The Nine Realms

The Nine Realms of God of War are Midgard, Alfheim, Asgard, Helheim, Jotunheim, Muspelheim, Niflheim, Svartalfheim and Vanaheim. God of War (2018) leaves three unvisited, God of War Ragnarok and its Valhalla epilogue visit all nine; God of War Laufey leaves them for the Everywhen.

2:14 The Nine Realms are the Norse worlds of the God of War series: Midgard, Alfheim, Asgard, Helheim, Jotunheim, Muspelheim, Niflheim, Svartalfheim and Vanaheim. God of War (2018) leaves Svartalfheim, Asgard and Vanaheim unvisited, and God of War Ragnarok has Kratos and Atreus journey to each of the Nine Realms. God of War Laufey, out on May 20, 2027, is set outside all of them, in The Everywhen, "the afterlife of the gods", with gods from across mythology.

A huge reptilian creature with glowing blue spines and ridges rears against a night sky with a bright moon. — A long creature lit in glowing blue rears up under a full moon in an official Steam store screenshot of God of War Ragnarok Santa Monica Studio and Sony Interactive Entertainment

Quick facts

The realms	Midgard, Alfheim, Asgard, Helheim, Jotunheim, Muspelheim, Niflheim, Svartalfheim, Vanaheim
In God of War (2018)	Svartalfheim, Asgard and Vanaheim not visited; Muspelheim and Niflheim optional
In God of War Ragnarok	All nine, plus Ironwood
In Valhalla	All nine, as places inside Valhalla's runs
Faye's home	Jotunheim, realm of the giants
In God of War Laufey	None announced: it is set in the Everywhen

Sources: SVG, Aug 7, 2019; PlayStation; Steam Community, Nov 4, 2026; PlayStation Blog, Jun 2, 2026.

Every realm and which game visits it

Realm	God of War (2018)	God of War Ragnarok	What is there
Midgard	Yes, the story's hub	Yes	Kratos's home, the Lake of Nine; Freya's place of exile
Alfheim	Not confirmed in our sources	Yes	No detail in our sources yet
Asgard	No	Yes	Home of the gods and of Odin; destroyed in Ragnarok
Helheim	Yes	Yes	The realm of the dead
Jotunheim	Yes, the end of the journey	Yes	Home of the giants and their murals
Muspelheim	Optional	Yes	The Trials of Muspelheim; Surtr and Sinmara
Niflheim	Optional	Yes	A realm with its own language; Ragnarok's Niflheim Arena
Svartalfheim	No	Yes	Home of the dwarves
Vanaheim	No	Yes	Freya's homeland; Freyr and the dragon Nidhogg

Sources: SVG, Aug 7, 2019; Steam Community: God of War achievements, Nov 4, 2026; PlayStation; Den of Geek, Nov 11, 2022; Engadget, Apr 12, 2018; PlayStation Blog, Apr 5, 2023.

Midgard

2:41 Midgard is where Kratos settles with his family after leaving Greece, and the center of the 2018 game: Kratos and Atreus cross the Lake of Nine by boat and meet the World Serpent there. Freya was banished to Midgard after her marriage to Odin ended, and Baldur's death brings Fimbulwinter down on it. In Ragnarok, Odin's curse binds Freya to Midgard until Kratos breaks it, and Kratos rescues its refugees in the war (Den of Geek).

Jotunheim and Ironwood

24:06 Jotunheim is the realm of the giants, Faye's people, and the goal of the 2018 journey: its highest peak, where Faye wanted her ashes scattered, and the murals that reveal she was the giant Laufey and that Atreus is Loki. In God of War Laufey she is the "Golden Hand of the Jötnar". In Ragnarok Atreus finds Ironwood, where the giant Angrboda lives, and learns that giants' souls are trapped across the world. See Faye and God of War (2018) Story.

Helheim

The realm of the dead. In 2018 it shows Kratos a vision of Zeus, the father he killed, and Atreus sees it too. Laufey's Everywhen is a different afterlife: the one for gods.

Asgard

The home of the gods and of Odin, unseen in 2018. In Ragnarok Atreus goes there in secret, and the last battle is fought there before Ragnarok destroys the realm. In Valhalla, Valhalla is "the only part of Asgard to have survived Ragnarok".

Vanaheim, Svartalfheim and Alfheim

14:22 Vanaheim is Freya's homeland; in Ragnarok Kratos goes there with her, meets Freyr and fights the dragon Nidhogg. Svartalfheim is the home of the dwarves, Brok and Sindri's people; in PlayStation's retelling those two brothers made the Leviathan Axe. Ragnarok visits Alfheim with the rest of the nine.

Muspelheim and Niflheim

In 2018 both are optional, with languages Atreus can learn and, in Muspelheim, a set of combat Trials. In Ragnarok Kratos and Atreus go to Muspelheim to persuade Surtr and Sinmara to play their part in Ragnarok, and the New Game Plus update added the Niflheim Arena for fights with companions.

Valhalla and the Everywhen

6:35 Ragnarok's free epilogue sends Kratos into Valhalla, whose runs pass through all nine realms, as a Steam achievement for visiting them shows. God of War Laufey leaves the nine behind: the Everywhen is where magic is born and returns, and where "ruthless gods from across mythology vie for power", as the PlayStation Store puts it. Whether Laufey returns to any Norse realm is not known as of Nov 4, 2026. See Sekhmet and Begtse.

Frequently asked questions

What are the nine realms in God of War? The nine realms in God of War are Midgard, Alfheim, Asgard, Helheim, Jotunheim, Muspelheim, Niflheim, Svartalfheim and Vanaheim.

Which realms are not in God of War (2018)? God of War (2018) does not visit Svartalfheim, Asgard or Vanaheim; God of War Ragnarok does.

Does God of War Ragnarok have all nine realms? Yes. In God of War Ragnarok Kratos and Atreus travel to each of the Nine Realms, and to Ironwood.

Is God of War Laufey set in the nine realms? No. God of War Laufey is set in the Everywhen, the afterlife of the gods, where Faye wakes after her funeral.