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Metro 2039God of War II
God of War II is the 2007 PlayStation 2 sequel, directed by Cory Barlog and released in North America on Mar 13, 2007. Betrayed by Zeus, Kratos allies with the Titans and seeks the Sisters of Fate; it scored 93 on Metacritic and IGN called it possibly the best action game ever made.
God of War II is the second God of War game, released on PlayStation 2 in North America on Mar 13, 2007 and directed by Cory Barlog, who had been the first game's lead animator. Kratos, now the God of War, is betrayed by Athena and struck down by Zeus, rescued by the Titan Gaia, and sets out to find the Sisters of Fate and change his fate. It has a Metascore of 93 from 70 critics, and IGN, scoring it 9.7, said it "may in fact be the best action game ever made."
Barlog, who directed this game, is now Santa Monica Studio's Head of Creative, the studio making God of War Laufey, the Faye (Laufey) game due on PS5 on May 20, 2027. Spoilers for God of War II follow.
Quick facts
| Released | Mar 13, 2007 (North America); Apr 27, 2007 (UK); Oct 25, 2007 (Japan) |
| Platform | PlayStation 2 (two discs); later PS3 and PS Vita in God of War Collection |
| Developer | Santa Monica Studio |
| Publisher | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Director | Cory Barlog |
| Writers | Cory Barlog and David Jaffe |
| Metacritic | 93 from 70 critics; users 9.1, as of Nov 4, 2026 |
| Sales | 4,244,529 units shipped (Sony, May 30, 2012) |
| Length | 12 hours main story, 15 completionist (HowLongToBeat, Nov 4, 2026) |
| Buy today | Not sold on PS4 or PS5 as of Nov 4, 2026 |
Sources: IGN's game database; Metacritic, Nov 4, 2026; Sony, Jun 5, 2012; HowLongToBeat, Nov 4, 2026; GamesRadar+, Nov 12, 2018.
What is God of War II about?
The story picks up not long after the first game. Kratos sits on Olympus as the new God of War but leads his Spartan army against the cities of Greece, and the other gods turn on him. The game opens against the Colossus of Rhodes, where Kratos first takes up the Blade of Olympus. Athena betrays him, Zeus seemingly kills him, and Gaia, mother of the Titans, rescues him.
From there Kratos crosses the world to the Sisters of Fate, who can turn back time, so he can undo his death and take revenge on Zeus, his father. On the way he fights mortals who also want the Sisters' power, among them Perseus, voiced by Clash of the Titans star Harry Hamlin, and Icarus. It ends on a cliffhanger, Kratos and the Titans setting out against Mount Olympus, and God of War III begins immediately after it. Its place in the whole story is on God of War Timeline Explained.
The Titans
God of War II is the game where the Titans join the series. Gaia rescues Kratos, and the Titans become his allies against Olympus, an alliance that, by GameSpot's account, ends in God of War III when Kratos, betrayed again, turns on Gaia. Each Titan and god and the games they appear in are listed on Greek Gods in God of War.
How it plays
The combat of the first game returns with more of everything. Kratos keeps his chained blades, and new weapons include a slow, heavy hammer; magic includes an earthquake attack, the Head of Euryale and the lightning Cronos Rage. New ideas, as reviewers listed them:
- Flying: two sequences on Pegasus, and a gryphon.
- Time: puzzles built around slowing time.
- Climbing: dropping down walls mid-climb, and corpses used as weights on switches.
- Bosses: roughly double the number of the first game.
The Challenge of the Gods returned with seven challenges, down from ten, ranked Mortal, God or Titan, with an arena mode after the Titan ranks. The Blade of Olympus unlocks for a second run in New Game+. Its second disc held only extras, including a making-of documentary.
Who made God of War II?
Barlog directed it and wrote it with David Jaffe, then creative director. Barlog later wrote that Jaffe and Studstill "gave me to go on and direct the second game," and that its story set the stage for the trilogy's end. The Hollywood Reporter says he won a BAFTA for its writing.
The PlayStation 3 was out by the time it shipped, and staying on PS2 was a choice: Sony's Shuhei Yoshida made the call after "heated discussion" inside the studio. Sony said a PS3 would run the PS2 disc at 480p, not 720p.
