If you’re new to the God of War series and thinking about exploring its rich world, you might be wondering where to start. With over half a dozen games, spanning the Greek Saga and the Norse Saga, deciding where to begin can feel overwhelming.
Fans often have differing opinions — some suggest skipping the Greek games and diving straight into the new Norse Saga, while others view that as sacrilege. Fortunately, the guide below will help you discover the best order to experience the God of War series, ensuring you don’t miss out on any of its epic moments.
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All God Of War Games In The Series
There are 10 God of War games in total, but only eight are essential. Two titles can be skipped without missing any significant story or gameplay: God of War: Betrayal (2007), a mobile game with limited impact on the narrative, and God of War: A Call from the Wilds (2018), a Facebook-based text adventure. The rest of the games are key to experiencing Kratos’ full journey.
- God of War 1
- God of War 2
- God of War 3
- God of War: Chains of Olympus
- God of War: Ghost of Sparta
- God of War: Ascension
- God of War (2018)
- God of War Ragnarok
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Most Popular Orders To Play The God Of War Games
When it comes to playing a long-running series like God of War, there are two main approaches: release order or chronological order. With several titles serving as prequels to the main trilogy, it’s natural to wonder which method offers the best experience for diving into these critically acclaimed games.
Release Order
Playing in release order is straightforward: simply follow the order in which the games were originally launched. This is how most long-time fans experienced the series. Keep in mind, however, that some titles, like Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta, don’t match the production quality of the main trilogy. Playing the games in release order also allows players to experience the natural evolution of gameplay mechanics and design improvements as the series progressed.
The release order is as follows:
- God of War 1 (2005)
- God of War 2 (2007)
- God of War: Chains of Olympus (2008)
- God of War 3 (2010)
- God of War: Ghost of Sparta (2010)
- God of War: Ascension (2013)
- God of War (2018)
- God of War Ragnarok (2022)
- God of War Ragnarök Valhalla Mode (2023)
Chronological Order
If you’re more invested in the story aspect of the God of War series, playing in chronological order is the way to go. However, be prepared for some graphic and gameplay whiplash as you jump between games with varying levels of polish. The starting game is also widely regarded as the weakest in the series, so don’t judge the entire franchise based on your first experience.
The chronological order is as follows:
- God of War: Ascension
- God of War: Chains of Olympus
- God of War 1
- God of War: Ghost of Sparta
- God of War 2
- God of War 3
- God of War (2018)
- God of War Ragnarok
- God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla (Free DLC)
Best Order To Play The God Of War Games
While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer that will satisfy every fan — some may even be strongly opposed to it — the order listed below takes both narrative and gameplay into account. This approach ensures that new players won’t feel overwhelmed or burned out by the series. We recommend playing the God of War games in the following order:
- God of War 1
- God of War: Chains of Olympus
- God of War: Ghost of Sparta
- God of War 2
- God of War 3
- God of War: Ascension
- God of War (2018)
- God of War Ragnarok
- God of War Ragnarok Valhalla Mode
Start with the original God of War, but don’t jump straight into its sequel. Instead, play its prequel, Chains of Olympus, followed by Ghost of Sparta (which takes place after the first game). Next, play God of War 2 and God of War 3 — it’s important to play these two consecutively, as the third game picks up immediately after the second. After finishing God of War 3, move on to Ascension to complete the Greek Saga.
From there, the order is straightforward: play God of War (2018), followed by Ragnarok, and then dive into the excellent Valhalla DLC in Ragnarok.
As mentioned earlier, God of War: Ascension is considered the weakest in the series. If you’re not enjoying it, you might want to consider skipping it and watching a recap on YouTube to catch up on its story. However, Ascension does feature some impressive, over-the-top action, so it’s still recommended to push through if you can.
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Alternate Order To Play God Of War Games
While the older God of War games are some of the best that PlayStation has to offer, no one would blame you for not enjoying them, as they are somewhat dated. There’s an alternative order that can ease you into the God of War universe: playing the Norse Saga before the Greek Saga.
While many fans would consider this blasphemy (and not without reason), there’s a compelling argument for it. The Norse games feature improved combat, higher production value, gorgeous visuals, and, interestingly, not knowing the context of the Greek games can add a sense of mystery to the narratives of both God of War (2018) and Kratos’ tragic past.
The alternate way to play the God of War games is as follows:
- God of War (2018)
- God of War Ragnarok
- God of War Ragnarok Valhalla Mode
- God of War: Ascension
- God of War: Chains of Olympus
- God of War 1
- God of War: Ghost of Sparta
- God of War 2
- God of War 3
