Which Characters Should Appear in a Greek Saga Side Game?

God of War just turned 20 years old, and if recent leaks from reputable insiders are to be believed, then the next title in the series, being developed for the PS5, will be taking Kratos back to his old stomping grounds of Ancient Greece. Information is so far scarce, and nothing is confirmed. However, should these rumors turn out to be true, it would be a chance for God of War characters, both seen and never-before-seen, to make a welcome appearance.

Kratos has slain plenty of gods and creatures of myth in 20 years, which narrows down the list of potential cast members. If the next God of War is a prequel game, then it could be a chance to reprise those long-dead characters. If it’s not, then it could be an opportunity to shine a spotlight on characters that fans have either never seen before or have not seen for a long time.

Related

Rumor: New God of War Greek Project Coming Out This Year

An insider reveals that there’s a new God of War project set for a release within 2025, and that it’s going to be revisiting Greek mythology.

Apollo: God of the Sun in God of War

One of the many sons of Zeus and the twin brother of Artemis, Apollo has only been mentioned in previous games, but has never been seen before in the flesh. Major mentions include a number of statues dedicated to the deity, as well as Apollo’s famously overpowered bow. Apollo has domain over many things in Greek Mythology, including Light, Healing, Disease, Music, Archery, and Knowledge. This makes him a very powerful god, one whose power has largely been untapped in God of War.

If Hermes is to be believed, the reason for Apollo’s absence may be because he’s “pretty but boring,” as Hermes puts it in the God of War novel. However, with his father and several brothers dead at the hands of his half-brother Kratos, he would have a good reason to antagonize the Ghost of Sparta and put him in his place. That said, the myths tell that Apollo was punished for going against Zeus and made mortal as a result, so Apollo may follow in the direction of his sister Artemis and aide Kratos.

Artemis: Goddess of the Hunt in God of War

Speaking of Artemis – a character unseen since the events of the first God of War – a return to Greece would provide the perfect opportunity for the Greek Goddess of the Hunt and Moon to have her moment in the spotlight. Santa Monica has a complicated relationship with the Goddess, as she was planned to make an appearance in several God of War titles, but was ultimately scrapped every time. However, technology has advanced significantly in the past 20 years, and Santa Monica may have been waiting for the right time to bring the character back into the fold. Should Apollo finally make an appearance, it would only make sense for his twin sister to make an appearance, too, especially considering her past encounter with Kratos.

Aphrodite: Goddess of Love in God of War

Long story short, Kratos and Aphrodite have a history, one that climaxed in God of War 3. Considered one of the weaker gods in God of War, she was represented as an enduring force of lust, though her insatiable lust was heightened by the opening of Pandora’s Box. After killing her husband, the blacksmith Hephaestus, Kratos returns to Aphrodite’s bedchamber. If players refuse her call, she gets dejected and angry with Kratos. If they give in, she still gets angry once Kratos returns to his adventure rather than continue giving her attention. Whichever way one may cut it, Aphrodite and Kratos have a tenuous past that could be re-explored in a return to Greece.

Related

15 Years Later, God of War 3 was a Perfect Ending for Kratos’ Revenge

After 15 years, Santa Monica Studio’s God of War 3 remains an exemplary conclusion to Kratos’ journey of vengeance against the Greek pantheon.

Atlas: The Titan Who Holds the World in God of War

When players last saw Atlas in the iconic PlayStation game God of War 2, he and Kratos were left on amiable terms. That is only after Kratos proved himself to be an ally of the Titans. But it’s worth noting that they have a rough past, with Kratos being partially responsible for Atlas’ imprisonment and punishment to hold the world on his back. A spin-off could see the two reunite, and Kratos could finally settle the debt he owes to the greatest of the Titans.

Chiron: Centaur Mentor of the Argonauts in God of War

Kratos has had some difficult boss fights in God of War and fought no short supply of Centaurs in his day, but perhaps none is greater than Chiron — yet unseen in the series. A foster child of the god Apollo, Chiron is known in the Greek myths for being a trainer of heroes, having trained several of the Argonauts. Kratos has had his way with Chiron’s kind (and with the Argonauts), and thus, it would be thematically appropriate for Chiron to have a death wish against Kratos.

Morpheus: God of Dreams in God of War

A major antagonist in Chains of Olympus, he was never actually seen in-game, though his presence loomed over the whole story. His past beef with Kratos could be reason enough for Kratos to hunt him down and end his nightmares once and for all.

Odysseus: The Legendary Hero of Homer’s Epics in God of War

A playable character in God of War: Ascension‘s multiplayer mode, a new spin-off game could present an opportunity to bring the character back. Kratos has long been compared to Odysseus due to the similarities to the trials they have faced, and as fans know, Kratos doesn’t like competition — he prefers to squash it. Plus, though it’s unknown who or how many Argonauts Kratos killed in his day, the myths tell that Odysseus’ father was an Argonaut, and if he was one of the victims, it would give Odysseus a reason to go after Kratos.

Considering the option to play him in Ascension, Odysseus could also be considered something of an equal to Kratos in terms of strength and skill. His legendary stature as one of Greece’s greatest fictitious heroes, his history in the series, and his parallels to Kratos could all be reasons to introduce him as more than a multiplayer character. Considering their similarities, he could even become one of the strongest allies to Kratos, though he is rather picky about his friends.

God of War

Creation Year

2005

Publisher(s)

Sony Interactive Entertainment