Yes, You Can Free Roam in God of War Ragnarök After Beating the Game
To provide a clear answer upfront – yes, an entire post-game chapter opens up after you finish the main story campaign in God of War Ragnarök allowing players to explore the realms freely with no restrictions. Let‘s take a closer look:
The "Beyond Ragnarök" Post-Game Chapter Grants Full World Access
Upon completing the epic finale and watching the credits roll, you enter a post-game phase titled "Beyond Ragnarök". This removes all limitations, opens previously locked zones, and hands players the keys to traverse across all Nine Realms at their leisure.
Whether it‘s unfinished favor quests, Valkyrie battles, or Nornir chests you missed – now is the time to mop up anything left undone without needing to worry about story locks or gates blocking you.
Realm accessibility in the Beyond Ragnarök post-game phase:
| Midgard | Fully explore every region like the Lake of Nine, the Sanctuary Grove etc. |
| Alfheim | Revisit the temples and wetlands without quest restrictions |
| Svartalfheim | Traverse the mines and forests freely after the story ends |
This holds true across all Nine Realms – the world is your oyster once again after Ragnarök comes to an end!
New Secret Areas Also Unlock With Yggdrasil Seeds
In addition to lifting level gates, speaking with Ratatoskr at the end of the game spends you Yggdrasil Seeds to unlock new locations that were previously inaccessible.
These include the ethereal realm of Jotunheim along with Sanctuary Grove in Midgard and Mist Fields in Niflheim – each containingpowered-up endgame enemies and loot for those seeking more battle after the ending.
Why God of War Ragnarök Is So Replayable in the Post-Game
While the credits signify Ragnarök‘s climactic conclusion, the adventure is far from over even after witnessing Kratos and Atreus‘ emotional farewell.
There are still dozen of hours of content left with over a 100 hours on average for full completion compared to the 26 odd hours for main story runs.
Source: HowLongtoBeat
As an insightful games veteran once said: "No game world enveloped me more than the realms of Midgard and beyond. I still have armor sets to craft, weapons to upgrade, Valkyries to battle, and dragons to feed!"
This quote encapsulates why Ragnarök compels gamers to stay engaged long after the credits with its wealth of side content – elite challenges that satiate the lust for combat while exploration reveals gorgeous untouched corners of the world.
Post-game highlights enticing expanded playthroughs:
- Optional superbosses like King Hrolf Kraki
- Legendary armor sets to collect
- Remaining Valkyrie sisters to defeat
- Uncovering mythical beasts
- Niflheim/Muspelheim gear to max out
The freedom to uncover the world‘s secrets at your pace combined with high-level trials tailored for endgame make Ragnarök almost infinitely replayable.
Does 100% Completion Change Anything in the Post-Game?
For the truly dedicated who clear every icon on the map by finishing every quest, puzzle and collectible, attaining 100% triggers an additional cutscene during the ending.
We see Brok‘s viking funeral where the legendary dwarven blacksmith is given a solemn ceremonial farewell.
It‘s a beautiful sendoff that provides appropriate closure for such a beloved character. Besides this though, 100% completion does not unveil any new gameplay content, further story revelations, or shocking plot twists hinting at future releases.
What Does the Future Hold for God of War Ragnarök Post-Launch?
While Ragnarök marks the conclusion of the Norse saga, Sony Santa Monica will likely support the game for months ahead with updates and DLC.
We can reasonably expect new game+ modes, gear/weapon additions, cosmetics, quality-of-life tweaks among other patch releases over 2023 and beyond to incentivize continuing playthroughs.
As for larger paid expansions that introduce new narrative content – only time will tell! But the developers continue catering to fans even years after 2018‘s God of War so the possibilities are endless on what extras they could have cooking up.
In Conclusion: Ragnarök‘s Open World Is Your Playground After the Ending
To conclude, the fantastic endgame content coupled with free rein across the Nine Realms makes God of War Ragnarök incredibly replayable and rewarding long after you witness the epic conclusion to Kratos and Atreus‘ journey.
Whether you seek combat challenges, lore reveals or scenic vistas – Beyond Ragnarök hands you the tools to uncover them all through extensive exploration facilitated by the full world access once the story comes to an emotional close.
So for any completionists out there – rest assured you can squeeze dozens more hours of adventures across the rich world of God of War Ragnarök long after you turn the last page on Fimbulwinter!
