Questions for the Ending of God of War Ragnarök, Explained

I finished God of War Ragnarök last week and had some questions; you might, too. Here’s my attempt to explain and answer questions from the end of God of War Ragnarök. Major spoilers abound.

What does the last wall painting that Kratos sees mean in God of War Ragnarök?

In the final panel, we see Kratos being revered as a re-builder, rather than a destroyer. You can see the original has been painted over with bright colors, probably by Angrboda as these mirror her style that we see at her treehouse rather than her mother’s more restrained etchings.

Much of God of War Ragnarök is about changing one’s fate. Previous giant murals predicted that Atreus would use his magic to take out the soul of a dying Kratos; instead, in this game, we saw Atreus do that with Odin. That blue outline in the background of the last panel is where Thor originally stood over Atreus cradling Kratos’s dead body.

The giants’ and Norns’ prediction of fate has been changed because Kratos decided to change as a person. In Asgard, Kratos encourages Atreus to open his heart to be empathetic to others. Kratos admits he was wrong. He wants to be a better person, father, and leader, as he does by taking on the role of General. He gets to see the results of that choice when he discovers the mural.

Kratos is emotional at seeing that last panel because, for the first time, he sees himself as not an outcast or just an instrument of war, but as an actively good part of the world.

We know Kratos is ready to embrace his new future because as he approaches Mimir and Freya, he says, “We have much to rebuild.”

Is there a romance between Atreus and Angrboda?

Yes. In the post-game, if you return to Sindri’s house and enter Atreus’s old room, Kratos will ask Mimir if he did enough to prepare Atreus not just for battle, but for life and Atreus’s romance with Angrboda. Mimir admits Kratos could’ve been “more approachable” on some subjects. Mimir explains that he tried to teach Atreus the best he could. Kratos adorably asks in a very gruff voice, “You taught him to woo?” And Mimir says, “I taught him how I wished I woo’d.” So, we can trust that Atreus will begin a respectful and romantic relationship with Angrboda. Plus, how cute was it when Atreus and her held hands after Ragnarök?

What are Atreus and Angrboda talking about at the end of God of War Ragnarök?

Similar to a famous silent scene of a date in The Graduate, we do not hear what Atreus and Angrobda are talking about. This scene illustrates the natural distance that must come between a parent and child when the child is growing up and moving on with their life. Kratos watches as the two laugh, flirt, and discuss. Atreus likely asks her to look after Fenrir. Angrboda hands Atreus something, probably the bag for the marbles of giant souls, and Atreus looks to them both before leaving.

What is Thrúd going to look for at the end of God of War Ragnarök?

Thrúd goes looking for Thor’s Hammer which Odin used to push her away (very literally) during his big boss fight with the heroes. When getting to have Thrúd as a sidekick in earlier battles with Atreus, we saw that she had the power to harness shock and lightning like her father, and so she can likely wield the hammer as well. If you go to Alfheim in the post-game, you can see Thrúd grab the hammer and fly off into the sky.

Was Týr really dead the whole time in God of War: Ragnarök?

Not quite; Odin knew that Atreus would go looking for Týr, as he has had centuries to prepare for Ragnarök. So, he put out some of his watch ravens outside of a cell in Svartalfheim so Odin could know when he needed to transport in and pretend to be Týr.

When at Sindri’s House, Odin as “Týr” opted to sleep in a broom closet. He is sometimes missing from scenes when he is presumably busy being Odin in Asgard or elsewhere. Because the other characters thought Týr was sleeping in a broom closet, no one was going to go into a tiny room and bother him. I was genuinely shocked about the reveal and betrayal.

In the post-game, you can actually go back to Niflheim and search through the Aesir Prison for the real Týr who is in fact alive, though a bit shaken up by hearing all of the events. Mimir confirms it’s the real Týr, and you can continue talking with him.

What happened to Sindri in God of War Ragnarök?

Shaped permanently by his grief and trauma over the loss of his brother Brok, Sindri smashes Odin’s soul at the end of God of War Ragnarök and disappears. He does return for his brother’s funeral. Sindri’s transformation from neat-freak gear designer to blood-stained destroyer of gods is heartbreaking and perfectly executed by Sony Santa Monica.

Sindri cannot forgive Atreus, and by extension Kratos, as we see when Sindri pushes away Kratos at the funeral. Just like in real life, some people can’t move past a falling out with a friend. Some things are impossible to forgive or forget.

Sindri never returns to the blacksmith shops, which is a disturbing shift since the player has come to count on Sindri and Brok’s friendly banter and reliable handiwork. Instead, their dwarf friend Lúnda runs the shop.

What is the answer to Brok’s riddle? Is there a secret ending to God of War Ragnarök?

Throughout the last third of God of War Ragnarök, characters try to solve a riddle by Brok, “What gets bigger the more you take away?” Characters guess answers like love and hunger unsuccessfully.

If you complete the side quest “A Viking’s Funeral” to mourn Brok in the post-game, Sindri transports to pay respects to his brother. When Kratos tries to talk to him, Sindri pushes him away and leaves again. There is an empty space on the screen, asking the character to reckon with the loss of a loved one. Mimir says suddenly, “A hole. The only thing that gets bigger the more you take away.”

Then, God of War Ragnarök fades to black for the only time at the end of this optional side quest in the post-game. When the credits roll with morose Norse music playing over, it’s a brutal reminder of the toll of violence.

Will Kratos and Atreus see each other again?

Yes, I believe so, though for the first time since Faye’s death, they have accepted that they do not need to be physically together to feel the other’s presence and love.

When Kratos taps his chest and says, “Loki will go, Atreus remains,” he means that he understands his son is pursuing the other part of his heritage, but he will always feel his son’s presence in his heart. By saying both of Atreus’ names, Kratos is also showing respect for his son’s identity and that he cannot know or control all of who his son is.

Will there be a third God of War Game?

Sony Santa Monica has previously stated this will be the last God of War game, but I think that doesn’t mean we can’t have another game in the universe. Especially considering…

Where does Atreus go at the end of God of War Ragnarök?

I could see a spin-off game featuring Atreus as the main character as he tries to collect more giant spirits for stones and restore the Jotun to the Nine Realms. Plus, he has so many hip teen friends now, I doubt they’re not going to go on adventures together.