has all the Nine Realms
• References Thor, Odin, and prophecy-riven decisions
• Atreus takes up leadership. Atreus takes up leadership
• Two-Character gameplay
• Moving on and hoping
• Favourite game in the list of all God of War games among many fans

Ronald D. Moore (of Battlestar Galactica, Outlander) is leading the adaptation and scripting is well underway. Filming is expected to commence in 2026.

Case Study: Wagmi Tower-Defense Game

Just like God of War blends mythology and action into unforgettable experiences, WAGMI is a Web3 tower defense game that our team at Cubix helped bring to life. In WAGMI, players defend their base from alien invasions while strategizing resource allocation and unit deployment, combining real-time strategy, immersive visuals, and blockchain integration.

What we did at Cubix:

• Designed core gameplay mechanics for engaging tower defense combat
  
• Developed sleek animations and scalable architecture to support global players
  
• Integrated blockchain features for NFT-based assets and rewards
  
• Balanced gameplay progression to keep both casual and competitive players hooked

WAGMI demonstrates how we at Cubix can transform creative visions into fully functional, market-ready games, whether it’s a mythological action RPG like God of War or a futuristic Web3 tower defense experience.

Read More: Street Fighter 6 New Characters Revealed (Full Fighter List)

Final Thoughts

The full journey of Kratos, when experienced through the God of War games in order, delivers a story unlike anything else in gaming. All the titles give more depth to his personality, his struggle, and his legacy. Being on the front line fighting Olympians or defending his son in Midgard, the story of Kratos is full of emotional and mythological moments, along with action.

In case you want to see the character development, play all God of War games in the story order. It is the most rightful thing to experience the burden of all the decisions, losses, and wins.

At Cubix, we understand the importance of compelling heroes and narratives, and we provide professional character development services to help you bring unforgettable characters to life in your games.

Build Your Next Action Adventure Game with Cubix

And in case the scope, narrative structure, and fighting system of the God of War games have influenced you, think about how you would go on to make your fantasy slice-of-life action RPG. No matter how much you desire a mythological backdrop, big-screen narrative, and motion gameplay, transforming that promise into a playable one involves a heavy investment in development. Our team at Cubix allows you to create exciting worlds of games and experience them as if you were there. Whether you want it to be a console, PC-based, or mobile-based game, we have got you covered.

We are a team of specialists that develops custom action-adventure games using Unreal Engine or Unity and your desired technology stack. If you’re looking to hire Unity game developers, Cubix can provide the expertise you need. Creating the world for the mechanics of the game and the animation of the characters, we discuss everything together with you. Are you willing to start your epic adventure? Cubix will assist you in the task of designing your game for players all over the globe.