Definitely an easy pick for Game of the Year, here are what critics say and what the God of War Ragnarok review scores are.
There's no question Santa Monica Studios can deliver a great game. But the original God of War was already a masterpiece, so it's hard to imagine that even they could top that. But that's exactly what they've done: they've used the foundations laid out in God of War, kept the same formulas that worked before, and added new things to keep the product fresh. Furthermore, the gripping story of Kratos and Atreus continues as they go on a collision course with the greatest of the Norse gods, as the two try to grapple with fate as they find a way to prevent Ragnarok. The combination of an engaging, very personal story with fun gameplay makes for yet another great game that would definitely make critics think twice on which to pick as the Game of the Year for 2022. Let's take a look at what critics have to say and what the God of War Ragnarok review scores look like.
God of War Ragnarok Review Scores: 94 Metascore on Metacritic
God of War Ragnarok review scores are highly positive. The game was met with universal acclaim from critics and users alike, with not a single review score going below 4/5 or 80/100. This magnificent feat is rivaled only by some of the greatest games of all time, and God of War Ragnarok is definitely an instant classic.
The game, of course, received multiple perfect grades from critics. IGN JAPAN gave God of War Ragnarok a review score of 10/10, a “Masterpiece.” The review reads: “With gorgeous visuals and well-thought-out level design, God of War Ragnarok’s magnificent tale has the potential to reach out to many people. It utilizes next-gen hardware to the maximum to create an experience that only a videogame can offer.”
Game Rant awarded God of War Ragnarok 5 out of 5 stars, a “Masterpiece.” The review reads: “God of War Ragnarok is a once-in-a-generation game. It doesn't just live up to its high expectations, but it subverts them and expands beyond them all the same. There is nothing quite like it on PS4 or on the PS5 yet, and it would be hard for anything to live up to the same heights. God of War Ragnarok may not make full use of the PS5's features, as there is nothing necessarily groundbreaking that couldn't be experienced on a PS4, but it's absolute proof that vision, artistry, and creative direction far outweigh hardware.”
VGC also gave the game a 5 out of 5 stars, saying in its review: “God of War Ragnarok is an incredibly special game. It's vital in a way few releases are. With captivating performances that carry an amazing story to a jaw-dropping final act, it’s a game that achieves everything it sets out to do to the absolute highest standard.”
But what about the critics who didn't give the game a perfect score? There were those who gave the game 98s and 95s, but those scores are still close to perfection. As for those who gave God of War Ragnarok review scores of 8/10, 4/5 stars, and 80/100, the most common complaints included dissatisfaction with the narrative and story progression, unsatisfying RPG elements, and feelings of technical stagnancy, as if God of War Ragnarok didn't feel like it improved on any of God of War's technical marvels.
The 4/5 score of Digital Trends had a review that said: “Despite running on PS5, this very much feels like a PS4 game down to the way it hides loading with a clever realm travel trick. Ultimately, it’s not something that bothers me. Ragnarok is inseparable from its predecessor and it’s only fair that fans who haven’t upgraded yet get to actually see an incomplete story through to its end. But it does add to the feeling of stagnation, further binding it to the great, but safe God of War 2,” adding that God of War 2 is “not better. Not worse. It's just more.”
The Gamer also gave the game a 4/5 with a review that reads: “There’s an unbelievable amount of variety in the places you go and the kinds of enemies you fight compared to the previous game, and your options in combat are a lot more involved and meaningful as well. These improvements and refinements make Ragnarok a great sequel, and the increased length will please the ‘time spent = value’ crowd, but the path from Faye’s final resting place to the final battle of Ragnarok is not nearly as composed or worthwhile as it could have been,” adding that the game has a long, meandering story that lacks a sense of urgency, mostly resulting from a bloated mission book with lots of meaningless fetch quests and trivial side missions.
Conclusion: Is God of War Ragnarok worthy of the GOTY Title?
First things first: there's no doubt that God of War Ragnarok is definitely one of the best games ever made. However, for 2022, it's a debate whether it or Elden Ring is going to take home the Game of the Year trophy (For reference, Elden Ring had a stronger Metascore upon release at 97). Of course, there are fans for both sides of the fence, and we're anticipating debates from fans brewing right now, and the discussions will probably never cease even after one of the two gets crowned the winner. But one thing's for sure: you won't regret spending your time playing God of War Ragnarok, and you're going to have a blast playing the game. Would it offer a better experience to you compared to what Elden Ring already had? That depends on you. But you won't be able to ignore that both games are at the pinnacle of gaming right now.
Follow Us
Subscribe