God of War Ragnarok Elevates AAA Side Quests

More than distractions to the main adventure

God of War Ragnarok makes obvious strides over the last entry by enlarging its Norse setting and adding new layers to the game's satisfying combat but one of the more exciting additions is entirely optional though highly recommended. Blockbuster RPGs and action-adventure games have always had exciting things to do and see on the critical path but often side quests leave a lot to be desired. Ragnarok not only improves its overall world through having great optional activities but it also deepens its characters that are at the forefront of what makes this new take for Kratos and established names myth so compelling. 

This essay does have the potential for spoilers, though I am still a ways away from finishing Ragnarok myself so I don’t expect any big ones here. It has been primarily character-building and expeditions through the various realms so far for me; I’m also taking my time to drink in all of the gorgeous details of the Nine Realms.  

An area praised in Kratos’ first PS4 outing was the Lake of Nine, enabling several smaller goals like freeing the ghosts of warriors. Unfortunately, the characters introduced in these optional missions just didn’t have the impact of the rest of the expertly realized cast. Completing 2018’s God of War was fun enough but this criticism must have been taken to heart by the developers of Santa Monica Studios because Ragnarok improves upon side quests by making each task important to the various characters and rewarding players with meaningful upgrades. 

Early on in the journey, Mimir (the knowledgable talking head that provides Atreus and Kratos with the history of Yygdrasil’s Nine Realms) laments the actions of his past involving mines in Svartalfheim. His tone at the sight of these black columns of smoke provides just enough mystery that most players will want to learn more. One might expect there to be a few skirmishes and new loot chests to smash open but this early optional quest sets the stage for how Ragnarok as a game has decided to do things differently. 

Three mines need to be destroyed, offering unique traversal puzzles and new foes to face. All the while, Mimir shares his personal story. On top of this, Kratos gains unique resources to craft better armor through these three mines, further rewarding the player. However, the greatest reward is seeing a new massive creature and deepening the bond between these characters. The spectacle of a new area rising from the waters was the perfect way to finish off this questline. 

I fully expected there to be similar open zones like this in Ragnarok, but I didn’t realize that there was so much depth in this world. Several realms have areas that are free to explore with additional quest lines to pursue. 

I tend to explore as much as I can in games and Ragnarok does wonders for my personal enjoyment and how I like to play. I realized just how special these quests were while rescuing the Hafgufa, a giant jellyfish held in a prison of corruption in the deserts of Alfheim. Atreus hears its cries from afar due to his affinity for animals and shows interest in saving it. To his surprise, Kratos agrees and the pair go through several battles with dark elves before freeing the creature. Unsure why Kratos accepted this mission so quickly, Atreus questions his father as the being gently flies away, its tendrils lighting up the sky like extra stars. 

Mimir gives Kratos’ answer by saying, “He just wants to spend time with you, lad. While he still can.” 

It was a beautiful moment in the face of Ragnarok’s impending prophetic doom and far more rewarding than any armor, talisman, or upgrade. These scenes of character development are everywhere in God of War Ragnarok. Not only do we get an expanded Norse world but this story also uses many moments in Kratos’ past, making connections to motivations that will give longtime fans pause to take in just how much respect was given to Kratos’ character. 

God of War Ragnarok raises the bar for side quests in AAA gaming and elevates character writing in ways that continue to surprise me. 

It is entirely worth it to play the rest of the God of War games for the complete context and weight of Kratos’ actions in the modern titles. That said, playing just 2018s God of War and this year’s Ragnarok makes for an incredible journey. 

God of War Ragnarok is available now on PS4 and PS5. Find our full review here or check out our video review on our YouTube channel.

Screenshots were captured using native features of the PS5. A digital copy was purchased by the author of this article.