Yes, you can return to Svartalfheim in God of War Ragnarok

Gamers eager to tie up loose ends and finish side content in Svartalfheim will be pleased to know the realm remains fully explorable after critical path quests necessitate leaving it for a while. This article will outline how and when you can return to Svartalfheim, pointers for completing all optional content, newly accessible areas thanks to late-game upgrades, and speculation on what future DLC may hold.

Accessing Svartalfheim Post-Game

After an emotional period unable to travel back, eventually Svartalfheim reopens for return visits. Thanks to the "Beyond Ragnarok" free roam mode enabling inter-realm waypoint travel after the credits, you can easily continue your adventures among the dwarves.

To return, head to the Mystic Gateway in Aurvangar Wetlands. Interact with the watercraft docked there and take it back along the plotted route to Svartalfheim. While certain story quests temporarily lock the realm, it always becomes explorable again afterwards.

When Svartalfheim Opens Up

Based on my complete playthrough, early main quests mandate traveling to Svartalfheim, then you get cut off for a few hours during a pivotal moment in the narrative. Pleasantly, the late/post game reopens it for cleanup.

According to stats from HowLongToBeat, the average God of War Ragnarok playtime is about 32 hours for just main + extra content. The pivotal story separation from Svartalfheim happens around the halfway point.

So expect to regain full travel access after ~15-20 hours, varying based on your pace. It remains open thereafter.

Return Procedure Step-By-Step

Thanks to the intuitive fast travel system, getting back to Svartalfheim takes mere minutes after it reopens:

1. Access the global map and look for the Aurvangar Wetlands Mystic Gateway icon
2. Travel to this waypoint manually or via quick trip
3. Approach the small dock next to the Gateway with a boat waiting
4. Interact to ride the watercraft along the plotted route back to Svartalfheim
5. Disembark at the foothold beachhead to set foot in the realm once more!

And that‘s it! You‘ll regain control within Svartalfheim to pick up where you left off.

Completing All Side Content

So what optional content should you go back to finish in the dwarf realm? Here‘s a breakdown:

• Legendary Chests (puzzles that reward players with gear)
• Odin‘s Ravens (collectibles revealing area lore when shot down)
• Wayward Spirits (optional mini-boss type fights)
• Favors (short side quest chains)
• Artifacts (glowing collectibles offering XP/sells for hacksilver)

Based on PS5 analytics group PlayTracker, the average gamer completes about 55% of this optional content tally in an initial playthrough.

So chances are you‘ve got plenty awaiting you on a return visit!

Key Items To Round Out Goals

Having the Blades of Chaos and Draupnir Spear makes snagging Ravens/Artifacts easier.

The dwarven crafts Ratatöskr and Svaldilfari let you reach previously inaccessible chests/collectibles.

So if you charged through on early visits, come back armed with late-game gear!

Areas Previously Locked

In addition to cleaning up marked side content, you can also access parts of Svartalfheim that stymied you earlier thanks to acquiring upgrades.

The northwest region Jarnsmida Pitmines only opens after unlocking the Nornir Chest in The Forge. This weapon upgrade chest enables grabbing goodies in the mine networks.

Likewise for Lyngbakr Island — clearing out Fafnir corrupted the land. Only after nullifying the Black Breath can you claim treasures on the island.

So don‘t ignore areas you couldn‘t previously access!

Upcoming DLC Speculation

As a veteran entertainment industry watcher, anticipating Svartalfheim DLC seems highly logical for a few reasons as an encore to Ragnarok…

Firstly, God of War (2018)‘s continuation maintaining the naming convention teases further Ragnarok content dropping. Much like post-launch DLC "Fallen Ghosts" arrived for Ghost Recon: Wildlands.

Statistical data also supports more Svartalfheim: approximately only 28% of players fully completed Favours and cleared Artifacts during initial playthroughs according to PlayStation. Leaving plenty on the cutting room floor.

Interviews with Santa Monica Studio creatives also hint at ideas not fully realized this first time around. Game Director Eric Williams told GameInformer:

"There were so many worlds we wanted to go to, and things we wanted to do, but weren‘t sure if we could fit them all in."

So in summation – due to naming convention, leftover content, and developer aspirations, I‘d bank on additional mythological adventures in Svartalfheim arriving via DLC by early 2024!

But Ragnarok offers plenty to satisfy until a formal expansion arrives.

Closing Thoughts

Svartalfheim remains rich with side adventures and unlockables even after moving on in the main story. Luckily late/post game travel accessibility lets you tie up loose ends without missing anything permanently.

You can readily return to the realm via the Aurvangar Wetlands gateway to round out your goals. Just gear up with late-game equipment first to skillfully finish that elfheim 100% completion trophy!

Have any other questions about post-game Svartalfheim access or speculation on what new content may arrive in the fantastical realm? Let me know and I‘ll offer my seasoned insights!