Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
One of 2017’s standouts, developer Ninja Theory’s Hellblade is an action-adventure title in which a young female warrior who struggles with mental illness battles to overcome her inner demons. Senua is actually Pictish (ancient Scottish), but the game’s story takes place in Hel — a realm of Norse mythology, and there are plenty of interesting references to Gods and warriors that will satiate gamers looking for a fix of Viking culture. That being said, this is a much darker fantasy tale than Kratos and Atreus’ comparatively vibrant jaunt through the nine realms of Norse Mythology.
With respect to gameplay, Hellblade is a third person hack-and-slash affair in the same vein as God of War. Combat here, though, is much more weighted, and enemy encounters occur less frequently.
If you’re looking for a game that takes place in the same mythology and plays in a relatively similar fashion, Hellblade is probably as close as you’ll get. There’s a sequel on the way, too, that looks even grander.
Heavenly Sword
Games like God of War
Long before Hellblade, Heavenly Sword was Ninja Theory’s showpiece PS3 title, and while it might be old hat now, there are so many reasons to go back and play this 2009 gem. Fans of the earlier games in the God of War series, in particular, will appreciate the hack-and-slash style action gameplay that takes more than a little inspiration from Kratos’ original trilogy. The light chain attacks can be switched out for heavy sword attacks on the fly, and Heavenly Sword frequently has you slashing apart waves of dozen-or-more enemies in a similar fashion to God of War.
The story follows a young warrior called Nariko as she seeks to vanquish an oppressive force from her homeland, using a mystical sword to defeat its ranks. The overall aesthetic of its locations and characters has an ethereal quality to it similar to the Norse realms of the latest God of War title. And even though it’s comparatively dated to Sony Santa Monica’s latest PS4 tech showcase, you’ll be shocked at how superb Heavenly Sword still looks today, complete with motion capture facial technology that was way ahead of its time.
While it might not quite reach the same heights as God of War, Heavenly Sword is well worth dusting off your old hardware to experience.
The Last of Us
The Last of Us is arguably developer Naughty Dog’s high water mark, and it’s a must-play title if you’re looking for a similar experience to God of War. Sure, the thematic settings are far removed from each other, but there are several obvious parallels with respect to both narrative and gameplay mechanics.
Indeed, it isn’t too difficult to spot the similarities between Kratos and Atreus’ relationship with Joel and Ellie from The Last of Us. We wouldn’t go so far as to say Sony Santa Monica copied that highly successful formula, but there was clear inspiration drawn from Naughty Dog’s seminal action game. The whole concept of having a young companion under your care and protection certainly makes for a compelling narrative that has the capacity to invoke emotion on a level that isn’t easy to achieve with a solo protagonist.
Beyond mere storytelling, however, the principle of a companion has altered the dynamic of God of War’s game design, with Atreus acting as an overwatch with his bow and arrow. He’s much more involved than Ellie was in The Last of Us, but you still have those brilliant gameplay moments in which she rescues Joel just at the last moment when he’s been overcome by enemies.
Elsewhere, The Last of Us’ large, explorable level design, crafting, and general platforming gameplay also feels like a lineage that’s been woven into God of War’s DNA. There’s now even a remade version of the game available for PS5 and PC with graphics that hit even more impressive heights than the original.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Games like God of War
You can’t really speak of a comparison between God of War and Naughty Dog games without mentioning the Uncharted series, and the fourth numbered entry in the series actually feels as though it shares even stronger design similarities. In the same way, the Uncharted series moved from a linear, third-person cover shooter to a more expansive action game that incorporated new mechanics such as stealth action, God of War has refocused its gameplay and added new layers to its design.
You’ve also got all the back-and-forth banter during gameplay that the Uncharted series practically invented, which is something God of War leans on heavily to move its story along. The signature Uncharted boost-me-up-on-this-ledge platforming has also made its way to God of War. And though Kratos has always had to solve basic puzzles throughout the series, the treasure maps and the manner in which the game encourages you to check Atreus’ diary entries will be familiar to anyone that has played Uncharted.
Ultimately, God of War’s reinvented game design feels closely tied to both of Naughty Dog’s flagpole franchises, and if you like the look of Kratos and Atreus’ adventure, you’ll no doubt love the cinematic action of Uncharted 4.
For Honor
If it’s the thrill of hacking enemies to pieces in furious melee combat you’re after, For Honor should fit the bill. This fantasy/medieval fighting game from Ubisoft throws Vikings, Samurai, and European knights together in epic duals that offer some terrific multiplayer gameplay. There are four classes to choose from within each faction, and thanks to a nuanced combat system, keeps the competitive gameplay exciting in the face of a short single-player campaign.
You won’t find much in the way of lore and narrative as you do in the latest God of War, but sometimes all you need is a sharp sword and some enemies to swipe at, right? Kratos would surely appreciate the carnage of For Honor.
Darksiders
Games like God of War
Vigil Games’ action-adventure title is a fantastical hack-and-slash RPG that shares plenty of crossover with the God of War franchise. For starters, its protagonist is War, the first Horseman of the Apocalypse. Unfortunately for him, he’s been blamed for starting a feud between Heaven and Hell. Caught in the middle, he’s forced to battle divine combatants on both sides to bring about order in the name of the Charred Council.
As a demigod, of sorts, War packs both a hefty punch and host of magical abilities that make combat feel empowering. Typical fights are played from a third-person perspective, and there are lots of weapons and upgrades to unlock as you work your way through the game. Boss battles in Darksiders are particularly exciting, with many of the enemies on a spectacularly enormous scale that’ll force you to think outside the box to take down.
