The God of War 6 Story Everyone Thinks Is Happening Is a Mistake (Ragnarok Set Up a Better One)

It feels like the entire internet is obsessed with where Kratos and the God of War series is going next, myself included. After the events of God of War: Ragnarok, the speculation is louder than ever and Egypt is the frontrunner for the next setting and mythology. It makes sense on the surface. The pyramids, the Nile River, and of course, the rich lore of the mythology and its dieties. Egypt is the last “big” mythology alongside Greek and Norse, and the excitement to see Kratos go up against Ra, Anubis, Sobek, Osiris, and more is palpable. I shared this opinion and excitement, but the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced this is the wrong direction.

God of War doesn’t need to play it safe with another predictable pantheon. Many fans of the series already know a lot about the Egyptian mythologies, and while Santa Monica Studio has shown it can create something new and unique, I think this is a mistake. Especially so when Ragnarok planted the seeds for something more creative, refreshing, and fitting for Kratos’ next journey.

Egypt Feels Too Predictable for Kratos’s Next Saga

There is no denying Egypt and its mythology is fascinating. I would love to see how Santa Monica Studio interprets this; the imagery alone could carry the game and that’s not even taking into consideration the grand, cinematic boss fights. Yet, it just feels obvious. Kratos has already dismantled the other two major mythologies, so why wouldn’t he be able to do the same with Egypt? Sending him to this location feels like checking a box and answering fan desire rather than an inspired choice.

Part of what makes the Norse saga so successful is how unexpected it was. No one would have guessed a reboot would see a bearded Kratos battling Thor and Odin. To capture that same lightning in a bottle, Santa Monica Studio needs to do it again, and this is why I think a Celtic mythology is the best choice for Kratos’ next journey. There is already evidence for this, and a great setup: Mimir. Kratos’ companion and self-proclaimed brother was revealed as Puck in Ragnarok, a Celtic and Fae trickster who traveled to the Norse realm. This thread is perfect for the pair to follow to a Celtic realm.

Smaller Mythologies Offer Bigger Creative Payoffs

The Celtic mythology has been far less explored in mainstream media compared to Greek, Norse, and Egyptian mythologies. Its pantheons, legends, and supernatural figures remain a relative blank slate for players, and this gives Santa Monica Studio more freedom to adapt the material without the heavy expectations that come with more familar mythologies. Not only this, but it would share the wonderful world and tales of this mythology with fans.

Mimir’s reveal as Puck feels too intentional to ignore, and this is part of the reason why I think a Celtic game would work wonders. The moment I learned Mimir’s history, I immediately pictured misty moors, ancient druidic rituals, and dieties whose morality isn’t as black-and-white as Zeus or Odin. There is a strangeness and depth to the Celtic pantheon that would give Kratos’ journey an unpredictability, one that would test him beyond only his strength.

From a creative standpoint, this is where God of War and God of War: Ragnarok thrived. Reinventing the series while blending familiar mechanics with a new mythological backdrop is a huge part of the series. The jump from Greece to the Nine Realms wasn’t just a change of scenery, it reshaped Kratos as a character. I believe the Celtic mythology could do this again while pushing both gameplay and the narrative in bold, new directions.

Morrigan Is the Female Foe the Series Desperately Needs

One of these new directions a Celtic could game could fix is the lack of prominent female villains. Freya filled this role for a small bit, but Santa Monica Studio and the God of War series have ultimately failed its female cast. Thankfully, a Celtic game has the perfect candidate to not only fix this issue, but give one of the best performances yet: The Morrigan. There are many associates with the Celtic goddess, but more often than not, the most agreed upon are fate and war, and sometimes death.

The Morrigan would combine the strength of Zeus and Thor with the cleverness of Odin. Prophecy, battle, and sovereignty are her domains and she has the power to shapeshift. These embody the chaos of war, and that isn’t even taking into account her husband, The Dagda, chief god of Celtic mythology. The Morrigan could mislead and influence The Dagda to believe Kratos is a threat, forcing our God of War to fight a mighty foe.

This would provide Santa Monica Studio an opportunity to deliver a cunning, intelligent, and manipulative female villain the series has never seen. Odin was clever, but The Morrigan could take this a step further, as she could operate more from the shadows behind The Dagda. This would setup The Dagda as the primary antagonist, but ultimately reveal his wife has been behind everything all along.

One also has to consider her role as Goddess of War as well. This means not only can The Morrigan trick and outwit Kratos, but also stand against him in combat. In this way, she would test Kratos in every way: battle, fate, and even family. Atreus would also play a major role in a Celtic game, and The Morrigan could use this to her advantage. Likewise, Kratos could rely on his son like never before, finally giving Atreus the chance to shine.

When I look back at the 2018 God of War reboot, it wasn’t just the boss fights or the set pieces that made the game what it was, it was the unexpected choices. Egypt might be the flashier and more expected pick, but the Celtic mythology offers an opportunity to deliver a richer story, one that would surprise many fans. For this reason, I think sending Kratos to Egypt is a mistake and a lazy choice, even if I know Santa Monica Studio would nail the execution.

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