Introduction
It focuses on Kratos, the God of War, and his teenage son, Atreus, who face the coming Ragnarok conflict as a result of Kratos killing the Norse god Baldur, while trying to end the tyrannical reign of Odin, the King of Asgard, while focusing on Atreus, who is trying to discover his origins.
Original story
In Midgard, three years after the start of Fimbulwinter, as Kratos and Atreus return home from a hunt, they are attacked by Freya, who then kills Kratos. When the two arrive at their home, Fenrir, one of their wolves, is on the verge of death. Atreus chants a funeral chant before asking his father to allow him to mourn and bury the wolf. Kratos agrees and falls asleep at home.
Kratos dreams of his beloved wife, Fae, but is awakened by Mimir, who is worried that Atreus has not returned home from burying Fenrir. Kratos and Mimir are attacked by a bear named Bjorn while searching for their son. Kratos strangles the bear until it transforms back into Atreus, who suddenly develops his bear powers from his intense emotions. Atreus and Kratos argue about the former's intention to learn more about his "Loki" identity before returning home again.
While both father and son are asleep, Thor, the god of thunder, awakens them and asks Kratos to speak to him. Odin, the king of Asgard, soon follows and makes the god of war an offer: in exchange for him and Atreus not making enemies with the Aesir gods, Odin and Thor will not do the same to keep the peace. After they reveal that Atreus has been secretly searching for Tyr, the supposedly dead Norse god of war, and after Mimir chastises Odin, Kratos coldly rejects the deal. Odin allows Thor to attack Kratos as retaliation for killing Baldur, Magni, and Moody. Kratos dies from a blow to the head, but is revived by Thor, who repeatedly tries to dispel Kratos' anger so that he can see the "Ghost of Sparta". When Thor boasts of Odin's "plans" for Atreus, Kratos hits Thor with full force, and the pleased God of Thunder walks away, claiming that "[I] will see you through.".
Brook and Sindri encounter an injured Kratos, who asks for their help in returning to his home as Odin is still with Atreus and Mimir. Brook, concluding that Kratos' magical protection staff is broken, offers him, his son, and Sindri shelter at his home. Returning home, Kratos is relieved to find Atreus safe, but is angered by how the boy hid the fact that he himself was investigating Tyr and Loki. However, seeing that this path will help Atreus' safety, Kratos accompanies him to the Sköll and Hati's Jötunn mural, which actually has a secret chamber inside that reveals the true fate of the two giant wolves. The mural and Atreus' secret explorations hint that Kratos, he, and Mimir must travel to Svartalfheim, the realm of the dwarves, to free Tyr, who is likely still alive.
After Sindri guides the three to her home in the realm between the realms, she, Brook, and Mimir turn their Bifröst lamp into a portal as a new (and only) way to travel through the realm. The Holdra brothers, upon learning of the trio's plans to explore Svartalfheim to find and free Tyr, suggest they travel to Nidavellr, the realm's capital, to find a government official and former rebel Dorlin. In the dwarven realm, Dorlin secretly guides Atreus to find Tyr after learning that his former honorable comrade and Kratos' wife, Faye, has died. Tyr is revealed to be alive, but in poor mental health and has vowed to fight against violence after years of torture. Tyr accompanies Kratos, who yells at him to join the group, not as a soldier but at least as someone with information. Everyone returns to Sindri's home.
Part Two
Kratos and Mimir lament how times were simpler in the past and how finding the arrow may have been Atreus' mistake. Atreus and Sindri sneak away from them to go to Midgard to try to recruit Freya, despite Freya's protests. Atreus initially consults with Jörmungandr to prevent Ragnarok and is frustrated that the only answer he gets is to go to "Ironwood", which is probably not a real place. Atreus meets with Freya and reveals to her that she may be the last remaining giant and that Odin briefly visited Midgard. Freya refuses to tag along and warns Atreus not to go near her again. As they drive home, Sindri comforts Atreus and talks about how Brook was really dead and Sindri partially resurrected her. They both promise to eventually be more honest with Brooke and Kratos.
Kratos, Mimir, and Tyr plan to visit Alfheim to see what secrets the Jotun shrine of Gruva can unlock there. Atreus accompanies them and they encounter the Light Elves who have taken control of Alfheim's light and its temple. Upon arriving at Gruva's shrine, an amused trio and a shocked Tyr are shown that Gruva, the sorceress, lied to Odin about the prophecy of Ragnarok. Instead of all nine realms being destroyed together, a "hero" unites the realms against Asgard, and only the realm of the Aesir is destroyed through war. Tyr is horrified by this revelation and they return home.
