REVIEW – In 2022, Santa Monica Studio and PlayStation released God of War Ragnarök for the PS4 and PS5. The game achieved monumental success, captivating players with its gripping storyline, breathtaking visuals, and intense combat mechanics, which built upon the foundation laid by the 2018 God of War. Now, two years later, PC gamers finally get their chance to experience what the hype is about, and I’m happy to say the PC port does not disappoint.

While there have been some missteps with PlayStation’s PC ports, most have successfully delivered top-tier titles to this platform. God of War Ragnarök continues this trend, offering an experience that matches or even surpasses the PS5 version, provided you have the hardware to back it up. The game boasts nearly flawless performance with the same jaw-dropping graphics. Of course, stunning visuals mean little if the gameplay doesn’t measure up, but rest assured, God of War Ragnarök excels in this area as well.

The Hunt Continues – Weapons, Puzzles, and Epic Battles

The action in God of War Ragnarök is as visceral as in the 2018 game, utilizing an over-the-shoulder camera and close-quarters hack-and-slash combat. As you progress, Kratos expands his arsenal, eventually wielding a magical, endlessly respawning spear that adds new dimensions to combat. Kratos uses his weapons to take down a variety of enemies but also for solving puzzles, such as freezing objects with the Leviathan Axe.

The PC version of God of War Ragnarök introduces a fantastic quality-of-life improvement for puzzle-solving. While the original PlayStation version had Atreus and other characters quickly give hints before players could try their hand at solutions, the PC version allows players to turn off this assistance, which is a welcome option for those who want to enjoy puzzles without interference.

Best Played with a DualSense Controller

Aside from a few PC-exclusive features like ultrawide support and mouse-and-keyboard controls, the core experience is nearly identical to the PlayStation version. However, I strongly recommend playing with a PS5 DualSense controller. While the game is fully playable with various PC-compatible controllers (I tested it with an Xbox controller), nothing beats the immersive haptic feedback and adaptive triggers of the DualSense, making it the best way to experience God of War Ragnarök on PC.

For those new to God of War Ragnarök, the PC version offers an exhilarating journey. After the events of the 2018 game, Kratos and Atreus find themselves at odds with Norse gods Odin and Thor. What follows is a thrilling adventure through the Nine Realms as they try to prevent the apocalypse. The story is captivating, filled with rich character interactions and surprising twists that will keep players hooked despite a few pacing issues along the way.

Though I consider God of War Ragnarök to be near-perfect, there is one part of the game that drags: a section where Atreus becomes the main playable character. Without spoiling too much, this part of the game slows down the momentum significantly. While it eventually leads to one of the most memorable boss fights in the God of War series and introduces a compelling new character, the gameplay in this segment feels lackluster compared to the rest of the game.

Even with that drawback, it’s hard to find many faults in God of War Ragnarök. It’s an epic, lengthy journey full of amazing sights, thrilling battles, and countless secrets. The puzzles are even better on PC, thanks to the ability to disable companion hints, and the story is among the best ever told in gaming. However, there is one significant flaw with the PC version that players should be aware of.

It Runs Great on Steam Deck

Despite the Steam Deck being somewhat outdated as a handheld console, God of War Ragnarök performs surprisingly well on it. With High settings, the game runs at around 45 FPS in outdoor areas and 55-60 FPS indoors. While the Steam Deck’s hardware might seem a bit behind the times, the game’s optimization is impressive, extracting every ounce of power from the device. The graphics remain stunning without compromising the overall experience, showcasing the Steam Deck’s surprising potential.

The PSN Requirement Is a Letdown

Unfortunately, the PC version of God of War Ragnarök requires a PlayStation Network (PSN) account. Given that the game is purely single-player, it’s unclear why this is necessary for Steam users. While setting up or linking a PSN account doesn’t take long, it feels like an unnecessary inconvenience, especially considering that previous PlayStation games on Steam didn’t have this requirement. The only upside is that this integration allows for simultaneous unlocking of PlayStation trophies and Steam achievements.

For those who can look past the PSN requirement, God of War Ragnarök on PC offers a stellar experience. Additionally, the PC port includes the Valhalla mode at launch, giving players immediate access to a roguelike adventure set after the events of the base game. While Valhalla was a free update for the PlayStation version, it’s nice to have it bundled with the PC release.

Ultimately, God of War Ragnarök gives PC players their money’s worth and then some. It’s a long adventure and easily one of Kratos’ best outings. That said, some pacing issues and the PSN requirement may frustrate some players, but these issues aren’t likely to change. For those without a PS5, however, the PC version remains the best way to experience this epic tale.

Thanks to RedLemon and Sony Hungary for providing the Steam Deck code.

-Gergely Herpai „BadSector-

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: SIE Santa Monica Studio
Style: Action-Adventure-RPG
Release: September 19, 2024 (PC)