God of War: Laufey — Everything We Know

Stop whatever it is you’re doing and go watch the God of War: Laufey gameplay reveal trailer. Sure, it’s over 20 minutes long, but very much watching till the end. A cinematic masterpiece just like I expected from the emotional rollercoaster Kratos and Atreus took us on. The lifelike characters in vivid environments that transport you to a surreal, mythic world.

It’s like watching a blockbuster film: I went ahead and grabbed popcorn and spread out on the couch. But there’s much more here. It’s a “gameplay reveal,” which means you actually get the chance to see what it’ll be like to be Laufey (Faye). Her combat movement and attacks, which are much different from Kratos’. Her sheer will and determination to protect her husband and son, even from the afterlife.

This one’s an action-adventure that I so can’t wait to play. But first, I’ve done a deep dive into all of the details Santa Monica has revealed so far. 

What is God of War: Laufey?

God of War: Laufey is an upcoming action-adventure game by Santa Monica Studio. It’s been a rollercoaster ride following Kratos’ journey, from his days as a Spartan soldier, to the wrath and fury as the God of War,  the mourning of his wife, Faye, and having to raise his son on a hopefully better path. Since 2005, Kratos has been a fierce warrior, using raw power to send waves of enemies to the afterlife, an afterlife that his wife, Faye, is now a member of. 

It feels like a natural evolution to be focusing on Faye for the next game in the God of War series, a plan that has been in the works since 2018. After Faye’s death, she wakes up in the afterlife. But rather than find peace and be free, she’s forced to pick up her sword and fight for the survival of her husband and son. 

Story

After the death of Faye, she wakes up in the afterlife of the gods. But this isn’t a peaceful afterlife. She discovers dangerous magic in this strange place, and that the ruthless gods here put Kratos and Atreus’ lives in danger. She picks up her sword, braces herself with armor, and fights her way across the afterlife to save her husband and son. 

This is a new story that will feature Norse and Greek mythology, but also fresh ideas about the afterlife of the gods. Santa Monica has proven itself a master of crafting lore-rich, stunning worlds, and the afterlife of the gods is no different from the gameplay reveal trailer. Like in previous games, the story will evolve alongside combat in cinematic masterpieces. 

With the afterlife unstable, it makes sense that Faye will want out. But the hero in her chooses to stick around and fight. Deborah Ann Woll reprises her role as Faye from God of War Ragnarok. Further, she’s joined by two companions: a talking sword (or the ribbon attached to it) called Rue and a ‘gelatinous’ cube called Phranque. 

Don’t ask me why, of all the companions Faye could have, Santa Monica decided to go with a cube. The cube fights alongside Faye, mind you, so I guess he proves useful. 

Gameplay

But what has been starkly different between previous God of War games and God of War: Laufey is the main character, and their different movement and fighting styles. Kratos is a brutal warrior, using raw power and force against enemies. His movement is slower and more deliberate. Faye, on the other hand, is a more agile fighter. She can double jump and perform slick air combos. You’ll string her air combos together, and Faye can unleash nonstop strikes and attacks in the sky for a pretty long while. 

You’ll also wield magic out of cast out of Faye’s Golden Hand of the Jotnar. It has offensive and defensive capabilities, blowing up faraway objects. But most exciting is how you can use your magic to take the souls of enemies and attack the souls directly, or you can shove it into other enemies and perform more mind-blowing combos.

Development

Santa Monica has definitely outdone themselves, especially with the decision to change the tune of the series’ movement and combat. Even though you’ll still be playing a familiar game rooted in deep Norse and Greek mythology, your movement will be more agile. Beyond gameplay, Santa Monica intends to flesh out who Faye is. Her character strengths and weaknesses. Her values.

The worldbuilding is another creative swing that pays off. In an interview with the devs, they reveal that the setting is a place where all magic starts and ends. It’s a realm where gods from different mythologies meet, and their interactions aren’t always pleasant. 

Trailer

The gameplay reveal trailer is a must-watch for a solid understanding of what to look forward to. Every second of it is beautiful. I doubt I have any notes. And to think that this is only an introduction to what’s to come. The devs say at the end that they will continue to work on the game and will reveal more details before launch day.

In any case, Sekhmet and Begtse are a sweet taste into the gods you’ll be fighting. They are menacing, and the fight against Sekhmet sent chills down my spine. His fire-based abilities sweep the battle arena, and the way he leaps into the air is the perfect match to Faye’s air combos.

Another special note is that the sword that Faye is entrusted with has some kind of mysterious power and purpose. 

Release Date, Platforms, & Editions

The afterlife is a place that the God of War series hasn’t delved into, besides Odin looking to escape the prophecy of his demise. You’ll soon be getting the answers to how the afterlife works among the gods sometime soon. Yup, unfortunately, Santa Monica hasn’t pinned down an official release date. 

I can confirm, though, that God of War: Laufey will be a PlayStation 5 exclusive. Any other information will likely be revealed over the coming months via the official social handle.