Warning: Mild spoilers ahead for the God of War: Ragnarok Valhalla DLC

Highlights

  • The Valhalla DLC serves as a form of therapy for Kratos, allowing him to come to terms with his past and become a more peaceful man.
  • The half-sequel to Ragnarok could focus on Freya as the protagonist, as she takes the lead in rebuilding the Realms after the events of the game.
  • The themes of hope and growth explored in Valhalla could be further explored in the half-sequel, showing how Kratos applies the lessons he learned and becomes a wiser, benevolent figure.

The long-rumored half-sequel to God of War: Ragnarok, if it does turn out to be real, can build off last month's Valhalla DLC in a number of different ways. The free expansion, aside from reminding players of God of War's strengths and weaknesses, provides a surprisingly hefty amount of story content, serving as a strong epilogue for the base game's narrative and possibly setting up the pins for the half-sequel.

At the end of the Valhalla DLC, Kratos has taken the final steps in his post-Greek saga transformation. After killing Zeus, Kratos spent years running away from his past and ultimately became a better, more peaceful man in the process. However, he was still tortured by guilt and shame in 2018's God of War and Ragnarok, and the Valhalla DLC essentially serves as a form of intense, godly therapy for him, allowing him to come to terms with the man he once was. Kratos' journey is just part of the equation when it comes to how Valhalla builds the God of War narrative and world, though, and the half-sequel to Ragnarok could build off the story elements the expansion establishes.

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Kratos from God of War 2 facing temple surrounded by Kratos from Ragnarok and God of War
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How the Valhalla DLC Might Affect Ragnarok's Half-Sequel

The Half-Sequel to Ragnarok Could Follow Freya

After the tumultuous events of God of War: Ragnarok, the Realms need to be rebuilt, and Freya is taking the lead. Players catch glimpses of the state of the God of War world throughout the Valhalla DLC, as Kratos and Mimir can ask Sigrun, one of Freya's Valkyries, about how each Realm is faring. While the future seems bright, there is still work to be done, with Sigrun commenting about the power struggles and political issues that have arisen following the events of the base game.

The half-sequel could retain God of War's intense combat while allowing Kratos some much-needed time away from the battlefield by following Freya as she heals the realms. This would mirror the choices made by other half-sequels like Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, making a member of the supporting cast the protagonist. Freya is an interesting character with a unique set of skills embarking on her own healing journey, and a game designed around her has a lot of potential.

God of War's Half-Sequel: The God of Hope

Valhalla's focus on hope as a key theme could provide a path for Ragnarok's half-sequel. Kratos finishes the DLC with a different view of himself as a god, seemingly growing more comfortable with the idea of becoming Freya's general and, in essence, assuming the role of God of War again. It could be incredibly rewarding to see this idea further explored in the half-sequel, showing how Kratos applies the lessons he learned in Valhalla. Assuming Kratos does indeed take Freya up on her offer to become a God of War, the half-sequel could center on Kratos as a wiser, more benevolent authority figure working for the betterment of society.

A God of War: Ragnarok Half-Sequel Starring Atreus

Atreus is perhaps the most obvious choice to lead the Ragnarok half-sequel, as the ending of God of War: Ragnarok suggests that he will be taking over as the face of the franchise. While he isn't featured in Valhalla, the themes of the DLC could apply to his journey. Atreus could become better acquainted with his own dark side, and the half-sequel could show him struggling with ethical issues now that he lacks his father's guidance. The character has already committed several violent actions, so the half-sequel could show him learning to accept his past and present, thus mirroring his father's journey in Valhalla.