Highlights

  • The death of Brok in God of War Ragnarok leaves a major impact on his brother Sindri.
  • The riddle of "What gets bigger the more you take away from it?" could serve as a central theme in the rumored half-sequel, exploring grief and the shattered bond between Atreus and Sindri.
  • The next God of War game, possibly appearing at the upcoming Game Awards, could delve into Sindri's psyche and establish him as a compelling villain, showcasing the contrast of grief compared to Kratos' journey in the previous game.

God of War Ragnarok is now one year old, and there has been a lot of speculation surrounding the future of the franchise. Following recent rumors of a half-sequel in the works for Ragnarok, there are many questions about what that would entail. The ending of Ragnarok saw Kratos and Atreus parting ways in a bittersweet send-off that left the ending completely open for a variety of different paths.

The story of Ragnarok was just as heart-wrenching as its 2018 predecessor, and one of the most shocking moments was found in the death of Brok, the Dwarf blacksmith who served as some fun comic relief throughout the game. One of Brok's best character traits was his fondness for riddles, and the most important riddle in the game's story could carry over into this rumored half-sequel in a major way—"What gets bigger the more you take away from it?"

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Brok's Riddle Could Have Major Implications

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"What gets bigger the more you take away from it?" - Brok

Although the final riddle Brok tells the group before his devastating death first seems insignificant, it eventually gives the story a heartbreaking punch when Mimir finally realizes the answer. At Brok's funeral, Mimir finally figures out the answer to the puzzling riddle; a hole. This is significant because the character most affected by Brok's death is his brother Sindri. Without Brok, Sindri now has a hole in his heart due to the grief of losing his brother and best friend. This is clearly shown through his turn towards anger and rage that he aims at Atreus since the boy was ultimately responsible for Brok's death.

The Half-Sequel's Story Could Be Devastating

The rumors of a Ragnarok half-sequel have been suggesting Atreus would be the lead character in its story. An interesting turn of events would be the half-sequel focusing on where Atreus and Sindri's relationship stands now after Brok's death. When players first met Sindri, he was an overly cautious germophobe who began to grow out of his shell, even helping Atreus search for Jormungandr and Freya in the process. The two characters began to build a bond of trust, but Atreus' actions leading to the death of Brok completely shattered that friendship.

Bitter and hardened from loss, Sindri could ultimately be the main villain in the half-sequel. Mirroring Brok's riddle, the hole in Sindri left by the death of his brother has expanded beyond repair, leading him on a journey to get revenge on Atreus. The riddle could become a central theme in this way, and considering that Sindri and Atreus were once good friends, Sindri seeking revenge against someone he once trusted would play out as a compelling look into grief.

2018's God of War followed Kratos on his journey through grief, eventually leading him to acceptance, but a story centered on Sindri's grief could serve as a powerful contrast to this message.

As of now, it's being suggested that the next God of War is well into its development, and if this is the half-sequel many fans have speculated on, it could possibly be announced at this year's upcoming Game Awards. Thanks to Ragnarok's open-ended finale, there's no telling where the next chapter will lead, but diving into Sindri's psyche after such a horrible loss would set him up as a great villain.

Friends becoming enemies is a long-running trope, and seeing this play out between Atreus and Sindri would be fascinating to watch unfold. The reboot of the God of War franchise has brought to life incredible, thought-provoking stories told by well-crafted characters, and an exploration into the hole left in Sindri would be a perfect way to follow suit.