While it may not have gone home with the Game of the Year trophy at this year’s Game Awards, there’s no denying thatGod of War Ragnarokis one of the best and most successful games of the year. Proving once again that PlayStation has some of the greatest video game experiences out there,God of War Ragnaroktook the phenomenal groundwork of its 2018 predecessor and continued to build upon it with more complex character relationships, a grander story, and some great gameplay additions. As is the case with just about any successful video game, a follow-up is already bound to be in the works. However, if it does happen,aGod of War Ragnaroksequelwill have a hard time beating its predecessor’s stellar voice cast.
With Christopher Judge delivering the performance of a lifetime and receiving the Game Award for it,God of War Ragnarok’s main protagonistdrives the plot forward and keeps the emotional heart of the story beating throughout its lengthy runtime. But Judge isn’t alone. All ofGod of War Ragnarok’s cast, from its main heroes to its villains to even its side characters, all deliver outstanding performances, and it’s going to be near-impossible for a sequel to recapture that magic.
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God of War Ragnarok’s Voice Cast Is Phenomenal
God of War’s Norse saga has a plethora of characters, each with a role to play in its story, but the core dynamic of the series comes down to just two characters: Kratos and Atreus. Fromthe moment 2018’sGod of Warstarts, Kratos and Atreus' relationship is front and center, and their complex dynamic drives the emotional beats of the entire series. While big spectacle boss fights and larger-than-life mythological set pieces are all highlights of theGod of Warexperience, it’s Kratos and Atreus' relationship that makes it all so compelling, and their actors' performances that seal the deal.
Along with superb writing,Christopher Judge and Sunny Suljic’s performancesas Kratos and Atreus respectively are two of the biggest highlights of the rebootedGod of Warseries. While Sunny’s high-energy performance perfectly captures the lively Atreus, Christopher Judge’s more stoic and reserved performance is absolutely perfect for the titular God of War. That being said, Judge isn’t afraid to delve into the more vulnerable aspects of Kratos' character, and those miniscule peeks behind his facade add so much depth to the narrative.
God of Waralso featured a phenomenal supporting cast, with characters like Freya, Brok, and Sindri all being played wonderfully by their respective voice actors. Danielle Bisutti’s performance as Freya is particularly noteworthy, striking the perfect balance between strong and vulnerable. This cast is only improved in the sequel, with Odin and Thor joining the roster inGod of WarRagnarok. Richard Schiff’s Odin is arguably one of the most compelling performances in all of gaming, being able to deliver just the right balance of intimidation and deceptive frailty to create one of the most unique interpretations of an overplayed mythological character.
Every single character inGod of War’s Norse saga, no matter how small or great, is played masterfully by their respective voice actors, creating one of the most compelling, natural video game narratives of all time. Following up on such a talented cast is going to be a pretty difficult task for a futureGod of Warsequel, and while Judge may return as Kratos, the supporting cast also needs to retain the same high level of quality seen inRagnarok’s cast.
God of War Ragnarokis available on PS4 and PS5.
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