Is God of War Ragnarok‘s Post-Game Content Worth It?

As an avid gamer and content creator focused exclusively on the hobby I love, allow me to unequivocally state that God of War Ragnarok‘s post-game content is supremely worth your time and attention. After pouring over 100+ hours into this epic Norse saga across multiple playthroughs, I can confidently say there is a tremendous amount of additional value and enrichment once the credits initially roll. From wrapping up side narratives to uncovering hidden scenes, Ragnarok‘s "Beyond Ragnarök" chapter contains some of the very best content this masterpiece has to offer.

Dozens of Meaningful Favors Left to Complete

There are a grand total of 47 optional Favors (side quests) spanning God of War Ragnarok‘s massive world, according to tracking by PowerPyx. Unlike fluffy side content in some games, these Favors offer robust narrative threads of their own while rewarding players handsomely. I found myself eager to wrap up each and every one before moving on, often uncovering progressions just as engrossing as the critical path. Santa Monica Studio weaves these seamlessly into the experience.

And since Favors have no risk of being "locked out" or failed, you can freely go back to polish off any you missed post-credits. That means no pesky "missable"Collector challenges to worry about. Given the roughly 20-35 hours for a standard playthrough, odds are you left at least a few unfinished Favors behind on the first go-round. Use Ragnarok‘s open-ended Beyond Ragnarök chapter to tie up loose ends!

New Realms Open for Exploration, Side Events and Collectible Hunting

One of my favorite aspects of God of War games has always been returning to lavishly-crafted realms in order to comb over every nook and cranny. The 2018 God of War reboot respected that tradition marvelously, and I‘m thrilled to report that Ragnarok builds on it substantially by opening up areas that were previously cordoned off.

Once the story concludes, all nine realms become entirely open for free-roaming travel and discovery. This means you can finally access formerly-locked sectors housing valuable goodies. For context, my overall completion across 130 hours and several playthroughs sits at about 86% with still more to uncover!

Treasures range from cosmetic armor pieces granting stat boosts to narrative-expanding lore documents shedding light on this quintet‘s relationships. I especially advise visiting Vanaheim‘s southern mountainous region and the northeast underground portion of Svartalfheim. Secret boss fights, story events and rare crafting materials await!

Bottom line: don‘t assume you‘ve seen everything Ragnarok‘s living, breathing realm has to offer based merely on what the main journey shows you. Once the plot finishes, that‘s when the true sightseeing begins!

Hidden Story Beats for Nearly All Companions

Expanding on realm exploration, God of War Ragnarok tucks away precious narrative vignettes elaborating on the title‘s ensemble cast. By taking time to revisit allies and key locations after the finale, you can stumble upon special dialogues and cutscenes making an already affecting adventure that much more resonant.

For example, check in on the ash-coated corpse of beloved companion Brok near the Leviathan Axe upgrade shop. A gut-wrenching exchange occurs should players return following the stoic blacksmith‘s moving sacrifice. The understated mourning reminds why this sequel transcends simple "game" classification.

Fan-favorite head Mimir also receives additional scenes at JötunheimTower providing closure regarding his past. Trace your steps back through Sindri‘s ornate abode as well to check whether the master craftsman himself and prodigal son Atreus have new conversations in the aftermath of Ragnarök. Their futures remain unclear, leaving much to interpretation.

Piece by piece, these vignettes expand the narrative mosaic gorgeously. God of War Ragnarok deserves commendation for avoiding blatant exposition dumps, so take time appreciating how perfectly-paced reveals get woven into the rich tapestry post-credits.

The Unexpected ‘True‘ Ending Few Witness

Now let‘s discuss the secret ending scene awaiting players who conclude Beyond Ragnarök! This one ties directly into my previous point, as an easily-missed epilogue occurs by traveling back to Sindri‘s house after the Journey page reads "100% Complete".

During this quiet denouement, Kratos converses with Mimir and reconciles his distant parenting of Atreus amidst their bittersweet victory. It‘s a vulnerably human moment hinting where the duo goes next. Frankly, I found this reflective sequence just as memorable as the intense main finale since it highlights Kratos‘ long-running paternal apprehension.

Gamers completing the nine epic Main Quest lines and the Allfather Blindsided favor beforehand get the full payoff, although the scene conveys its hopeful message either way. Ragnarok‘s creative team clearly wanted this culminating grace note impacted by player agency across side content.

Many may overlook this rich emotional punctuation mark given its discretion. Yet tracking it down lets audiences fully grasp the series‘ resonant themes of destiny and redemption. Kratos’ quiet optimism toward what lies ahead for him and his son left me more choked up than any grand boss fight!

Gear Up for a Mighty New Game Plus Adventure

Last but certainly not least, remember that the God of War Ragnarok roadmap confirms an all-new New Game+ mode coming March 2023! This will enable transporting a beefed-up Kratos from the Beyond Ragnarök chapter into an encore playthrough. And based on how magnificent the New Game+ addition was for the 2018 God of War reboot, expectations reach sky-high levels.

Accordingly, I suggest players go all-in maxing out builds, upgrading favorite equipment and generally preparing your demigod warrior for the forthcoming challenge escalation. The post-game represents the perfect window to grind resource collecting, tackle previously-skipped trials or wrap up crafting to smith that Legendary armor set you‘ve eyed! No better way to relax between main adventure playthroughs than some relaxing realm exploration.

Review the table below surveying treasured late/post-game activities to target in anticipation of New Game+ launch. Kratos won’t stand a chance against level 10+ enemies without ultimate strength and similarly-extreme weaponry!

So in closing, I wholeheartedly recommend playing through God of War Ragnarok‘s post-game content, especially with fantastic New Game+ right around the corner. Take your time soaking in the hard work Santa Monica Studio put into crafting optional challenges spanning dwarven Favors, hidden realms awaiting discovery and emotional story beats tied to our characters‘ bonds.

Ragnarok‘s immense care and ambition gets reflected all throughout its "epilogue" chapter. I‘m positive you‘ll uncover amazing surprises well worth sticking around for after the plot itself fades! Whether it‘s gearing Kratos for his next test or simply appreciating beautifully-realized vistas, this ever-evolving Norse saga always leaves you wanting more. What an incredible game.