Can you turn off the blood and gore in God of War Ragnarök?

No. While there are extensive accessibility settings for difficulty, visuals, and control inputs, there is no setting to disable or turn down the blood, gore, or brutal execution animations.

Do you need to play the 2018 God of War before playing Ragnarök?

It is strongly recommended. Ragnarök is a direct story sequel that assumes you already know the established relationships and backstory between Kratos, Atreus, and the Norse gods. The game includes a short recap video in the main menu, but key emotional beats won't land as well without the first game.

Are there microtransactions, loot boxes, or online multiplayer?

None. It is entirely a single-player, story-driven action game. Everything in the game is unlocked through standard gameplay, exploration, and completing quests.

How long does it take to beat the game?

Focusing solely on the main story takes about 25 to 30 hours. Players who take their time exploring side quests, solving realm puzzles, and collecting optional armor can easily log 50 to 60 hours.

God Of War Ragnarok – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

God Of War Ragnarok

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

game2022Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up

84%

WISE Score

91%

IGDB

Kratos and his teen son Atreus hack through Norse gods in a stunning, brutally violent epic about fatherhood, trust, and breaking bad cycles.

God Of War Ragnarok

game

2022, Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up

84%

WISE Score

91%

IGDB

Kratos and his teen son Atreus hack through Norse gods in a stunning, brutally violent epic about fatherhood, trust, and breaking bad cycles.

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Where to Play

PlayStation

PC/Steam

Screenwise Verdict

God of War Ragnarök is a narrative masterpiece wrapped in visceral, gory hack-and-slash combat. It picks up Kratos and Atreus's journey as they prepare for the prophesied end of the Norse world, delivering a masterclass in story-driven game design.

The core dynamic between a stoic father learning to trust his growing son is human and thoughtful. However, this is an ESRB M-rated title for a reason: Kratos cleaves enemies in half, execution moves involve bloody dismemberment, and profanity flows freely.

If your high schooler is old enough for heavy graphic action, it offers some of the best storytelling, mythic worldbuilding, and combat mechanics in modern gaming.

Age Fit

Strictly for older teens (17+) and adults. While the central story about a father letting go of his adolescent son is genuinely moving, the non-stop decapitations, limb severing, and heavy gore make this unfit for middle schoolers.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The emotional core centers on Kratos learning to trust Atreus and break cycles of violence, but the story takes place against a backdrop of war, vengeful gods, and extreme brutal combat.

Imaginative

Massive, beautifully realized Norse mythological realms, inventive puzzle design, and deep narrative worldbuilding.

Safe

No predatory microtransactions or unmoderated online social features, but the graphic combat includes decapitations, limb severing, visceral gore, and frequent strong language.

Enriching

Offers a nuanced narrative about fatherhood, grief, responsibility, and autonomy alongside high-level tactical combat and environmental puzzle solving.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Nuanced father-son story: Explores Kratos learning to trust his growing son Atreus rather than trying to shield him from every danger.
Rich mythic worldbuilding: Takes players through nine detailed Norse realms filled with environmental puzzles, side quests, and legendary figures.
Deep tactical combat: Combining Kratos's Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos requires real skill, timing, and strategy on higher difficulty settings.
Zero monetized filler: A complete single-player experience with no battle passes, microtransactions, or live-service traps.

⚠

What to Watch For

Visceral graphic violence: Finishing moves feature severed limbs, split skulls, spilling guts, and heavy blood splatters.
Heavy thematic weight: Deals with grief, physical and psychological trauma, war, and revenge throughout its 30+ hour campaign.
Frequent profanity: Characters use strong language regularly during tense narrative scenes and combat encounters.

Conversation Starters

"Kratos struggles to let Atreus make his own choices. When is it hardest for a parent to step back?"
"Atreus wants to know his destiny, but Kratos believes choices define you. Do you think people are bound by expectations or their choices?"
"How do Kratos and Atreus handle their anger differently throughout the story?"

Deep Dive

The Sequel That Earns Its Scope

Following up 2018's acclaimed reboot was a massive creative hurdle, but Santa Monica Studio delivered a conclusion to the Norse saga that feels bigger and more emotionally complex. Where the previous game focused on Kratos taking his young son on a grief-filled journey, Ragnarök shifts perspective to Atreus becoming his own person with secrets, agency, and conflicting loyalties.

Playable Atreus and Mechanical Growth

For significant stretches of the game, players actually control Atreus. His combat style is faster, agile, and bow-focused, contrasting sharply with Kratos's heavy, bone-crunching strikes. This gameplay split mirrors the narrative dynamic: Atreus wants to explore his identity as Loki, while Kratos clings to his desire to keep his son safe from divine warfare.

Outstanding Accessibility Options

Beyond its story and visuals, God of War Ragnarök sets a industry benchmark for accessibility. Parents and players can customize combat timing, toggle puzzle hints, alter visual indicators, and tweak controller inputs extensively. If your teen wants to experience the story without hitting a wall on difficulty, the game provides granular controls to adjust combat aggression and puzzle timing.

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