Tyr convinces Atreus that he may be the "hero" of the Jotuns, angering Kratos. Seeing that his father is not keen on Atreus being this war hero, he retreats to his new room and suddenly wakes up in the Ironwood, which is in Jotunheim. Angrboda, a Jotun (his age), who is aware of his fate with Loki, approaches him and shows him to the other side of the giant realm. Eventually, Atreus learns that his father has a death prophecy, that almost all the Jotuns' souls have been placed in marbles so that Odin will not find them and that Angrboda's grandmother, Grilla, has been using the animal spirits to enjoy them. Atreus and Angrboda revive a large, lifeless serpent by impregnating a Jotun named "Jörmungandr". The serpent goes with a word. The two teenagers then fight Gril, who taunts Angrboda for his prophecy with Loki, and how he cares more about the death of Farbuti (Kratos' Norse name) than he does. For the safety of the Jotun race, Angrboda tells Atreus not to tell anyone about his trip to the Ironwood.
Angered by the help of Angered, Atreus returns home, but he is mistakenly sent back to his home in Midgard. A worried Kratos finds him and asks why he has been missing for two days. Their tense alliance is cut short by the Valkyrie Vanadis attacking them. During the battle, Kratos recognizes Freya in him and is distracted, which is why he temporarily gains the upper hand. Atreus tries to help his father by transforming into a bear, but instead is stopped from attacking Freya, who demands a temporary alliance with Kratos and Mimir in Vanaheim so that she can be freed from Odin's curse. Brock tags along to meet an old friend. Freyr, the god of peace and Freya's brother, traps the dwarf. Freya tells him that they are her allies, and he quickly renounces his enmity with Brock, Kratos, and Mimir. Brook stays at Freyr's camp to meet another dwarf named Londa.
Sparta's spirit and Freya find the source of her curse, which is guarded by the multidimensional dragon Niðhogg. Freya beheads him, finally freeing herself from being confined to the Nine Realms. When Kratos asks her what will happen between them next, she says that while she will always be angry with Kratos for killing Baldur, claiming revenge by defeating Odin is more important. Fortunately, they reconcile and become allies. She soon returns to Freyr's camp, and reconciles with her brother.
Part Three
Returning to Sindri's home, Kratos continues to demand the truth from Atreus, who has previously gone to Asgard as a spy against Odin. Mimir, Freya, Tyr, Brook, and Sindri all discourage him from going to Odin, but he escapes. He finds the neglected Chaverli in Midgard, makes sure she is still alive, and enters the house below her, where Hoggin is watching. He takes Atreus to Asgard, where he encounters a Midgardian refugee named Skolder and the god of foresight, Heimdall. Heimdall attacks Atreus suspiciously until Odin and Thor intervene. Odin shows him around Asgard and offers him Moody's Chamber. He then asks for his help in translating an alien text from a mysterious mask (or Mask of Creation), which may contain a vast body of knowledge. After reading Atreus, Odin discovers the secret and sends him and Thor to Muspelheim to find another piece of the mask.
Atreus convinces a salt-dwelling Thor to uncover Surtr's trials, while he sneaks off to find the prophecy hidden behind the Jotun Surtr mural. Angrboda appears, hinting that the fire giant is still alive, and together they realize that, in fact, Surtr can only destroy Asgard if he is fused with his lover, Sinemara. Atreus returns to Thor and manages to get the piece of the mask. The two return to Asgard.
Kratos returns to the realm between realms, intending to consult with the Norns of Norse mythology about their fate. With Mimir and Freya, they travel to Midgard, where the Norns play tricks on them before allowing the three to consult with them. At the Well of Oro, the Norns reveal three important pieces of information. First, Kratos will eventually die. Second, there is no predetermined fate for everyone, and all prophecies are predictions based on the identities and actions of individuals. Finally, Heimdall plans to kill Atreus. Kratos, Mimir, and Freya are all upset by their words, but Kratos is only thinking about how to defend his son. And he can only do this by planning to kill Heimdall.
After telling the Norns about the Holdra brothers' journey, Brook suggests that to overcome Heimdall's ability to foresee, a repeating ring called Draupnir must be changed into the Draupnir Spear, which will explode its own duplicates on command. Kratos, Mimir, Freya, and Brook travel to Svartalheim to meet with the only being capable of forging the Draupnir Spear: the Lady of the Forge. However, while the spear is being forged, Brook realizes that the Lady cannot see him because her reconstructed soul is incomplete. She notices and is angry to learn that she is truly dead, but Kratos comforts her. Odin visits the god of war in the dwarven realm to insult him. When Kratos returns to Sindri's home, he dreams another memory of Fey, this time with the infant Atreus. Kratos is haunted by his past dreams.
In Asgard, Atreus and Thor's daughter, Troud, are summoned by Odin. The All-Father confesses that his entire plan is to use the mask to see where he will go when he dies. He then sends the two, plus Heimdall, to Helheim. Heimdall leaves them behind on another mission from Odin. Atreus and Troud find a giant wolf and release it, believing it to have been wrongfully captured. However, Heimdall rebukes them for it, revealing that they have just released Garm, a hellhound that begins to tear apart the fabric of reality. Atreus asks Odin to return him to Midgard, and the latter reluctantly grants his request.
