Highlights
- God of War Ragnarok's side quests, known as Favors, have surpassed previous installments with over 40 quests and offer a sense of fulfillment outside of the main story.
- The side quests in Ragnarok take players on epic journeys in massive areas, spanning multiple realms, and provide thrilling rewards, such as the Berserker Armor.
- Santa Monica Studio cleverly incorporates elements of the game's story and character lore within the side quests, strengthening the game's overarching narrative and offering a glimpse into NPCs' lives.
When it comes to the world of gaming, few franchises can boast the same level of acclaim and reverence as God of War. Since the start of the series, Kratos has carved a path of destruction and redemption across ancient mythologies. With every new entry, Santa Monica Studio has conjured artful tweaks with its mechanics and gameplay enhancements, ensuring it maintains its position at the top of the gaming pantheon. It has been just under a year since the launch of God of War Ragnarok, and its riveting journey through the Nine Realms with Atreus as a centerpiece not only signifies a continuation of the epic saga but also underscores how influential side quests are for the franchise moving forward.
Charged with building upon and exceeding the success of God of War 2018 was no small feat, the Santa Monica team had big shoes to fill, and the studio delivered masterfully. In a significant shift in the franchise, Atreus journeyed with his father to scatter his mother's ashes in Jotunheim, providing valuable assistance to Kratos as they traveled. The vast open world led to multiple features previously never seen in the God of War games, including side quests. In God of War 2018 and God of War Ragnarok, side quests are known as Favors, and they prove to be a well-received addition as players journey through the realms.
Ragnarok's Side Quest Expansion is a Trailblazer for Future Games
In God of War Ragnarok, Santa Monica increased the Favors available to Kratos and Atreus by a generous amount, with the latest installment featuring over 40. The improvement in side quests isn't limited to numbers, as fans have reported a sense of fulfillment exploring the paths away from the traditional pressures of the main story. God of War 2018's quests were not bad by any stretch, but there was a feeling in some circles that most didn't have much to offer from a lore standpoint. There were a few exceptions, such as the Family Business quest that put gamers right in the thick of engaging puzzles and humorous dialogue.
God of War Ragnarok's side quests don't have that "filler" distinction that is often a feature of modern action games, instead taking players on epic journeys in massive areas. Some side quests in Ragnarok span multiple realms, making their completion a whole process, but the rewards make up for the effort in most cases. For instance, the Fit for a King quest leads players on a treasure hunt to find Berserk Gravestones and defeat their corresponding Berserker Souls. A daunting task by definition, it makes up for its difficulty with thrilling rewards, including the set of Berserker Armor.
Naturally, some side quests are infinitely more rewarding than others, and the Weight of Chains offers a boon unlike most in God of War Ragnarok. Although rewards are the primary motivation for players when engaging in these side quests, Santa Monica cleverly includes elements of the game's story and character lore within these side quests, strengthening the game's overarching narrative. The Weight of Chains allowed players to learn more about Mimir's past, and God of War should continue this creative approach in future installments.
Lore development through quests is a natural feature of RPGs, but not many side quests offer a glimpse into NPCs lives the way Ragnarok painted its picture. Although GoW 2018 featured its fair share of impressive side missions, God of War Ragnarok took things to a higher peak with its area exploration and fleshing out of seemingly random character backstories. The title's reception as one of the best games of the year in 2022 speaks for itself, and the influence of side quests can't be understated moving forward.