God of War Ragnarok PC Review

God of War Ragnarok PC Review

As a seasoned gamer who has spent countless hours wielding controllers of various shapes and sizes, I must say that God of War Ragnarok is nothing short of a masterpiece… until that Atreus section, that is! Now, don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the narrative depth they’ve given our young friend, but when it comes to gameplay, the excitement just seems to wane. It’s like watching a kid try to juggle while reciting Shakespeare – impressive, but not quite what you signed up for.


In 2022, Santa Monica Studio along with PlayStation introduced the highly anticipated game, “God of War Ragnarok,” for both PS4 and PS5. This remarkable title left players spellbound with its captivating narrative, stunning graphics, and intense combat that surpassed the extraordinary 2018 “God of War” game in every aspect. Now, two years later, PC gamers finally get to experience this hype for themselves, and I’m thrilled to confirm that the PC version of “God of War Ragnarok” meets and exceeds expectations.

On balance, PlayStation’s PC adaptations have generally been successful, with a few hiccups along the way. God of War Ragnarok, like many other PlayStation games before it, has made a smooth transition to the PC platform. As long as your computer meets the necessary requirements, you can expect an experience that rivals or even surpasses what was offered on PS5. The game boasts a highly polished finish, with near-flawless performance and graphics that are every bit as stunning as its PlayStation counterpart. While impressive visuals are crucial, they’re only valuable if the gameplay is strong to match. Thankfully, God of War Ragnarok excels in this department too.

As a seasoned gamer, I can tell you that God of War Ragnarok delivers a relentless action experience similar to its 2018 predecessor, complete with an over-the-shoulder perspective and intense hack-and-slash combat up close. The story of Ragnarok progressively expands Kratos’ arsenal, culminating in the mighty God of War wielding a spear that respawns endlessly, adding an exciting twist to the gameplay. Throughout my journey, I primarily use these weapons to take down various adversaries, but they are also essential for solving intricate puzzles – like when I need to freeze certain objects using the Leviathan Axe, for instance.

In God of War Ragnarok’s PC version, there’s a fantastic improvement in puzzle-solving mechanics compared to its PlayStation counterpart. Instead of Atreus and other characters immediately providing solutions for puzzles, leaving little room for players to attempt them themselves, the new edition allows users to disable this feature. This customizable option makes the gaming experience more personalized and enjoyable according to individual preferences.

God of War Ragnarok is Best Played With a DualSense Controller

If you haven’t played God of War Ragnarok on PlayStation yet, the PC version offers essentially the same gaming experience. However, there are a few PC-specific features such as ultrawide support and mouse & keyboard control options. But these differences might not be substantial enough for those who already own the game on console to consider purchasing it again. If you’re playing on PC, I strongly advise against using a mouse and keyboard setup. Instead, I suggest investing in a PS5 DualSense controller. Although God of War Ragnarok can also be played with a variety of other PC-compatible controllers (I primarily tested the game using an Xbox controller), nothing compares to the experience offered by a DualSense. The haptic feedback and adaptive triggers significantly enhance the immersion in combat sequences, making it the ideal way to enjoy God of War Ragnarok.

For those yet to experience the thrill of God of War Ragnarok, the PC version promises an unforgettable journey. In this sequel, Kratos and Atreus find themselves at odds with gods Odin and Thor following the events of the 2018 game. The ensuing story takes them on a pulse-pounding adventure through the Nine Realms as they strive to halt the prophesied apocalypse. Ragnarok’s narrative is captivating, often ranking among the series’ best offerings thus far. It features engaging character exchanges and jaw-dropping twists that will keep players hooked from beginning to end, with occasional pacing hiccups along the way.

In my opinion, God of War Ragnarok shines as an almost flawless game up until a specific part involving Atreus. To avoid spoiling the game for those yet to play it, let me just say that when Atreus takes control, the game seems to lose some of its pace and intensity, making parts feel longer than they should. However, this section does culminate in one of the most impactful boss fights within the entire God of War franchise. It’s disappointing because it showcases an intriguing new character, but the gameplay during this part falls short compared to the rest of the game.

I played God of War Ragnarok on a computer equipped with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, a 3.70 GHz AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-core processor, and 32GB of RAM.

To put it simply, God of War Ragnarok is generally flawless. It offers an incredible, expansive adventure brimming with breathtaking sights, exciting battles to engage in, and hidden treasures aplenty. The puzzles are top-notch and even more enjoyable on PC due to the absence of Kratos’ comrades interfering with puzzle solutions. The environments are delightful to traverse, and the narrative is among the best ever crafted within the gaming realm.

God of War Ragnarok’s PSN Requirement is Disappointing

It’s regrettable that playing God of War Ragnarok on PC necessitates a PlayStation Network account. Given that this game is solely designed for single-player mode, it seems puzzling why it demands a PSN account for Steam users. While creating or linking an account doesn’t take much time, it’s still an unnecessary hassle that could have been avoided, given past PlayStation games that made their way to Steam without such a prerequisite. However, one advantage of this setup is that it allows players to utilize a PlayStation overlay, which synchronizes trophies with Steam achievements simultaneously.

For PC gamers who are willing to overlook the PSN account requirement for God of War Ragnarok, they’re in for a fantastic gaming experience. However, there’s more to explore once you finish the main story. The PC version of God of War Ragnarok comes with Valhalla mode at launch, offering PC gamers an enriched gaming experience right from the start. For those who are unfamiliar, Valhalla is a unique game mode that combines combat from God of War Ragnarok with roguelike elements to narrate a distinct story following the events of the main game. This mode was a free update for the PlayStation version of the game, so it doesn’t increase the cost of Ragnarok’s PC port, but it’s still a bonus to get everything in one package.

In simpler terms, God of War Ragnarok promises an extensive gaming experience and more than what you paid for. It’s one of Kratos’ most significant journeys yet, but there are some concerns about the pacing and the need for a PSN account which might be frustrating. Unfortunately, it seems that Sony may not waive this requirement, so PC gamers planning to play Sony games without owning a PS5 should be aware of this constraint.

The action-adventure game titled “God of War Ragnarok” can now be played on PC, PS4, and PS5 platforms. For this review, we were given a PC access code by Game Rant.

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2024-09-24 08:14