The Norse Mythology in God of War: Ragnarok’s Latest Trailer

The Norse god of war, law, and honor was imprisoned by Odin for suggesting he not attack the giants of Jötunheim. Kratos is seen in the trailer breaking Tyr free from what could be Gleipnir, the unbreakable thread that bound the great wolf Fenrir.

Odin (???)

Odin arriving at Kratos and Atreus’ home.

Is that the All-Father himself? Known to take the form of a wanderer and travel amongst the people of Midgard, Odin is one of the many Aesir gods projected to die during the events of Ragnarök.

Freya and the Mistletoe

Freya, scorned.

Baldur was the favorite of the Aesir gods, so when his mother asked everything in creation not to harm her son, they accepted. She only forgot to ask Mistletoe, which is what Loki eventually kills him with (in both Norse Mythology and God of War). Now she is a mother who lost her son — and seeks revenge.

Sköll and Hati

Sköll, Hati, Kratos, and Atreus.

The two wolves who chase the sun and the moon across the sky, Sköll and Hati are said to catch their prey at Ragnarök, bringing the sky and Earth into darkness.

Loki and His Love for Animals

Atreus sics Sköll on Sol (the sun).

Loki was always known to have a good relationship with animals, which is seen throughout God of War. Angrboða, the “mother of monsters,” who will appear in God of War: Ragnarök, is Loki’s romantic interest in Norse Myth. At least in North Mythology, she and Loki are the parents to Fenrir, Jörmungandr, and Hel, all of who play a part in the Twilight of the Gods.

Mermaids

Kratos encounters a mermaid-like being.

Rán is a goddess of the sea. Her and her husband, the Giant Aegir, had nine daughters who are the personification of waves. Both Rán and her daughters have been known to drown sea-farers. While not depicted as mermaids in Norse Myth, Sony Santa Monica might be twisting the two stories into one.

Thor’s Red Hair

Thor v Kratos: Dawn of Ragnarök.

The God of Thunder in the Norse Mythology is described as having red hair and a full, braided beard, unlike that of the MCU’s blond-haired dreamboat. He’s much more like the one we see here, wielding an even shorter-handled Mjölnir than we’re used to seeing.

Watch the God of War: Ragnarök “Story” trailer again right here:

God of War: Ragnarök is set for release on PS5 on November 9, 2022. To learn more about the mythology of the game before it arrives, check out our Experts React to the game’s first trailer, featuring Jackson Crawford, a Norse mythology expert and media consultant for projects like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

Tyler Robertson is a Social Media Coordinator/Producer for IGN. He just so happens to know a bunch about Norse Mythology. You can find him on Twitter @TylersNewGroove.