God of War Ragnarök‘s Epic Climax: Inside the Longest and Most Pivotal Chapter
At over 3 and a half hours in length, the aptly named “The Reckoning” serves as the dramatic climax to God of War Ragnarök‘s epic Norse saga. As the longest chapter in the game, it brings together all the narrative and gameplay threads that began back in the 2018 reboot for an emotional, action-packed conclusion unlike anything the storied franchise has delivered before.
Breaking Down the Lengthy Quest Step-by-Step
"The Reckoning" picks up right after the tragic fight with Thor that left the God of Thunder battered but unbowed. From there, the chapter features:
- A somber trip back to Kratos‘ home with an injured Atreus in tow
- Heartfelt talks with Freya and Brok & Sindri on the journey ahead
- A return to the mystical elf city of Alfheim to heal Atreus‘ wounds
- Aerial combat against scores of dark elves to allow Atreus to recover his strength
- A father-son hunting trip that echoes their very first outing together
- Meeting the World Serpent face-to-face near Jötunheim’s gate
- Besting Heimdall, the watchman god in a fierce duel
- A climactic showdown with Thor on the outskirts of Asgard
- Breaching Odin‘s stronghold through various rooms filled with enemies
- Outsmarting the Allfather‘s recursive mind games
- A final emotional clash of godly titans to determine the fate of all the realms
All told, completing every objective, battle, puzzle and story beat contained takes approximately 210 minutes, making it close to triple some of the brisk opening chapters.
How "The Reckoning" Compares to Other God of War Endgame Chapters
Looking across the series, grandiose finales have always been a signature of the franchise. But Ragnarök takes it to the next level:
| Game | Final Chapter | Length |
|---|---|---|
| God of War (2005) | The Fate of the Titans | ~90 minutes |
| God of War II | Loom of Fate | ~100 minutes |
| God of War III | Escape From the Underworld | ~120 minutes |
| God of War (2018) | Journey‘s End | ~135 minutes |
| God of War Ragnarök | The Reckoning | ~210 minutes |
As we can see, “The Reckoning” completely dwarfs anything that has come before it in runtime. Even the intimate, beginnings of the last game end on a chapter almost an hour and a half shorter.
Peeling Back the Layers of Godly Confrontations
Of course, gargantuan length alone does not make a chapter memorable. What makes “The Reckoning” so special is how it coalesces around the two heaviest hitter battles the series has ever seen.
Against Thor, the sheer scale of the fight across multiple realms shows just how far Santa Monica‘s technical prowess has come. Once confined to tightly controlled arenas, here we leap between realms in a heart-pounding chase sequence unlike anything the developers have crafted before.
And Odin‘s mind-bending confrontation makes the player question reality in ways no previous God of War antagonist has managed. The way he recursively uses Kratos’ own nightmares against him allow the creative team at Sony to explore psychological horror elements that feel truly fresh even after over a dozen games.
A Story Culmination a Decade+ in the Making
After being the raging, embodiment of hyper-violent vengeance for so long, older Kratos’ emotional arc comes full circle here. Between reconnecting with Atreus, laying allies he’s lost to rest and confronting his lingering demons, the quiet moments woven between bombastic battles pack a surprisingly poignant punch.
And for longtime fans, small moments expertly tying together threads from across the Greek and Norse sagas provide payoff that only the very best sequels can deliver.
The God of War Ends Not With a Whimper, But an All-Out Ragnarök
At over 3 hours spent charting the fabled end of days itself, “The Reckoning” more than earns the apocalyptic connotations of its name. Combining the best aspects of the franchise in terms of sheer scale and smart subtleties alike, Santa Monica Studio makes both its world and characters go out in career-defining fashion.
Much like Kratos stands peerless atop the mountain of gaming‘s most beloved protagonists, Ragnarök’s epic epilogue ensures his latest adventure ends on an appropriate high. As the credits roll on the battle-weary Ghost of Sparta’s latest saga, players are left filled with that rare, incomparable sense of awed satisfaction that only the very best games manage to inspire.
