God of War (2018)

God of War (also known as God of War IV) is the sequel to God of War III as well as a continuation of the canon God of War chronology. God of War is the eighth installment in the franchise overall. Unlike previous installments, this game focuses on Norse mythology and follows an older and more seasoned Kratos and his new son Atreus in the years since God of War III. The game was released on April 20, 2018, and was originally exclusive to the PlayStation 4, until the PC port launched on 14 January 2022, on Steam and the Epic Games Store. God of War does not just feel like the next step for the franchise, but for the entire video game industry. Phenomenal visuals, rewarding exploration, and a deep, nuanced combat system contribute to an epic adventure that should be experienced by every human on earth. Santa Monica Studio is taking us all to Valhalla. The game itself, meanwhile, feels much more robust and varied than in the past. Older God of War games fit squarely into the hack-and-slash genre. The core action involved slicing up huge swaths of foes and racking up massive combos, with the occasional puzzle and boss fight to mix things up. These elements still exist in the new game, but with a much better balance. You spend about as much time hacking into bad guys as you do figure out surprisingly complex and clever puzzles, using magic and observation to awaken ancient machines. The combat, meanwhile, feels more intense, thanks to a more cinematic camera that stays close to the action, and flexible controls befitting a proper action game.