The much-anticipated God of War: Ragnarok was originally intended to release sometime in 2021, but Santa Monica Studios announced the sequel will be pushed back to 2022. So while fans wonder when Kratos's next adventure will be, let's take a look at who he might face off against this time around. After fighting (and killing) most of the Greek gods of Olympus, the 2018 reboot of the series sees Kratos trying to live a quiet life in the realm of Midgard with his son, after the death of his wife Faye.
Unfortunately for Kratos, Midgard is ruled by the Norse pantheon of gods, who don't like the idea of Kratos taking up residence in their realm. Kratos and Atreus' last adventure introduced fans to a handful of Norse gods, including Baldur, Mimir, and Freya, but there are many other deities Kratos hasn't met yet that may make an appearance in the next game.
Updated July 21, 2021, by Avery Lawrence Feyrer: Since this post, Santa Monica Studios has announced a delay for God of War: Ragnarok. Intended to release in 2021, the developer has pushed the release window to 2022. The title of the post and some photos have also been updated.
10 Njörd
The Norse equivalent of Poseidon, Njörd is the ruler of the seas and father of Freya. Njörd is often depicted as a leader of the Vanir gods, who are associated with nature, fertility, and wisdom, as opposed to the Aesir gods (led by Odin) who are generally depicted as warriors and more violent figures.
The previous title mentioned Njörd as a god who is loved by his followers, making Atreus question Kratos' seeming dislike of all gods. This could suggest that, if Njörd does make an appearance, perhaps he could be a friend or ally of Kratos and Atreus, much like his daughter Freya was. If Santa Monica Studios brings back Kratos and Atreus navigating throughout the world by boat, it would make sense for the ruler of the seas to make his God of War debut.
9 Hel
Hel is the goddess of the underworld realm, which shares the same name (Helheim) in Norse mythology. In God of War, Kratos traveled to Helheim to find a cure for his ailing son, Atreus, but never encountered Hel. However, fans who have translated the Jötnar Shrines found throughout the game have noticed her name mentioned in Jörmangandr's shrine, where she is listed as one of his siblings (along with Fenrir).
Since Norse mythology states that Ragnarok is led by Hel and Loki, it's easy to wonder if the goddess will be the main antagonist of the sequel. Especially knowing Faye wanted to name Atreus "Loki" and that's how he's depicted throughout the game on the Jötnar Shrines.
8 Fenrir
Fenrir is another of Jörmangandr's siblings, who, along with Hel, are said to be the children of Loki (according to a Jötnar Shrine). Given that Atreus is revealed to be Loki in a huge twist, it's unclear how Santa Monica Studios might incorporate Fenrir into God of War: Ragnarok, if that's a route they take.
Regardless, since Jörmangandr has already been introduced, it is possible to see Fenrir make an appearance. Fenrir is known as the "Wolf-Giant" in Norse mythology and is destined to kill Odin during Ragnarok. Given Kratos' track record for killing gods, it will be interesting to see if Fenrir can fulfill their destiny before Kratos assumingly aims the All-Father himself.
7 Heimdall
Known in Norse mythology for his exceptional eyesight and ability to foresee events, Heimdall is tasked with watching for invaders and warning the other gods of the dawn of Ragnarok. Norse mythology says Loki and Heimdall are destined to fight during Ragnarok, so not only is Heimdall likely for the God of War sequel but a battle between him and Atreus might be on the cards, as well.
Although Heimdall has not been spotted in the series yet, he is mentioned in a conversation with the dwarven blacksmith, Sindri, when he gives Kratos and Atreus mistletoe arrows. Sindri claims they are "straighter than Heimdall and perfectly weighted."
6 Sif
A goddess of fertility and harvest, Sif is the wife of Thor and the step-mother of Magni and Modi (who Kratos and Atreus killed in the previous game). Sif is briefly mentioned by Brok, another of the dwarven blacksmiths.
Not much else is said about Sif, but the fact that she is mentioned suggests that she does exist in the God of War universe. With her stepchildren making appearances in God of War and Thor showing up in a post-credits scene, it's quite possible she could make an appearance in the next game.
5 Ullr
Son of Sif and stepson of Thor, Ullr is the Norse god of hunting and is a master archer. Although Ullr is not seen in the 2018 game, he is mentioned by Atreus, who recalls his mother Faye used to tell him stories of the great hunter. Whenever he was lost in the woods, he would imagine himself as Ullr (or Týr).
In Norse mythology, little is known about Ullr, aside from his skills in archery, hunting, and skiing. Atreus speaks of Ullr with high regard, so it is possible he could appear in the next game, perhaps as a mentor. With Atreus mastering the bow and arrow, introducing Ullr could benefit Atreus in improving his archery, especially for the off chance the series turns to the young warrior as its lead character.
4 Týr
Mentioned numerous times throughout Kratos and Atreus' last journey (and depicted on a lot of artwork found throughout the game), Týr is the Norse god of war, making him the equivalent of Ares in Greek mythology. A major difference, however, is that Týr is said to fight for peace and justice. The bloodthirsty Ares, by contrast, fought primarily for power.
Mimir reveals that Týr was imprisoned by Odin in the hopes of learning where he hid the Jötnar. YouTuber and God of War enthusiast, Kaptain Kuba, suggests that Týr is still imprisoned in Asgard and that it may be up to Kratos and Atreus to free him, as they did with Mimir. Having Kratos interact with Týr will also be interesting, given that the Spartan warrior served as the Greek God of War after usurping Ares.
3 Angrboða
Mother of Fenrir, Hel, and Jörmangandr, Angrboða is said to be the wife of Loki in Norse mythology. Although he is still a boy, the existence of Atreus and Angrboða's children, and the fact that her name is mentioned on a Jötnar Shrine, suggests that she may appear during Ragnarok.
Perhaps she could be introduced as a love interest of Atreus and an ally of the young man and Kratos. There are many signs pointing at Atreus taking center stage in God of War: Ragnarok, so including Angrboða, who seemingly has a very strong connection with him, seems like a foregone conclusion.
2 Odin
Odin, the Norse equivalent of Zeus, is among the most powerful of all the gods. He's the ruler of Asgard where the Aesir gods reside. It's extremely likely Kratos and Atreus will at least meet Odin in the upcoming game, given that Ragnarok involves a huge battle that he is said to be a part of.
It is even possible that Odin will be one of the main antagonists in Ragnarok. Perhaps he'll be seeking revenge for the death of his son Baldur and his two grandsons, Magni and Modi, all of whom were killed by Kratos and Atreus.
1 Thor
Fans who ventured back to Kratos' residence after finishing the main story in the previous game did get a glimpse of Thor in the secret ending cutscene. While he isn't officially introduced, all signs point to the mysterious figure being the God of Thunder. In this cutscene, Kratos and Atreus awaken to a violent lightning storm and find a menacing hooded figure standing at their front door. When Kratos demands to know who the intruder is, the hooded man simply pulls back his robe to reveal a hammer, presumably the mighty Mjölnir.
If this scene acts as a segue into God of War: Ragnarok, Thor will likely be the first new god Kratos and Atreus meet, and most likely, fight. Similarly, he will probably be looking to avenge his sons Magni and Modi, as well as his brother Baldur.