2018’sGod of Warwas a staggering hit on the PS4, despite making a huge leap by moving Kratos from Ancient Greece to the Nine Realms of Norse mythology. The story towed a fine line between the Norse myths and its own narrative, with some touching moments and shocking twists along the way that solidified it as one of the year’s best triple-A titles.
“Ragnarok is coming” inGod of War’s upcoming sequel, and many fans are excited to see how Santa Monica Studio brings the Norse apocalypse to life in theGod of Waruniverse. Until then, however, many fans of the franchise will be looking for smaller games to tide them over. Here are five of the best indie gamesGod of Warfans can check out while waiting for Kratos and Atreus to take on the end of the world in the next game.
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Jotun
Jotunis a beautifully hand-drawn exploration game that dives into Norse mythology death-first. Thora is a recently deceased Norse warrior, but her untimely end is far from her only problem. Only glorious deaths gain a warrior’s spirit access toValhalla, and Thora’s death war far from glorious.
Stuck in the Norse version of purgatory, Thora must solve puzzles, explore beautiful landscapes, and tackle five Jotun bosses across nine levels if she’s going to impress the gods enough to get into Valhalla.Jotun: Valhalla Editioneven ups the ante for fans who want more of a challenge, making those giants even tougher. The soundtrack and Icelandic voice-acting helps tie together stunning visuals and a great concept to create a particularly memorable version of Norse mythology. Although it’s a little on the short side,Jotun’s story and visual stylepacks a giant-sized punch
Roki
Point-and-click adventureRokimay not have the action of aGod of Wargame, but it certainly has the ambition. Like Jotun this game has a beautiful painterly artstyle and a compelling story. Players take on the role of Tove, a girl trying to save her younger brother Lars as she journeys through a world of Scandinavian folklore and Norse mythology.
Lars has been captured by Roki, a shadowy creature straight out of a fairy tale.LikeGod of War,Rokiplays with its mythological roots and the idea of storytelling itself, to create a touching tale about family, sacrifice, monsters, and humanity.
Rokiexperiments with its inspirations, creating its own monsters and telling a story that is as much about storytelling itself as it is Norse mythology. Fans wont find themselves facing down Thor like inGod of War’s secret ending.Instead, Roki has its own colorful cast of characters, with design’s taking full advantage of the game’s shell-shaded style to create a world which feels uniquely inspired by Norse mythology but distinct from the stories of the myths themselves.
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Kari - Stranded On The Shores Of Vanaheim
God of Warfans will recognizeVanaheimas the realm of the Vanir led by the Norse goddess Freya. However,God of Warnever actually allowed players to explore the realm, which the pair were only able to see out of Freya’s window. For that, fans should check outKari - Stranded On the Shores of Vanaheim.
Kari has found herself stranded in Vanaheim after a shipwreck. The game has no combat - Kari must collect resources to build the ship which will, will the help of a few familiar faces, help her leave Vanaheim and make her way home. Norse figures found inGod of Warlike Freya andMimirhave key roles to play, making this a great game for exploring just how broad the interpretations of these figures can be.
The Frostrune
While many of these games see a young girl exploring the world of Norse myth,The Frostruneputs a particularly interesting spin on things. The year is 965 AD, and the player washes ashore Norway as the only survivor of a shipwreck. This point-and-click adventure is rooted in a deep understanding ofScandinavian historyand culture, but still manages to explore Norse mythology and folklore in depth. Making their way through an abandoned village, players will quickly find that not all is as it seems.
Every scene inThe Frostrunelooks like a painting, and it isn’t long before the creepy quiet gives way to something far more ghostly. The historical accuracy is particularly impressive. Everything from the architecture to the runes and relics players will discover as they exploreThe Frostrune’s many areas are created with extreme attention to detail, making it a nice balance to some of the lighterNorse-inspired indie gamesout there.
Hades
Hadeswas one of the biggest hits of 2020 and any list of indie games with similarities toGod of Warwould be incomplete without it. This roguelike puts players in the shoes of Hades' sonPrince Zagreusas he journeys through realms like Tartarus, Asphodel, and Elysium to try and escape the Underworld.
Players have access to a huge variety ofInfernal Arms for Prince Zagreusto use against his enemies, allowing players to customize their combat experience to their own personal playstyle. For RPG fansHadescomes with three main romance options, which also give their own rewards.
When the player dies they simply return to theHouse of Hadesand start anew, without the story resetting. Just when players think they’ve seen all thatHadeshas to offer, a new loop will reveal something totally new. Throw in the exceptional character design behind each of the Greek Gods andGod of Warfans will find themselves lost in an addictive, combat-focused title that’s highly reminiscent of Kratos' journey through the originalGod of Wartrilogy.
A sequel toGod of Waris currently set for release in 2021.
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