God of War II reviews
Reviewers ranked it at or near the top of its generation. IGN gave it 9.7, GameSpot 9.2, calling it a fitting "swan song for the PlayStation 2", and Metacritic's critics average 93 from 70 reviews, with users at 9.1 from 3,174 ratings as of Nov 4, 2026. On length, Eurogamer found "a solid 15 hours" on normal and IGN about 12. The scores of every game are compared on God of War Reviews.
Sales
Sony counted 4,244,529 units shipped by May 30, 2012: 2,527,522 in the Americas, 1,603,727 in Europe and 113,280 in Asia. IGN reported that its success gave Santa Monica Studio the case for God of War III. More on God of War Sales.
Where to play God of War II
As of Nov 4, 2026 there is no PS4 or PS5 version. It was remastered with the first game in God of War Collection for PS3 (2009, 720p and 60 frames per second) and PS Vita (2014). It is one of the three games in the God of War Trilogy Remake, announced on Feb 12, 2026 with no date. See God of War Collections and Remasters and Where to Play Every God of War Game.
Frequently asked questions
When did God of War 2 come out? God of War II came out on PlayStation 2 on Mar 13, 2007 in North America, Apr 27, 2007 in the UK and Oct 25, 2007 in Japan.
Who directed God of War 2? Cory Barlog directed God of War II and co-wrote it with David Jaffe; Barlog later directed God of War (2018).
What happens at the end of God of War 2? God of War II ends with Kratos and the Titans setting out to make war on Zeus and Olympus, and God of War III begins immediately after.
Is God of War 2 on PS5? No. As of Nov 4, 2026 God of War II has no PS4 or PS5 version; its last release was God of War Collection on PS3 and PS Vita, and a remake of the Greek trilogy has been announced.
How long is God of War 2? HowLongToBeat put God of War II at about 12 hours for the main story and 15 to complete everything on Nov 4, 2026.
Was God of War 2 well reviewed? Yes. God of War II scored 93 on Metacritic, 9.7 from IGN and 9.2 from GameSpot.
Sources
- God of War II, IGN game database, Nov 4, 2026
- God of War II, Metacritic, Nov 4, 2026
- God of War II Review, Chris Roper, IGN, Feb 12, 2007
- God of War II Review, Alex Navarro, GameSpot, Mar 13, 2007
- God of War II review, Kristan Reed, Eurogamer, Apr 27, 2007
- God of War III Review, Tom Mc Shea, GameSpot, Mar 8, 2010
- God of War Collection Blu-ray Disc compilation available this holiday season, PlayStation Blog, Aug 31, 2009
- The House That God of War Built: Sony Santa Monica, Colin Moriarty, IGN, Mar 21, 2012
- Award-Winning God of War Franchise Sales Exceed 21 Million Units Worldwide, Sony Computer Entertainment, Jun 5, 2012
- God of War III Remastered Coming to PS4 on July 14th, Cory Barlog, PlayStation Blog, Mar 20, 2015
- 'God of War': PS4 Game Hinges on Bond of Its 2 New Actors, Patrick Shanley, The Hollywood Reporter, Sep 29, 2017
- The making of the original God of War, Leon Hurley, GamesRadar+, Nov 12, 2018
- The Blade of Olympus, Reinventing a Classic in God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla, Grace Orlady, Santa Monica Studio, Mar 22, 2024
- What Happens To Gods When They Die?, Kyle Hilliard, Game Informer, Jun 16, 2026
- All The Murdered Gods That Could Appear In God Of War Laufey, Alessandro Barbosa, GameSpot, Jun 7, 2026
- God Of War Laufey Delayed To May, Wesley LeBlanc, Game Informer, Nov 4, 2026
- God of War II, HowLongToBeat, Nov 4, 2026
- God of War II - Longplay | PS2, Project Longplay, Dec 25, 2018 (video)
- The Complete GOD OF WAR Timeline Explained!, GameSpot, Sep 26, 2022 (video)
- God of War's Story in 7 Minutes (2018), IGN, Mar 23, 2018 (video)
Moments
God of War II - Longplay | PS2
Project Longplay
The Complete GOD OF WAR Timeline Explained!
