God of War cover
FranchiseGod of WarSeriesGod of War

God of War

Critic score3 critics
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First release
Mar 22, 2005
Engine
Kinetica
Genres
Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure, Puzzle · Action, Fantasy, Historical
Platforms
PlayStation 2

God of War is an action-adventure hack-and-slash video game developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE). Initially launched for the PlayStation 2, the game stands as the first instalment in the God of War series and the third in chronological order. Loosely inspired by Greek mythology, it unfolds in ancient Greece with vengeance as its central theme. The player takes on the role of Kratos, the protagonist, a Spartan warrior devoted to the Olympian gods. Tasked by the goddess Athena, Kratos is assigned to eliminate Ares, the God of War and Kratos' former mentor. Ares had deceitfully manipulated Kratos into killing his wife and daughter. As Ares attacks Athens fueled by hatred for Athena, Kratos embarks on a quest to locate Pandora's Box, the sole object capable of permanently stopping the vengeful god.

Also known as GOW 1, GOW

Attributes

No Attributes added.

Details

Storyline, release dates, time to beat, age ratings, modes, links, keywords

Storyline
Kratos is a warrior who serves the Greek gods of Olympus. Flashbacks reveal that he was once a successful captain in the Spartan army and led his men to several victories before being defeated by a barbarian king. Facing death, Kratos called on the God of War, Ares, whom he promised to serve if the god would spare his men and provide the power to destroy their enemies. Ares agreed and bonded the Blades of Chaos, a pair of chained blades forged in the depths of Tartarus, to his new servant. Kratos, equipped with the blades, then decapitated the barbarian king.[23] Kratos waged war at the behest of Ares, eventually leading an attack on a village occupied by worshipers of Athena. Ares had secretly transported Kratos' wife and child to the village; during his frenzied attack on its temple, Kratos accidentally killed them. Although Ares believed this act would free Kratos to become the perfect warrior, the Spartan instead renounced his pledge of servitude to the god. The oracle of the destroyed village cursed Kratos by bonding the ashes of his dead family to his skin, turning it ash-white and earning him the nickname, "Ghost of Sparta". Plagued by nightmares of his horrible deed, Kratos vowed to serve the other gods in hope of ridding himself of the visions.Read more

Kratos is a warrior who serves the Greek gods of Olympus. Flashbacks reveal that he was once a successful captain in the Spartan army and led his men to several victories before being defeated by a barbarian king. Facing death, Kratos called on the God of War, Ares, whom he promised to serve if the god would spare his men and provide the power to destroy their enemies. Ares agreed and bonded the Blades of Chaos, a pair of chained blades forged in the depths of Tartarus, to his new servant. Kratos, equipped with the blades, then decapitated the barbarian king.[23] Kratos waged war at the behest of Ares, eventually leading an attack on a village occupied by worshipers of Athena. Ares had secretly transported Kratos' wife and child to the village; during his frenzied attack on its temple, Kratos accidentally killed them. Although Ares believed this act would free Kratos to become the perfect warrior, the Spartan instead renounced his pledge of servitude to the god. The oracle of the destroyed village cursed Kratos by bonding the ashes of his dead family to his skin, turning it ash-white and earning him the nickname, "Ghost of Sparta". Plagued by nightmares of his horrible deed, Kratos vowed to serve the other gods in hope of ridding himself of the visions.

Release dates
PlayStation 2
Mar 22, 2005
PlayStation 2
Jul 08, 2005
PlayStation 2
Nov 17, 2005
Time to beatIGDB · recorded
Main + Extras
9h
Game modes
Single player
Perspective
Third person
Keywords
greek mythology, bloody, gravity, medieval, murder
… All 116, magic, minigames, quick-time events, death, permadeath, horse, mythology, action-adventure, religion, undead, sacrifice, revenge, easter egg, nudity, resurrection, swimming, sword & sorcery, giants, gods, boss fight, fixed camera, explosion, block puzzle, digital distribution, single-player only, platform exclusive, playstation trophies, customizable characters, 60 fps on consoles, voice acting, human, polygonal 3d, skill points in game, bow and arrow, upgradeable weapons, transforming boss, original soundtrack release, unlockables, extreme violence, save point, minotaurs, treasure chest, character growth, titular antagonist, melee, real-time combat, underwater gameplay, stat tracking, instant kill, unbeatable enemies, difficulty level, wilhelm scream, unreliable narrator, rpg elements, mercenary, cross culture language skills, conveyor belt, non-linear storytelling, villain, anti-hero, unlockable difficulty level, banshee, controversy, animation canceling, quick time event, linear gameplay, gliding, ancient advanced civilization technology, gore system, flashback, women in refrigerators syndrome, finishing move, button mashing, in-game moves list, scripted events, fire manipulation, jumping puzzle, zero to hero, aggressive door-opening, superpowers, cutscene menu, strategic dismemberment, censored version, context sensitive, reversible cover art, counter system, sociopathy, elevator ambush, moving bodies, trilogy, foreshadowing, sea monster, god mode, god complex, tragic hero, crowd control, health from romance, greatest hits, white magic, fury, greek alphabet, bangsian fantasy, easy mode, divine punishment, remote play, ship deck battle, interactive achievement awards 2006, spike video game awards 2005, male protagonist, sexual themes, fan translation - portuguese

At a Glance

Critic Score
93
Main + Extras (IGDB)
9h
How it playsMediaCommunityBehind the gameRelated

How it plays

Languages

  • Englishinterface, audio
  • 한국어interface
IGDB · recorded 26 Oct 2026
Also in 1 other language

Language data: IGDB · recorded 26 Oct 2026