Part Four
Atreus returns to Sindri's home, which is terrorized by the Hellwalkers due to the rift created by Garm. After Freya and Atreus seal it, he reunites with Kratos. Ratatoskr grants Kratos and Atreus travel access to Helheim. They hunt down Garm and break its neck, but Garm is immediately revived, as the giant hellhound has no soul to kill them. Atreus discovers that Fenrir's spirit is trapped in his knife due to his funeral chant at the beginning of the game, and with Kratos' help, Fenrir's spirit is transferred to Garm's body. Realizing what has happened, Kratos orders Fenrir to return to Midgard. Father and son begin to unravel their secrets, such as Kratos's journey to the Drapenir Spear and Atreus's journey to the Ironwood, and they fully reconcile before returning home.
Kratos, Mimir, and Atreus soon head to Vanaheim to help Freyr and Freya. First, they search for Skul and Hatti, who have gone missing, and Atreus signals them to turn day into night so that everyone can tell time again. Second, Kratos and Mimir encounter Heimdall, who refuses to be spared by the god of war. Kratos brutally kills him, much to Mimir's horror, and they rescue Freyr, who is injured and is ambushed by Inherjar. Kratos takes Heimdall's horn, Gjallarhorn, and the rebels escape aboard Skidbladenir, leaving Birgir to save the group from the Wyvern.
Atreus tells the group back home about the Mask of Odin and plans to return to Asgard to gather more information. Kratos reluctantly agrees. In Asgard, Atreus corrects his translation, and this time, instead of going to Helheim, the last piece of the mask is actually in Niflheim. With the help of Troud, Atreus finds Thor in a saloon called Black Thunder, and the latter starts a bar fight. Troud chastises Thor for his relapse into alcoholism, and Atreus and Thor travel to the Realm of Mist.
During their journey, Thor begins to bond with Atreus, but is stopped when his wife, Sif, warns him that Atreus, who is responsible for Moody's death, may end up being involved in the death of Trod as well. Atreus, wearing a full mask, evades Thor with the help of Cinder. Atreus returns home and shows the mask to everyone in Cinder's house. Tyr announces that he is taking them to Asgard to fight Odin, using the mask as leverage, but Brock is suspicious of his plan as Tyr has never once said he has a way to Asgard this entire time. Enraged, Tyr stabs Brock, who is revealed to be Odin. He escapes and declares war on Kratos. A dying Brock forgives Cinder for lying about his death, and the latter takes a dead Brock away from the realm between realms.
Kratos and Atreus return to their real home to grieve, with Kratos and Mimir gently telling Atreus to confront them instead of running away from his mistakes. They meet an angry Sindri at his and Brook's former farm, and the dwarf ends his friendship with Atreus. The three return to Freya, who plans to mobilize the Nine Realms against Asgard. Kratos, Atreus (as well as Mimir) are taken to Helheim by Hildisweini to communicate with Hersulgar, who then tasks them with finding Surtr in Muspelheim. In order for Surtr to join their forces, the three must sacrifice Sinmara to Surtr. However, seeing that Kratos' Blades of Chaos are both made of primal fire, she joins them, merging with the Blades' Fire instead of his lover, Sinmara.
Part Five
The father and son reunite with Freya in Midgard to discuss their success. Freya then tells them that the final part of their plan is to appoint a general to lead them against Ragnarok. She asks Kratos to consider the role, and he goes to his tent to rest. The Ghost of Sparta again dreams of Fei, this time preparing for his final death early on. Kratos is not frightened by the dream this time, and accepts Freya's offer to be the leader and chief general of all nine realms.
At the Temple of Tyr, he and Freya give a passionate speech before blowing the Gjallarhorn, granting all realms access to Asgard. Asgard's forces attempt to sever their links with the other realms to thin Kratos' forces, and Atreus and Sindri open a secret passage in the Asgardian wall. Trod attempts to kill Atreus, but is stopped by Sif and Skolder, who realize that Odin has no interest in saving his people.
Arriving in Asgard, Thor battles the younger Jormungandr and sends him back in time with a powerful blow just before he fights Kratos. Kratos wins, shows mercy, and convinces Thor to fight Odin. Odin quickly arrives on the scene and kills Thor for changing sides, just before he strikes Thrúd with Mjölnir. Kratos, Mimir, Atreus, and then Freya face the Allfather. Atreus removes his mask mid-battle and draws his soul into the Laufey Marble given to him by Angereda.
An enraged Sindri shatters the marble, effectively killing Odin, and Sûter, now called "Ragnarok," prepares to burn the Nine Realms. Angered by the power of Garm, Angered and Fenrir help Kratos and the others escape. Freyr sacrifices himself to ensure that Freya reaches Fenrir's rift in time. As a result, Asgard is now finally destroyed.
Atreus awakens unconscious and bids farewell to the survivors. He reunites with Kratos and Angered, who take them to the last secret temple of the Jotuns: Fyre. Atreus confesses that he must now travel alone to find the rest of the Jotuns, and a saddened Kratos supports his decision. Atreus and Angered depart. Kratos discovers that there is another shrine behind Fyre's shrine: his own. He is to eventually become the beloved father of the Nine Realms. Shocked by this revelation, he invites Mimir and Freya to help him rebuild the realms after Ragnarok. Both accept the offer, and the adventures of Kratos, Mimir, and Freya continue.
