God of War

After years of Greek fury, Kratos relocated to Norse mythology and, for the first time in the series, took on a different role than that of a god-slayer: the role of a father. After the death of his wife Faye, he sets out with his son Atreus on a journey to the highest peak of the nine realms to scatter her ashes, and what begins as a simple errand gradually becomes a journey among giants, trolls, elves, and the Norse gods themselves. Combat was completely reworked: instead of the pair of Greek blades, Kratos received the Leviathan axe, which can be recalled after being thrown, and battles are slower, more tactical, and shown from an over-the-shoulder perspective, with the camera never cutting away throughout the entire game.

The combat system isn't just slower, but built on a different logic altogether. The axe can freeze enemies, throwing the weapon leaves Kratos defenseless and reliant on his fists or shield, and his son Atreus functions as a second weapon, since his arrows interrupt enemies and open up opportunities to attack. Gradually unlocking the earlier Greek blades then gives the player two completely different fighting styles, between fast crowd-clearing strikes and heavy, precise blows. The environment is designed as a semi-open world with returns to previously inaccessible places, a central lake area, and portals to other realms, so the game combines the tight, cinematic pacing of the main story with room for optional challenges, among which the optional battles against the Valkyries stand out.

It was precisely the single unbroken shot, the intricately developed father-son relationship, and a much more personal, mature narrative that made the game one of the most acclaimed titles of its generation, helped further by the talking severed head of Mimir, who accompanies the journey with witty commentary and explanations of Norse mythology. Critics and players alike showered it with awards, including Game of the Year at the 2018 Game Awards. It sold over twenty million copies, the game defined a new standard for the cinematic action-adventure, and paved the way for the sequel Ragnarök. The enhanced PlayStation 5 version only confirmed how timeless it remains.