The best God of War Laufey fan theories
Overview & Key Takeaways
God of War Laufey was only just announced, but already fans of the series have theories about what will happen, and they don't sound too far-fetched.
The worst people on the internet balked at the idea that the next entry in their “manly man big muscle man kill god” game series could star a woman. Other, more intellectually inclined good folk went to work theorizing about how Laufey fits into the Norse Saga and what it means for the future of the series.
While God of War started with series mainstay Kratos slaughtering his way through the Greek pantheon of gods, the 2018 reboot shifted the series to Midgard. It picks up after Kratos’ wife Faye dies, and finds him and their son Atreus on a journey to spread her ashes. Inevitably, Kratos kills plenty of gods between God of War and God of War Ragnarök. Lots of ‘em. He kills Baldur and Magni and Heimdall and—
Where do all those dead gods end up when Kratos is done choking the life outta them? That’s what God of War Laufey will explore. Faye’s real name is Laufey, and she’s a Jotünn warrior from Jötunheim who opposed the Aesir (like Thor and Odin). She unexpectedly wakes up in the Everywhen, an afterlife for gods from across pantheons. Faye realizes that the plans she laid forth for Kratos and Atreus are in jeopardy, and works to ensure they come to fruition. (She guides them, in a way, in God of War,)
As time and reality are a bit wonky in the Norse games, God of War Laufey may show how Faye had a heavy hand on the events of the Norse Saga. Perhaps she blew the horn that called forth Jörmungandr, the World Serpent, from beyond the grave in God of War, and we’ll do that as her in Laufey. Maybe those dreams where Kratos interacted with Faye in God of War Ragnarök weren’t just dreams, but Faye reaching out to him from the afterlife, and we get to play through those scenes from her point-of-view.
Image: Santa Monica Studio/Sony Interactive Entertainment
As the upcoming game begins at the same time as God of War, the events of the two games may run concurrently. Might that mean gods pop up in Laufey’s Everywhen as Kratos kills them? Some fans are theorizing it. “Calling it - Gods like Baldur will appear in this game once Kratos kills them in the world of the living,” one Reddit user wondered.
Many are hoping all the Greek gods Kratos killed will show up in Everywhen and possibly confront Faye. “They're totally going to bring back some of the gods Kratos killed in the original games to harass Laufey,” one Redditor commented. Begtse, the Mongolian god of war, and Sekhmet, an Egyptian goddess of war, both appear in the trailer, meaning if Ares shows up, Faye would have to tangle with a whole trio of war deities. “Laufey meeting up with Ares is probably going to be a bit awkward if that's the case,” another Redditor said. Some are also convinced Zeus will show up. “Yeah we are 100% seeing Zeus. No way you have a game focused about being in the land of dead Gods and NOT have Kratos’ father meet his wife,” a player pointed out.
God of War Laufey game director Ariel Lawrence has hinted as such. When discussing the game with Santa Monica’s Cory Barlog, she called Everywhen a highly magical place. “We also get the return and discovery of a lot of different mythologies coming together,” she said.
Atreus and Odin looking at pieces of the broken mask together in Odin’s study.
Image: SIE Santa Monica Studio/Sony Interactive Entertainment via Polygon
A mask gets mentioned in the trailer, making people wonder how Laufey will connect to God of War Ragnarök. In it, Odin sought after a mask that he believed would have the power of omniscience. The mask was left purposefully vague, and now some fans are wondering if Laufey will provide answers. “They mentioned a mask. Are we finally getting answers about the mask in Ragnarok? Maybe it was one of the gateways to Everywhen,” one fan theorized.
As fans have long speculated that the next Kratos-starring game would find him slaughtering his way through a new pantheon of gods, like the Egyptian gods. With the way Laufey brings together various deities, it’s possible Faye’s game will pull double duty in wrapping up the Norse Saga while also introducing where this series heads to next. “Pretty sure that the new gods that are being introduced in this are from different mythology’s [sic] and is supposed to be the start of something new. I see this game as more of [a] segue to the next story for Kratos,” a Reddit user said.
Image: Santa Monica Studio/Sony Interactive Entertainment
In terms of gameplay, some players speculate that God of War Laufey might signal how the God of War original trilogy remakes will play. The original games from… decades ago (what is time) were faster hack-and-slash titles than the Norse games. Faye is shown jumping around and air juggling enemies, but the presentation is very much in line with the Norse Saga.
“Anyone think that her more aerial, juggling fighting style might be giving us a look into the combat of the GoW 1-3 remakes?” one Reddit user pondered, and it’s not a bad theory. In fact, the developers alluded to that on the PlayStation Blog, saying Laufey builds “upon the strengths of the modern God of War combat system while injecting some old school, classic DNA of the Greek era.” (Still no word on when those remakes will come out, by the way.)
None of this addresses the biggest question, however. What’s the deal with the Jack Quaid cube? No matter what, I want the record to state on this day: I am Team Cube.
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