Where does God of War Ragnarok fit in the series timeline?

God of War Ragnarok will continue the Norse timeline for the series but more time has passed than fans may expect.

When the first God of War reboot released in 2018, fans were initially confused about whether the game fit into the original trilogy’s story. They quickly discovered that Kratos’ insane escapades in Greece were, in fact, canonical. Lucky for any tripped-up fans, God of War Ragnarok fits much neater into the series timeline. While fans will only learn the full story after its November 9, 2022 release, we already know how long of a time skip Ragnarok will bring to the franchise.

God of War Ragnarok’s story will take place three years after the first reboot title. Following the events of God of War, the setting entered a long cold season called Fimbulwinter. With Ragnarok approaching, the pair decide to adventure out from their woodland home and learn more about Atreus’ true identity as Loki.

The first thing fans will notice about the time gap is Atreus’ leap into puberty. Starting at 11 years old in the first game, Ragnarok will age the boy up to 14. The teenage Atreus is shown independently hunting in the reveal trailer, a task he struggled with in the first game. His archery skills also appear to have improved, and the dwarf Sindri even comments on his growth in the trailer.

Will Ragnarok reference the old God of War timeline?

Elements of the original God of War timeline may show up in Ragnarok, but the primary focus is the mythical Norse apocalypse.

For fans of the original series, there are still several important questions that the God of War reboot hasn’t yet answered. Athena’s status as some kind of god ghost has yet to be expanded upon, and Kratos’ survival and eventual travel to Midgard still aren’t explained. God of War Ragnarok may double back to explain these absent plot points, but some shocking twists could be reserved for the conclusion of the new trilogy.

The one possible connection between Ragnarok and the old games is the destruction of the world as a plot point. At the end of God of War 3, Kratos essentially unleashed the apocalypse on Greece by killing gods and releasing the titans. With such similar themes, it would make sense for Kratos to consider his previous apocalyptic experiences in dealing with Ragnarok.

If fans luck out, the father and son may even find another amphora full of Greek wine.