God of War

The God of War franchise, created under the guidance of David Jaffe and developed by Santa Monica Studio, has been an integral part of PlayStation's flagship series since its debut in the 2000s: indeed, it was in 2005, the launch date of God of War, that the odyssey of a saga began, one that now totals 10 games grouped into two different mythological eras.

Thus, the Greek era opens in 2005 on PlayStation 2 with God of War, followed by God of War II on PS2 and God of War III on PS3, along with the PSP spin-off God of War: Chains of Olympus, as well as God of War: Ghost of Sparta and God of War: Betrayal, both on mobile, and God of War: Ascension on PS3. In these games, players control Kratos, a Spartan warrior turned God of War, who brings about his own downfall by seeking vengeance against the Olympian gods who caused him so much torment.

The Norse era, meanwhile, begins with God of War, the eponymous reboot on PS4 released in 2018 and praised for its parable on fatherhood, lineage, and ultimately Kratos and his son Atreus' quest for redemption, followed by God of War Ragnarök (2022) and God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla (2023) as an expansion. In this era, Kratos must face a family drama, which engages him and his son in a shared quest against the Norse deities.

The God of War franchise stands out for its gameplay centered on visceral action, its splendid graphics, and its large-scale storytelling steeped in dramatic mythology. It has become one of PlayStation's most significant franchises, clearly marking the action-adventure genre throughout its various installments.