God of War (2018) Story

23:03 God of War (2018) is the story of a funeral journey: after the death of Faye (Laufey), Kratos and their son Atreus set out to scatter her ashes from the highest point in Jotunheim, the realm of the giants, and are hunted on the way by Baldur, a god who cannot be hurt. At the top they learn that Faye was herself a giant named Laufey, that she foresaw their whole journey, and that the giants called her son Loki. God of War Laufey, out on May 20, 2027, starts at the same moment from her side: its first scene is Faye's body burning on the funeral pyre, the opening of the 2018 game.

This page tells the whole story of God of War (2018), ending included.

Quick facts

Sources: SVG, Aug 7, 2019; The Hollywood Reporter, Sep 29, 2017; BAFTA; Game Informer, Nov 4, 2026.

The journey with Faye's ashes

22:24 Kratos has lived for years in Midgard, far from the Greek gods he destroyed in God of War III, with his second wife and their son. The game opens on her death. Faye had asked that her ashes be carried to the highest peak in the realms, and Kratos and Atreus set out to honor it. Before the game, the Messenger text adventure A Call from the Wilds showed Atreus hearing voices and reaching other minds while his mother was still alive. God of War (2018) never says how Faye died, as Kotaku noted at Laufey's reveal.

Baldur, the Stranger

A stranger comes to their house and attacks Kratos. He cannot be hurt, and he is Baldur, the Norse god of light. His mother's spell made him invulnerable to every living thing except mistletoe, and left him unable to feel anything at all. He hunts them through the realms. BAFTA gave Jeremy Davies its 2019 Performer award for the Stranger. More on Baldur.

Freya and Mimir

23:25 In the woods they meet a witch who helps them. She is Freya, Baldur's mother and Odin's former wife, exiled to Midgard, and once the leader of the Valkyries, whose wings were taken from her. They also meet Mimir, who tells them the Norse world's lore, among it the legend that Thor will strike the World Serpent so hard it is sent back in time.

Thor's sons and the truth about Kratos

On the road Kratos and Atreus fight and kill Thor's sons, and Atreus kills Modi in cold blood. Kratos tells Atreus that he was the God of War, which makes the boy a demigod. In Helheim, the realm of the dead, both see a vision of Zeus, and Atreus learns that his grandfather was killed by his own son. See Greek Gods in God of War.

Baldur's end

24:27 At the end Baldur turns on his mother. Atreus's mistletoe arrow, a gift from the dwarf Sindri, pierces his protection, and Kratos breaks Baldur's neck to save Freya. Freya swears revenge on Kratos and takes her son's body. Baldur's death starts Fimbulwinter, the three-year winter before Ragnarok.

Jotunheim and the mural

24:06 In Jotunheim, murals left by the giants tell the truth. Faye was a giant named Laufey, and the giants' name for Atreus was Loki; the World Serpent had already said Atreus's voice sounded familiar. Faye foresaw the journey: she marked the route to Jotunheim and broke the spell that protected their home. Father and son scatter her ashes together.

The last panel of the mural seems to show Atreus holding Kratos's dead body. Its meaning was argued for years, until Ragnarok's narrative director Matt Sophos said the large figure is Thor standing over a dead Kratos, painted over once Kratos changed his fate. That answer is on God of War Ragnarok Ending Explained.

The Thor ending

After the credits, a secret scene jumps ahead years: Thor arrives at the family's home, with every reason to be hostile after the deaths of his sons. Atreus had dreamed of it first, a hint of his mother's foresight. God of War Ragnarok picks up from there. See Odin and Thor.

How God of War Laufey picks up from its first scene

1:19 Laufey's reveal footage, from a pre-release build shown at State of Play on Jun 2, 2026, opens on the 2018 funeral pyre: as Faye's ashes rise, she wakes in the afterlife, The Everywhen, and learns that the plans she put in place to protect Kratos and Atreus are at risk. Deborah Ann Woll, who plays Faye, said Laufey is "going to run concurrently to 2018". How Faye's story crosses the 2018 journey is not known as of Nov 4, 2026. See Where Laufey Fits in the God of War Timeline. The clip is IGN's upload of the Jun 2, 2026 gameplay reveal.

Frequently asked questions

What is the story of God of War (2018)? God of War (2018) follows Kratos and his son Atreus as they carry the ashes of his wife Faye to the highest peak in Jotunheim, hunted by the god Baldur.

How does God of War (2018) end? Kratos kills Baldur to save Freya, and in Jotunheim Kratos and Atreus learn that Faye was the giant Laufey and that Atreus is Loki, then scatter her ashes; a secret scene shows Thor arriving at their home.

Who was Faye in God of War? Faye was Kratos's second wife and Atreus's mother, secretly a giant named Laufey, the "Golden Hand of the Jötnar" in Santa Monica Studio's words, and the hero of God of War Laufey.

Is Atreus Loki in God of War? Yes. The Jotunheim murals in God of War (2018) reveal that the giants named Atreus Loki.

Does God of War Laufey happen during God of War (2018)? God of War Laufey begins at Faye's funeral, the opening of God of War (2018), and Deborah Ann Woll says it runs concurrently with it.

Sources

• We Finally Understand The Ending Of God Of War, SVG, Aug 7, 2019
• God of War Ragnarok Ending Explained by Narrative Director, MP1st, Nov 20, 2022
• 'God of War': PS4 Game Hinges on Bond of Its 2 New Actors, The Hollywood Reporter, Sep 29, 2017
• Games Awards 2019, BAFTA
• Glimpse Into Atreus' Past In God Of War Text Adventure, Game Informer, Feb 1, 2018
• God Of War Spin-Off Starring Faye Finally Confirmed After Months Of Rumors, Kotaku, Jun 2, 2026
• First look at God of War Laufey, PlayStation Blog, Jun 2, 2026
• What Happens To Gods When They Die?, Game Informer, Jun 16, 2026
• Deborah Ann Woll Talks Marvel, Woodcreek and God of War Laufey at GCC 2026, CGMagazine, Jun 21, 2026
• God Of War Laufey Delayed To May, Game Informer, Nov 4, 2026
• The Complete GOD OF WAR Timeline Explained!, GameSpot, Sep 26, 2022 (video)
• God of War Laufey - Gameplay Reveal | State of Play 2026, IGN, Jun 2, 2026 (video)