10 Hidden Secrets in God of War Ragnarok
Frozen Mount
Every encounter with Baldur in 2018’s God of War was an event, and arguably one of the standout moments was the battle atop his dragon midway through the game. After kidnapping Atreus and attempting to escape, Baldur takes flight on the back of his dragon with Kratos in hot pursuit. The chase quickly comes to an end as Kratos cuts through the dragon’s wings, sending everyone plummeting to the Lake of Nine below. In Ragnarok, Kratos can find what remains of Baldur’s dragon frozen to the mountain it crashed on. If you happen to discover this with Freya in your company, she’ll question how it got there and then lament everything that Baldur put Kratos and Atreus through.
Skoll & Hati
God of War Ragnarok already had an unusual launch date, releasing on a Wednesday rather than the traditional Tuesday or Friday, but given the importance of Odin and the conclusion of the Norse arc in Kratos’ journey, Wednesday was a much more fitting release given the day is derived from Odin’s name much in the way Thursday is tied directly to Thor’s. However, there was another reason this release date was eventful, and while it may have been unintentional, if it was planned then Santa Monica Studio has more foresight than the All-Father himself. On the eve of Ragnarok’s release, the real world experienced a Blood Moon Eclipse not unlike the one featured prominently within the game during Kratos and Atreus’ exploration of Vanaheim. We’re just all grateful that a real life Ragnarok event didn’t follow suit.
The Crater
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The world of the Nine Realms is already vast and expansive, often calling for a sled or boat for easier traversal of its large environments. However, one of the game's most impressive worlds is almost completely optional and can easily be missed by those not attempting to complete every side quest the game offers. While in Vanaheim, after following Helka on the scent of Birgir after he seemingly sacrificed himself earlier in the level, players will discover a surprisingly vast new area to explore. The Crater is an absolutely jaw dropping biome featuring numerous environments, puzzles, side quests and some of the most valuable rewards in the entire game. And this is all entirely optional for those seeking one of the most varied playgrounds in God of War history.
Across the Realms
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There’s no shortage of side quests and optional missions to complete in God of War Ragnarok but one in particular has more meaning than gamers might initially realize. The sidequest “Across the Realms’ tells the story of two lovers making their journey through the nine realms and sends Kratos on a quest to collect four ingredients in the various realms that can be found near a heart with runic names emboldened in it. The quest is inspired by the real life partnership of gameplay programmers Jake Snipes and Sam Hendrick who worked together on 2018’s God of War before Jake’s untimely passing in 2020. The team at Santa Monica Studio created the tribute for Jake and Sam to honor Jake’s memory and the love the two shared as the Ballad of Jari and Somr.
Duality Lightning
The aftermath of Kratos and Thor’s first encounter was not insignificant and certainly left its mark on the Lake of Nine with a frozen lightning bolt solidly locked into the frozen waters and connecting to a single solitary cloud above. Every character comments on the lightning bolt as their travels continue, but once Kratos’ journey brings him to the Crater, everyone is shocked to discover ANOTHER lightning bolt positioned in exactly the same way it is in Midgard. As Kratos explores the Crater and completes missions for the various spirits seeking help, he learns that Faye and Thor once clashed much in the way the two did at the start of the game. Faye’s rage, not unlike Kratos', caused the destruction and created the Crater itself, yet another secret Faye kept from Kratos, trying to distance herself from her past much like the retired God of War.
The God of Thunder Thrud
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Not long after Atreus makes his way to Asgard, he meets Thrud, Thor and Sif’s daughter, and the two quickly become fast friends. This relationship is tested as their trials for Odin continue but throughout everything, the two remain close despite their opposing views of Ragnarok. After discovering Thor drunk, Thrud shockingly picks up Mjolnir like it's nothing and this is revisited later on after Thor’s death later in the game. After Mjolnir is flung into the ether of the Nine Realms, gamers would understandably be curious what became of Thor’s famous hammer. Kratos and Atreus can overhear conversations between Thrud and her mother Sif about unfinished business and should players visit the sands of Alfheim after the conclusion of the game, they’ll find Thrud sitting with Mjolnir before effortlessly picking up the hammer and using it to fly across the Nine Realms likely to continue her Valkyrie training.
You’re An All-Star
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Kratos has had no shortage of fights in his time, and the legends of his battles seem to have spread far and wide across not only Greece but also the Nine Realms. Mimir and the other Aesir Gods are even aware of Kratos’ reputation even before meeting him. We suppose when you’re responsible for an entire pantheon’s downfall, word gets around. While many of these battles Kratos accepts responsibility for, it seems there’s at least one he’d prefer to be forgotten. Mimir will question Kratos about his past, specifically tales of a tournament Kratos took part in, in which he battled “beasts, scoundrels, princesses, the undead, automaton, and history’s greatest musician,” clearly referencing Playstation All-Star Battle Royale and its many crossovers with Sony’s other first party properties. Kratos quickly dismisses the question but Mimir having knowledge of this event apparently makes the party game canon in Kratos’ legacy.
A Bearly Missable Cameo
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Creator cameos in video games are nothing new, but likely only noticeable by die hard fans or those eagerly searching for any hidden easter egg. However, there can still be more than a few that go completely overlooked. The iconic musical score of 2018’s God of War is one of the most memorable aspects of the entire journey and that’s truly saying something. Santa Monica Studios decided to honor 2018 and Ragnarok’s composer Bear McCreary by making him what else but a Dwarven musician. Kratos and Atreus encounter Bear numerous times during their visits to Svartalfheim but it's his time during Brok’s funeral that is by far his most poignant. During Brok’s memorial, Bear plays a song he composed especially for Brok’s send off and when asked by Mimir the name of the song, he replies “Something vulgar” to which Mimir states “He would have loved it.”
Kvasir’s Poems
It seems that Tyr might not have been the only one to travel to realms outside of Midgard if Kvasir’s various books of poems are to be believed. Scattered throughout much of the Nine Realms, Kratos can gather numerous collections of poems by a Vanir god that tell of strange worlds and creatures, and each have their own accompanying artwork on the cover. Each of these poems refers to other Sony first party franchises such as The Last of Us Part II, Horizon Zero Dawn, Ghost of Tsushima, and even Concrete Genie and are worth a read as they honestly are quite good and creative in their descriptions of their many worlds. While many other first party exclusives pay homage to their kin, none have managed to do so in a way that encompasses so much of Sony’s history into an in-universe homage all at once.
Tyr Lives
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The devastating revelation that Tyr was not Tyr, coupled with the additional tragedy that accompanied this revelation, sent not only Kratos and his many companions on a rollercoaster of emotions but the player as well. Once the dust settled, many, us included, were left wondering if the real Tyr might still be out there somewhere or if Odin had actually killed him as Mimir suspected. During the endgame content, players can find mention of a prison that needs to be checked on in the aftermath of Asgard’s destruction and if players revisit Niflheim, they’ll notice a bridge that leads to said prison. Once inside, they can find Tyr, the REAL Tyr, still imprisoned having no idea what has transpired beyond the walls. Now free, Tyr can be found checking in on the many realms, learning of all that has happened in his absence.
