Many critics are claiming that the new God of War is the best 2018 video game to date. Time Magazine published a review of the game and said that it was able to surpass the previous God of War games in many aspects.
While it still manages to maintain its trademark of being a hack-and-slash bloodfest with huge monsters, it also adds a compelling narrative between father and son.
The new God of War takes place years after the previous games’ events when Kratos unleashed his wrath on the entire Greek pantheon. In this latest addition to the franchise, Kratos now lives in the world of Norse gods with his son, Atreus.
Taking on the new role of mentor and father, the narrative explores the Spartan God’s struggle to control his rage in order to prevent his son from becoming like him.
If you enjoyed God of War and are looking to play titles that offer a similar experience, this list will hopefully give you some ideas on what to try out.
5.
Darksiders
4.
Lords of the Fallen
3.
The Last of Us
1.
Bloodborne
Best Games Like God of War:
Some of these picks may feature different gameplay elements from God of War’s but they may have similarities in terms of impact and story.
Darksiders is similar to God of War in many ways. It has weapon and armor upgrades, challenging bosses, and a story rooted in mythology. The protagonist is also a bloodthirsty type. Players take control of War, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse who has been deceived into inciting a war between Heaven and Hell. Stripped of his powers, War grabs the opportunity to return to Earth and punish whoever is responsible for framing him.
Darksiders is a decent alternative for those who don’t own a PlayStation 4 and therefore can’t play God of War. It is available on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.
Lords of the Fallen is another title that shares similar gameplay mechanics to Darksiders and God of War. It has an arcade-style combat and a loot system that allows players to obtain better weapons and armor.
In a world where every sin is remembered, you play as the convicted criminal Harkyn, who is given a chance at redemption. The human realm is threatened by an old god, and Harkyn is sent out from prison to find ways to stop the war from escalating.
Image Credit: Naughty Dog Facebook Page
The Last of Us may be the most surprising title on this list, considering that its themes largely differ from God of Wars. However, one could argue that Santa Monica Studio took notes from this legendary game, especially when it comes to the concept of having a young companion under your protection. The Last of Us is the story of Joel and Ellie, who are both struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic United States. Their journey takes them across the country in the hopes of finding a cure for the fungal virus that has turned almost the entire human race into violent creatures.
Their dynamic is factored into the gameplay, as players (who mostly take control of Joel) fight through hordes of the Infected while keeping Ellie safe. God of War improves on this formula by making Atreus more involved in combat. Of course, The Last of Us is a great game in its own right, so even if you don’t agree with our take on its similarities with God of War
2.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
In Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, you follow a Celtic warrior’s quest to fight for the soul of her deceased lover. It’s definitely a unique experience since the protagonist also battles with haunting visions. The game not only looks gorgeous but is also quite similar to the latest God of War as the story and themes are rooted in Norse mythology.
Clearly, Norse mythology is a popular well for games to derive inspiration from. Even small-scale games pay tribute to the rich folklore of the ancient Vikings. Digital gaming portal Slingo hosts several titles that have obvious Norse references such as the popular Vikings Go Berserk and Thunderstruck. A few of these games feature strong, savage warriors and references to Norse gods like Thor. Although they don’t have the level of action that God of War and Hellblade feature, they do possess similar themes of barbarity and power. Their graphics also do the job of depicting the Vikings in a similar form to the characters in the aforementioned titles.
Another popular game that has Norse influences is Skyrim. If you’ve enjoyed playing Skyrim, you can read up on our recommendations for games like it here on Breech as well.
Image Credit: Bloodborne Facebook Page
It’s no secret that Santa Monica Studio took heavy inspirations from From Software’s Bloodborne. On a podcast, God of War’s lead level designer Luis Sanchez said that Bloodborne was one of his favorite games and that it had some of the best level designs. So he took ideas from it and constructed a world that’s still linear but somehow allows players to breathe little.
Bloodborne takes place in a decrepit Gothic city called Yharnam, where a religious organization called the Healing Church resides. Many travelers journey to the city to visit this group because they possess a special blood concoction that cleanses away all afflictions. Players take on the role of one of these travelers, who actually seeks something else entirely: a mysterious element called Paleblood.
In Summary
We hope this list has somehow helped you pick out your next game to play. Some of these titles may seem far off, but once you play them, you will be able to realize why they were included here in the first place and enjoy them in much the same way you would the new God of War.
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