GameSpot
God of War's Story in 7 Minutes (2018)
IGN
Related
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Chains of OlympusGod of War: Chains of Olympus is the 2008 PSP prequel made by Ready at Dawn, released in North America on Mar 4, 2008, in which Kratos, still serving the gods, goes into the Underworld to rescue the sun god Helios. It scored 91 on Metacritic and sold 3.3 million copies by 2012.
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Ghost of SpartaGod of War: Ghost of Sparta is the 2010 PSP game by Ready at Dawn, released in North America on Nov 2, 2010, in which Kratos, newly the God of War, searches Atlantis and the realm of death for his lost brother Deimos and faces Thanatos. It scored 86 on Metacritic.
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God of War (2005)God of War (2005) is the original God of War, Santa Monica Studio's PlayStation 2 game created and directed by David Jaffe, released in North America on Mar 22, 2005. Kratos, a Spartan bound to the gods of Olympus, hunts Ares with the Blades of Chaos; it scored 94 on Metacritic and sold 4.6 million copies by 2012.
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God of War Collections and RemastersThe Greek God of War games were collected four times: God of War Collection (PS3, 2009, by Bluepoint Games; PS Vita 2014), God of War: Origins Collection (PS3, 2011, by Ready at Dawn), God of War Saga (PS3, 2012) and God of War III Remastered (PS4, 2015, by Wholesale Algorithms). Only God of War III Remastered is still sold, as of Nov 4, 2026.
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God of War Sons of SpartaGod of War Sons of Sparta is a 2D pixel-art God of War prequel by Mega Cat Studios with Santa Monica Studio, released on PS5 on Feb 12, 2026 for $29.99, in which teenage Kratos and his brother Deimos search for a missing cadet. It scored 64 on Metacritic and 65 on OpenCritic.
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God of War Trilogy RemakeSanta Monica Studio announced on Feb 12, 2026 that the original God of War trilogy (God of War, God of War II and God of War III) is being remade, calling it very early in development. As of Nov 4, 2026 there is no release date, platform list, price or footage.
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God of War: AscensionGod of War: Ascension is the 2013 PlayStation 3 prequel directed by Todd Papy, released in North America on Mar 12, 2013, set ten years before the first game as Kratos breaks his blood oath with the gods and is hunted by the Furies. It added the series' first online multiplayer and scored 80 on Metacritic, the lowest of the Greek-era console games before Sons of Sparta.
- God of War: BetrayalGod of War: Betrayal is a 2D God of War game for mobile phones, released in the US on Jun 20, 2007 and set between God of War and God of War II, in which Kratos is wrongly accused of betraying Olympus. IGN scored it 9; it is no longer sold anywhere.
See also
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Cory BarlogCory Barlog directed God of War II (2007) and God of War (2018), the Norse reboot that won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2018. He is Santa Monica Studio's Head of Creative and co-hosted the God of War Laufey panel where a Kratos-led follow-up was revealed.
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KratosKratos is the Spartan warrior turned god at the center of God of War, who killed the gods of Olympus and later raised his son Atreus in the Norse realms. TC Carson voiced him in the Greek games and Christopher Judge since 2018.
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God of War IIIGod of War III is the 2010 PlayStation 3 game that ends Kratos's Greek trilogy, released in North America on Mar 16, 2010 and directed by Stig Asmussen; Kratos climbs Mount Olympus and kills Zeus. It scored 92 on Metacritic, and God of War III Remastered (PS4, Jul 14, 2015) is the only one of the first three games still sold.
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God of War Timeline ExplainedThe God of War story runs from Kratos's youth in Sparta (Sons of Sparta) through his revenge on Ares and Zeus (God of War to God of War III), then to his life in the Norse world with Faye and Atreus (God of War 2018, Ragnarok and Valhalla). God of War Laufey follows Faye from her funeral, alongside the 2018 game.
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Greek Gods in God of WarThe Greek God of War games pit Kratos against the gods of Olympus and the Titans: Ares in the first game, Zeus and the Titans in God of War II, and in God of War III Poseidon, Hades, Helios, Hermes, Hercules, Hera, Hephaestus, Cronos, Gaia and Zeus, all killed. This page lists them game by game.