Every Character's 'Happy Ending' in God of War Ragnarok…

Summary

God of War Ragnarok finally gives Kratos an ending that isn't overly tragic, providing a satisfying conclusion to his character journey.
Atreus finds his purpose and embraces his identity, choosing to seek out his giant kin with Angrboda, marking a significant development in his character arc.
Thrud takes on her father's mantle, symbolizing the end of the series' cycle of violence and vengeance, despite the tragic circumstances that led to this moment.

The God of War franchise isn't really a happy one. When God of War made its debut back in 2005, it quickly made waves for a plethora of different reasons, and one of its most talked about qualities was its edginess, which at the time felt like a breath of fresh air for many gamers. God of War wasn't afraid of showing some heinous acts of violence and brutality, and those same acts are the reason why the series' protagonist never really got to have a happy ending. But almost two decades later, God of War Ragnarok finally gave Kratos an ending that wasn't overly tragic.

Starting with 2018's God of War, the Norse Saga marked a fresh start for the franchise, while also not forgetting the series' roots. One of the biggest changes made with 2018's God of War was the series' approach to storytelling and character development, putting it at the very forefront of the entire experience. While God of War has always had a compelling narrative, 2018 God of War took things a few steps further, and God of War Ragnarok only continued that trend, delivering one of the most satisfying narrative arcs in all of gaming. Though God of War Ragnarok still has plenty of violence and death, it has a handful of character endings that could almost qualify as happy.

Atreus Finds His Purpose

When Atreus is first introduced in 2018's God of War, he's a petulant child that's desperate for his father's affection and attention, and is clearly suffering from the recent loss of his mother. Despite this, Atreus does prove himself to be a worthy warrior during the course of the game, and by its end, many players felt a strong connection with the boy, mirroring Kratos' own character journey.

By the time God of War Ragnarok rolls around, Atreus is more than capable of defending himself and his family and friends, but he has an overwhelming feeling that he belongs somewhere, and that his purpose is something greater than just surviving in the woods with his father. When God of War Ragnarok wraps up, Atreus has found that purpose, choosing to seek out the rest of his giant kin with Angrboda. Though the moment of leaving Kratos itself is a tear-jerker, it also feels satisfying and earned, and Atreus finally embracing his identity is the closest thing God of War Ragnarok has to a happy ending.

Kratos Becomes the God He Never Thought He Could Be

Quickly following on from those final moments with Atreus in God of War Ragnarok, Kratos gets his own bittersweet, almost happy ending. For practically the entire franchise, Kratos has been primarily portrayed as a figure of pure vengeance, often only showing extreme anger. 2018's God of War gave fans a much calmer, and more understanding Kratos, albeit one that's still struggling with solo fatherhood and the fear that his son will become just like him. When Atreus takes his leave in God of War Ragnarok, it's clear that all of Kratos' fears have subsided, and the two share a wonderful moment of understanding and genuine familial love. This moment is only made better when Kratos finds a giant-painted mural of himself being worshiped and revered by humans, an ending that he never thought he would be able to achieve.

Thrud Takes on Her Father's Mantle

Though her journey is filled with plenty of tragic moments, Thrud's very last appearance in God of War Ragnarok is another ending that could almost be considered as happy. After seeing her father Thor killed in Ragnarok by Odin, Thrud reunites with her mother Sif, and the two begin the long journey of healing together. Following this, players can find Thrud in the Alfheim desert, where Thor's hammer Mjolnir has landed. After taking a moment to tell her father that she'll make him proud, Thrud takes Mjolnir, and launches into the sky. Though the inciting incidents are tragic, Thrud taking on her father's mantle is the perfect encapsulation of the series' cycle of violence and vengeance coming to an end.