Have you finished God of War over the holidays and are looking for a new story to engage with next? Here are the best games like God of War you should play in 2025, to get more engaging stories and satisfying combat.
God of War became an instant success for PlayStation when it was released in 2018. Serving as a soft reboot of the original Greek Pantheon trilogy – and its prequels, it artfully kept previous events in the series canon, while completely shifting the franchise’s identity.
The 2018 reboot revamped the combat and camera to such an extent that the new game was almost indistinguishable from the older entries. Sony Santa Monica cemented this new focus on immersive, close-up action and engaging narrative delivery with a sequel in God of War: Ragnarok.
If the critical and commercial success of these new chapters in the series is anything to go off, players are drawn to the numerous elements that make up these games. With that in mind, we thought we’d offer up a list of games like God of War that you can play to scratch the itch they provide. Here they are.
Batman: Arkham Collection
You might wonder how a superhero game is even remotely similar to that of the brutal adventure that is God of War. Well, if you take into account the stoic and brooding hero defined by his fighting prowess with a knack for puzzle-solving, you definitely start noticing some similarities.
The Arkham series revolutionized combat in gaming. The little dodge indicators you see in games these days, be it Insomniac’s Spider-Man or even God of War, all take inspiration from the iconic Arkham series.
If you liked the action and story-driven gameplay of God of War, you’ll definitely like the Arkham series. While it is a stretch to mention the trilogy as a whole, you definitely won’t stop at just one once you start the first game, and the Arkham Collection offers the definitive edition of all three games in one package.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
All games these days tend to have a parry button, which makes the combat feel extremely satisfying and the victory earned. God of War allows you to parry with Kratos’ shield, and as the camera slows down the moment you parry, the maneuver feels satisfying and the action elegant.
Made by the masterminds behind the Souls games, Sekiro doubles down on the parry mechanic, making it essential to learn it, or else you can’t progress in the game. This is in contrast to other games where parrying enemies gives you a bonus or allows you to stagger enemies, much like in God of War.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has probably one of the steepest learning curves. Despite being a FromSoftware title, the game doesn’t put much emphasis on the dodge mechanic and completely relies on the fast-paced parry mechanic.
Rise of Tomb Raider
Rise of the Tomb Raider serves as a sequel to Tomb Raider, released back in 2013. The reboot led to a whole trilogy ending Lara Croft’s saga with Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2018, ironically right when God of War started.
While Rise of the Tomb Raider’s most notable similarities to God of War lie in its third-person camera perspective and snow setting, the game has much more to offer.
Being the best game in the trilogy, Rise of the Tomb Raider features intriguing puzzles and semi-open world areas that can be revisited later to gain collectibles much like God of War.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is the sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and is hailed as one of the best Star Wars games to exist. That is, of course, if we don’t consider the legendary Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.
The story takes place after the prequel trilogy of Star Wars as the galaxy descends further into darkness as we follow Cal Kestis five years after the events of Jedi: Fallen Order as he desperately tries to fight the Empire.
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on Esports, Gaming and more.
Fans of God of War will find much to love here, be it the linear storyline or the engaging and satisfying combat, not to mention the parry mechanic that Jedi: Survivor uses ever so beautifully. The game even features something similar to the Spartan Rage which you discover later on in the game.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard
At first glance, 2024’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard might not look like it has a great deal of similarity to the newer God of War titles. Fear not, for as soon as you get into this game’s combat, the inspirations become immediately apparent.
Taking a more action-oriented approach, Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s combat features a similar interplay of dodges, parries, and deftly weaving in more explosive abilities with your usual suite of light and heavy attacks. The ability to target enemies with the abilities of your companions also recalls how seamlessly Atreus fits in with Kratos in their own brutal encounters.
For fans of the satisfying Leviathan Axe, we’d strongly recommend giving the Warrior class a go. Its Shield Toss ability scratches a similar itch while the rest of the game offers a fresh experience for those looking to branch out from God of War.
Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima is one of the best-looking games out there. Be it the beautiful landscapes or the engaging boss battles, Ghost of Tsushima is what one might call a moving painting, sleek yet mesmerizing.
God of War (2018) has a lot of lovable aspects to it, be it the characters, each with their own motives and beautifully voice-acted, the customizable armor, or the amazing graphics allowing you to see each strand of Kratos’ beard.
Well, if you’re done with God of War and crave more of it, then Ghost of Tsushima is the game you should go for. Sucker Punch Studios delivers with an engaging storyline, beautifully voice-acted characters, and an ending that shakes you to the core.
Elden Ring
Another one from FromSoftware to add to the list. Elden Ring may not deliver as tight or comprehensible a narrative as the more recent God of War titles but some elements in this one should appeal to players who enjoy particular staples of these newer entries.
Firstly, Elden Ring’s world and story are heavily inspired by Norse mythology and while the references are a little more subtle, the aesthetics of the game should tickle any God of War fans’ fancy. Secondly, as with many of the entries in this list, this game’s combat (and many of the Soulsborne collection) bears plenty of similarities to Sony Santa Monica’s newer action RPGs.
Centered around individual encounters with small enemy groups or well-thought-out boss fights, the name of the game is mastering animation timing and dodge frames. While parries are less responsive than God of War making for a more challenging experience, once you’re in the flow, you’ll recognize a similar feeling of satisfaction.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
You know you’ve created a masterpiece when your game gets noticed by none other than God of War’s director. Hellblade: Senua’s Saga has the most similarities to the God of War series, more so than any other game on this list. Yet, this game stands on its own as a masterfully told, story-driven game.
Inspired by Norse as well as Celtic culture, Hellblade follows the story of Senua who makes her way to Helheim (Hell in Norse mythology) to rescue the soul of her dead lover from Hela (the Goddess of death).
The game deals with the loss of a loved one and how one deals with it. All in all, Hellblade is a beautiful exploration of trauma and mental health, and whether you’re a fan of God of War or not, Hellblade is a game that is definitely worth checking out if you like compelling story-driven games.