How God of War sets up the narrative in Norse mythos before Ragnarok

sportskeeda.com:

God of War Ragnarok is coming soon, and not every gamer will have played through the first game. The previous title, available on PlayStation and PC, told the story of what occurred once Kratos made his way to the Norse realms. Finding a home in Midgard with a new family, his peace would ultimately not last.

Ragnarok is coming, and the machinations of Odin involve the God of War himself. Armed with the Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos, Kratos and his son Atreus will be wrapped up in a new, deadly adventure across the Nine Realms. But how did we get there?

Here is the story of God of War (2018) and what it is doing to set up Ragnarok.

Note: This article contains major spoilers for God of War 2018.

The beginning of the game is honestly pretty heartbreaking. Kratos found a new life and family. Kratos, his wife Faye, and their son Atreus were living together when Faye would unexpectedly die. The game starts with Kratos putting her on a funeral pyre.

The father and son don’t even really get to deal with their grief when a mysterious man shows up, covered in runes and tattoos. The two men had a brutal fight that obliterated the local flora and fauna. Kratos would slay this man by breaking his neck and throwing him off a cliff - but that would not truly be the end.

Faye had a final request for Kratos and Atreus, though. She wanted her ashes thrown off the highest mountain in the Nine Realms, so that would be their next ultimate goal. Kratos will meet the Witch of the Woods as well as the Dwarven brothers, Brok and Sindri. Both would ultimately help the God of War in his quest.

Jormungandr, the last of the Giants and the World Serpent, would also be encountered at the Lake of the Nine. At this point, the Bifrost is also still active.