Valhalla

0:22 Valhalla is God of War Ragnarok's free epilogue, a roguelite in which Kratos fights through Valhalla again and again: revealed at The Game Awards 2023, it released on Dec 12, 2023 at 9 a.m. PST, free to everyone who owns God of War Ragnarok, and it comes with the PC version. It is set after the battle with Odin and Atreus's departure, with Kratos and Mimir alone, the furthest point Kratos's story has reached before God of War Laufey turns to Faye on May 20, 2027.

This page names Valhalla's ending in one section, marked below.

Quick facts

Sources: PlayStation Blog, Dec 7, 2023; Santa Monica Studio, Mar 22, 2024; OpenCritic and HowLongToBeat, Nov 4, 2026.

Is Valhalla free?

Yes. On PlayStation it is a free download for Ragnarok owners from the PlayStation Store, and on PC both the Standard and Digital Deluxe Editions include it at no extra cost. Santa Monica Studio recommends finishing Ragnarok's story first.

How a run works

10:23 Kratos arrives on Valhalla's shores and goes in. In Sony's words, "If Kratos falls, he will reawaken outside the doors" for the next try. He keeps all his weapons and fully upgraded skill trees, but leaves his armor and equipment behind each time. At the start of a run he picks a shield and a path of Spartan Rage; along the way he gathers temporary Glyphs, Perks and Runic Attacks that last for that run only. Resources from every attempt unlock permanent upgrades for Kratos and for Valhalla itself.

6:22 Armor there is "for appearances only", mixed freely for looks and Photo Mode. Kotaku found the arenas are built from Kratos's memories and repeat as he climbs, and that healing is scarce even on standard difficulty. Steam's achievements name the rest: Fleeting Echoes, Mastery Quests, the Forum arena and visits to all nine realms inside Valhalla. The arms Kratos carries are on Weapons, and Santa Monica Studio wrote up how it brought back the Blade of Olympus for Valhalla.

Difficulty

5:05 There are five difficulty settings tuned for Valhalla, each paying out more, switchable between attempts, up to Show Me Mastery, and Ragnarok's accessibility settings all apply. See God of War Difficulty Modes and God of War Ragnarok Accessibility.

The story (spoilers)

4:47 Tyr invites Kratos into Valhalla, "the only part of Asgard to have survived Ragnarok", and its trials press on his guilt over the gods he killed, Greek and Norse, Helios among them, and on Pandora's sacrifice in God of War III. At the end Kratos chooses to be the God of Hope and takes his throne in Freya's new pantheon. Co-director Bruno Velazquez said the Blade of Olympus stands for Kratos being a god: the weapon "he used to release hope". The base game's ending is on God of War Ragnarok Ending Explained.

Reception and length

On Nov 4, 2026 Valhalla held an OpenCritic score of 88, with 100% of critics recommending it. Kotaku's run took about seven hours; HowLongToBeat players report 6 hours for the main story, 8½ with extras and 10½ for everything, as of Nov 4, 2026. On Steam, 34.4% of players had uncovered Valhalla's secret as of Nov 4, 2026. Times for every game: How Long to Beat God of War.

Valhalla and Laufey

Valhalla answers where Kratos stands after Ragnarok; Laufey asks what became of Faye. Laufey's setting, The Everywhen, is the afterlife of the gods, and a Kratos-led game will directly follow the events of Laufey. Whether Laufey touches Valhalla or the Kratos of its ending is not known as of Nov 4, 2026. See Where Laufey Fits in the God of War Timeline.

Frequently asked questions

Is God of War Ragnarok Valhalla free? Yes. Valhalla is free for every owner of God of War Ragnarok on PS4 and PS5, and it comes with the PC version.

When did Valhalla come out? God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla came out on Dec 12, 2023 at 9 a.m. PST, after its reveal at The Game Awards 2023.

Is Valhalla a roguelite? Yes. In God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla Kratos restarts outside Valhalla's doors when he falls, keeping permanent upgrades earned from each attempt.

Should you finish Ragnarok before Valhalla? Santa Monica Studio recommends it: Valhalla is an epilogue set after the end of God of War Ragnarok.

How long is Valhalla? HowLongToBeat players report about 6 hours for Valhalla's main story and 10½ hours for everything, as of Nov 4, 2026.

Sources

• God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla DLC revealed, coming December 12, PlayStation Blog, Dec 7, 2023
• God of War Ragnarök for PC, PlayStation
• God of War Ragnarok Valhalla DLC review, Kotaku, Dec 14, 2023
• God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla ending explained, Dexerto, Dec 15, 2023
• The Blade of Olympus, Reinventing a Classic in God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla, Santa Monica Studio, Mar 22, 2024
• God of War Ragnarök achievements, Steam Community
• God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla reviews, OpenCritic
• God of War: Ragnarök - Valhalla, HowLongToBeat
• God Of War Laufey Actor Says The Love Between Kratos And Fey Is Like 'A Soul Finding Its Own Reflection In Another', Kotaku, Jul 28, 2026
• God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla DLC Review - The Final Verdict, GamingBolt, Dec 18, 2023 (video)
• I strongly recommend: God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla (Review), Skill Up, Dec 27, 2023 (video)