The closing chapters to God of War Ragnarok teased the possibility of detouring through another ancient culture's mythology, having already carved a swath through the Greek and Norse. The Egyptian mythology is rife with potential for a sequel or spinoff to God of War but the issue of an analog for basic enemies might require some clever solutions. Santa Monica's bold design shift for the 2018 soft reboot propelled the franchise to newfound heights, and God of War Ragnarok maintained its predecessor's quality while expanding it in several key areas.
The narrative arc between the two games culminated in an open-ended parting of the ways between Atreus and Kratos which could veer in any number of interesting ways for the inevitable third entry. Next-to-nothing beyond that inevitability is known regarding Sony Santa Monica's plans, not even whether Kratos will be the titular character of the next game, but there are hints baked into God of War's world that suggest whoever the central protagonist is will be scrapping with a different set of deities.
A Fresh Start for God of War is Coming
If the God of War franchise is going after another pantheon, the Egyptian set of gods makes too much sense. The 2018 God of War made its existence canon with a scene in the game's midpoint featuring Atreus donning a found piece of Egyptian pottery like a helmet. An Egyptian God of War was actually the initial plan for the soft reboot, according to Cory Barlog, with the swerve to Norse mythology coming at some point during pre-production.
It is doubtful the next God of War will make a similarly extreme leap forward for its next installment, new pantheon or not, but a refreshed setting could do marvels for giving the franchise another rejuvenation. The Nine Realms gifted players with a wealth of diverse biomes and enemy variety for God of War and God of War Ragnarok, but a change of pace at this point would be welcome by fans and is all-but assured from the closing act of God of War Ragnarok, with Egypt seeming to be the most likely destination.
An Egyptian God of War Will Need to Focus on Variety
While first glance may make Egypt seem like a singular environment with singular enemy types, it could contain multitudes. The obvious Saharan desert biome fighting skeletal warriors and giant scorpions could open up to the fertile Nile River Valley, slaying crocodiles and hippos. Sprawling necropolises and pyramids could provide lengthy gameplay segments for Kratos or Atreus to traverse, cutting down the ubiquitous mummies, and there is a well of untapped potential for Duat, the Egyptian underworld, as a more cosmic setting for the duration of the game, also providing an outlet for some unique underworld denizens to slay.
That is not to mention the sprawling urban centers of Cairo and Memphis that could provide an architectural change of pace for the franchise. If the next God of War game goes to Egypt, locational diversity should not pose that much of a challenge for Sony Santa Monica.
There is also a wealth of unique gods in the Egyptian pantheon that could make phenomenal adversaries or allies for the next God of War. Between Ra, Osiris, Isis, and Anubis, the anthropomorphic larger-than-life animal gods would not require much in the way of revisionism to make them fit within the bounds of a God of War game. The more pressing dilemma is the lower-tier enemies. Whether it be underling mummies, undead legions, or swarms of scarab beetles, it appears to be the largest caveat for stale gameplay design. Sony Santa Monica will need to be clever in its approach to trash mobs in an Egyptian God of War, but if any studio can do it, it can.
God of War Ragnarok is available now for PS4 and PS5.
