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On December 12th, 2023, Santa Monica Studio launched a free expansion forGod of War: Ragnarök- known as Valhalla - that follows Kratos and Mimir as they head to an unusual location after receiving a mysterious letter. Aside from its engaging roguelike-inspired combat system, there is also a surprising amount of story and character development awaiting Kratos on the shores of Valhalla.
Inspired by titles likeDead CellsandHades, each attempt in Valhalla requires you to select certain upgrade paths to customize your build. Each run also provides Kratos with clarity about both his past and his future as he comes face to face with the consequences of his actions from long ago. This expansion is essential for anyone who has spent time with Kratos, and its ending could have long-lasting effects on the series' future.
What Is Valhalla?
In Norse mythology, Valhalla is one of two placeswhere warriors go after dying in combat. Many soldiers fought their hardest with the mindset that Valhalla awaited them in the afterlife and was often perceived as a reward for living with honor.
The Valhalla depicted in Ragnarök is a bit different from the one described throughout history. Here, Valhalla acts as a gauntlet for the dead to travel through as they deal with their past and try to come to terms with their life. Anyone who successfully clears these personal challenges can move on and join others in what Sigrún described as “larger neighborhoods” to live out their afterlife, while the rest are trapped in their personal Valhalla forever.
Each initial Valhalla that awaits the dead is different for every person, as itdraws from their memoriesto create a customized trial of past conflicts and experiences. For Kratos, this means that everything he has ever done will come back to haunt him in Valhalla. While he’s had his fair share of hardships in the Norse world, Kratos left the land of Greece in ruins, and it’s mostly events from Ascension to God of War 3 that plague him here.
Kratos Confronts The Past
Shortly after his first attempt at Valhalla, Kratos notices that events and enemies from his past linger around him. After his first defeat, Kratos wakes up on the beach to discover Freya, Sigrún, Gunnr, and Eir have arrived to help him reach his destination. It’s soon revealed that Freya has approached Kratos aboutbecoming the new God of War on her council, a decision the Spartan doesn’t take lightly, and that is the driving force behind his desire to see Valhalla through.
After reaching the Ascending Sands for the first time, Kratos and Mimir find themselves inside an empty throne room. The ruined chair isactually Kratos' old seat from Greece, and a mysterious voice echoes through the chamber and threatens him with an “…unpaid debt”.
The Sacrifice
During the next successful run, it will be revealed that the voice comes from the head of the Greek God Helios, who will act as a condescending guide for Kratos in Mimir’s place during certain sections in Valhalla. The first trial with Helios includes afull recreation of a puzzle from the first God of Warin which Kratos mercilessly sacrificed a human life just to advance his quest.
Knowing something must be sacrificed, Kratos decides to put Helios' head in a cage and begins pushing it toward pillars of flame. At the last second, Mimir returns, now in Helios' place inside the cage, and Kratos struggles to break him out. His actions here cause Valhalla to break in some way, and as they fall towards their doom, Sigrún flies in to save them.
Kratos is given another chance to prove himself with the cage puzzle, and after defeating a giant Cyclops, hedecides to sacrifice himself. It’s a success and leads Kratos to one who has been awaiting him at the end of Valhalla the entire time - Týr.
Meeting With Tyr
The former Norse God of War is aware of the decision in front of Kratos and invites him to Valhalla tohelp him overcome doubt and realize how much he has changedover the years. Kratos will ultimately have to best Týr in a fight three times before he can master himself and Valhalla.
Between these battles, Kratos confronts many past events, like when he first made the deal with Ares to protect his people, what he did to Helios in God of War 3, and his relationship with the young Pandora. After dealing with these internal conflicts and defeating Týr for the third time, Kratos is now ready to accept his fate.
What Happens To Kratos At The End Of Valhalla?
When Kratos finally accepts his new role and opens the final door in Valhalla, he discovers that a younger version of himself is sitting on his old throne. In this conversation with himself, Kratos reveals how angry he was the first time he held the title and what that meant to him then compared to the man he is now.
His monologue about redemption is riveting and emotional, and his words resonate. He takes himself to task for the things he’s done but knows that he is more than that,eventually convincing himself that he is no longer the monster he used to be before taking a seatand letting out a sigh of relief. When Mimir inquires about what they should do next, Kratos responds, “I believe I would like to sit here for a while, " indicating that the old warrior has found his closure and is now ready to accept his new role and fate.
