What Did Kratos See on the Wall? Analyzing God of War‘s Shocking Final Mural
As a longtime God of War fan who has followed Kratos across multiple pantheons, I was stunned by the emotional punch of Ragnarök‘s final mural revealing the Ghost of Sparta‘s fate. Join me for an epic deep dive into this future-gazing art and what it might mean.
Decoding the Wall‘s Prophetic Scenes
The mural, crafted by the Jötnar to showcase prophecies, depicts several vivid moments from Kratos and Atreus‘ journey:
| Scene | Description | My Interpretation |
| Atreus cradling a dying man | Atreus holds a bearded man as golden light connects them. The man is likely Kratos. | Kratos will perish defending Atreus in the Ragnarök conflict. |
| Meeting the World Serpent | Kratos, Atreus, and Mimir with the World Serpent after traveling back through time. | Illustrates their first encounter with the mythical beast. |
Other panels include…
- Baldur Boss Fight
- Kratos Sending Off Atreus
- Kratos Enshrined as a Revered God
For us die-hard fans, seeing these pivotal moments immortalized is incredible.
Kratos Meets His End (Or Does He?)
Perhaps most shocking is the image of Atreus cradling a dying Kratos. After glimpsing his own death for years, it seems the Ghost of Sparta‘s time is finally near.
Or is it? The exact nature of this scene is left ambiguous. As we‘ve seen, Kratos is not easy to kill. Perhaps this is just temporary. However, the tone of finality in their farewell suggests otherwise.
Passing the Torch to Atreus
A key theme is Kratos preparing his son to survive in the harsh Norse wilds alone. Like any parent, he grapples with when to let go. The mural hints that Ragnarök is that time, showing Atreus ready to take on Fimbulwinter without his father.
Their emotional final embrace brought me to tears. And the figures celebrating Kratos suggest that his legacy endures.
God of War Ragnarök‘s Runaway Success
With over 11 million copies sold at launch, millions more fans now share this connection to Kratos. For comparison:
- God of War 2018 sold 19.5 million total
- Last of Us Part II sold 10+ million
- Elden Ring tops 20 million
Santa Monica Studio has clearly struck a chord with their grounded take on Kratos as a father. While bittersweet, his coming death feels like a natural end to this chapter.
What Does This Mean for the Next God of War?
While Ragnarök wraps up the Norse saga, the future remains unclear. I expect Atreus will take up the mantle, perhaps heading to Egypt or Mayan mythologies next.
Cory Barlog has hinted Kratos still has stories left to tell. So while his death looms, some way to cheat fate may yet come.
Or perhaps after this symbolic “passing the torch”, they’ll shift to Atreus solo quests with Kratos merely along as advisor. The possibilities have fans like myself speculating wildly!
A Fan‘s Perspective: Thank You Kratos
On my personal journey with God of War since 2005‘s original, I‘ve grown up alongside Kratos. I‘ve watched him rage against the Greek Gods, lose his way, find love again, and build a quiet life with his son.
Seeing the once unstoppable Ghost now grappling with mortality has been profoundly impactful. As Atreus leaves the nest in Ragnarök‘s final moments, I too feel ready to pass my controller on to "Boy" and step back.
Knowing this columns marks likely the end of my long analysis of all things God of War is bittersweet. It has been an honor, Kratos. May your fires continue to rage in Valhalla!
What did you think of Ragnarök‘s emotional finale? Let‘s discuss in the comments!
