Can You Go Back and Get Stuff You Missed in God of War? A Completionist’s Guide
The world of God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök is vast, beautiful, and brimming with secrets. It’s easy to get swept up in the narrative and blaze through the main story, only to realize later that you’ve left a trail of uncollected artifacts, unopened chests, and unfinished favors in your wake. So, can you go back and get stuff you missed? The short answer is: mostly, yes! But, like the realms themselves, the answer has layers. Let’s delve into the specifics of what’s accessible post-game, what’s permanently missable, and how to ensure you achieve that coveted 100% completion.
Post-Game Exploration: The Good News
The primary campaign in both God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök are designed to allow for significant post-game exploration. Once you’ve rolled credits, the game doesn’t end. Instead, you’re thrust back into the world, free to roam and tackle any lingering side-missions or collectables. This is excellent news for completionists! Most areas remain accessible, enabling you to:
- Complete Favors (Side Quests): In God of War Ragnarök, there are no missable quests. All Favors can be undertaken and completed after the main story.
- Collect Artifacts: These collectibles are scattered throughout the realms, and you can revisit almost every location to find them.
- Open Nornir Chests: These chests, requiring you to solve environmental puzzles with runes, can be opened at any time.
- Find Odin’s Ravens: These elusive green birds can be hunted down throughout the game, and none are missable. Once you get them all you unlock a special battle and reward.
- Upgrade Gear: By gathering resources and visiting the blacksmiths, Brok and Sindri (or Lunda in certain situations), you can max out your equipment, ensuring Kratos is ready for any challenge.
- Explore Realms: Almost all realms can be freely traveled to post-game, allowing you to uncover hidden areas and resources.
- Dig up Treasure Maps The game keeps track of the treasure maps and treasure sites.
The Exceptions: What Can You Miss?
While the game is generally forgiving, a few things are missable, though often not crucial for true completion. These exceptions primarily pertain to specific locations or one-time events:
- Thamur’s Corpse: In God of War (2018), the area beyond the docks of Thamur’s Corpse becomes inaccessible after a certain point in the story.
- Helheim (Bridge Area): Also in God of War (2018), the area beyond the bridge in Helheim becomes permanently inaccessible.
- Chests During Atreus Sections (Ragnarök): While not required for 100% completion, some chests found during Atreus-specific segments can be missed. However, any unique abilities or weapons within these chests are eventually available through other means, such as the shop.
- Some enemy encounters: Specific enemies can be missed if the area is no longer accessible.
It’s important to note that the game usually doesn’t track missed content in inaccessible areas towards completion.
Achieving 100% Completion: Tips and Tricks
To ensure you achieve 100% completion in God of War (2018) or God of War Ragnarök, consider these strategies:
- Thorough Exploration: Scour every nook and cranny of each realm. Use your compass and map to identify unexplored areas.
- Complete All Favors: Pay attention to side quests offered by NPCs and complete them as they become available.
- Hunt for Collectibles: Use guides or online resources to locate all artifacts, ravens, Nornir chests, and other hidden items.
- Upgrade Equipment: Invest in upgrading your weapons, armor, and other gear to tackle tougher challenges.
- Pay Attention to Lore: Reading lore markers and scrolls can provide valuable insights into the world and its secrets, potentially leading to hidden areas or quests.
- Use the Map: Regularly check your map for unexplored areas and collectibles you might have missed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify what you can and cannot go back and get in God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök:
Can you go back to previous areas in God of War?
Yes, in both God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök, you can revisit almost every area in the game after completing the main story. This allows you to explore, collect items, and complete side quests you may have missed.
Can you go back to get the artifacts in God of War?
Yes, you can revisit almost every single area in the game once you’ve completed the story to collect missed artifacts. Artifacts are not missable, and they count towards collection progress even after being sold.
Can you go back to missed chests in God of War?
Unfortunately, if you missed a chest in God of War (2018) in an area that becomes inaccessible later in the game, it is lost forever. However, the game doesn’t track collectibles in those areas towards completion. For God of War Ragnarök, chests missed during Atreus sections can be missed, but nothing essential to the story will be missed.
Can you go back and do favors in God of War?
Yes, there are no missable quests in God of War Ragnarök. You can backtrack during the post-game to complete them all if you wish.
Can I go back and get the toys God of War?
The Lost Toys Artifacts in God of War (2018) can all be found during The Marked Trees mission. If you miss one, you can backtrack before the end of the mission or return to the location later in the game.
Are there missable items in God of War 4?
Yes, the only two areas that are inaccessible after you beat the story in God of War (2018) are Thamur’s Corpse (Beyond the docks) and Helheim (Beyond the bridge). Apples, Horns, Artifacts, Treasure Maps/Dig Sites, and Ravens are not missable.
Where is the R in Svartalfheim?
In God of War Ragnarök, the R Rune in Svartalfheim is across from the Nornir Chest, just to the left of a large wooden structure. It’s hidden behind some grating. Have Atreus shoot the Soundstone plating on the crane to lower it into reach.
Can you miss items in God of War Ragnarok?
Chests found during the Atreus sections in God of War Ragnarök can be missed, though anything special in them (i.e., abilities, weapons) can be acquired later via the shop. These sections don’t count towards 100% completion. Nothing important is missable.
Are artifacts worth keeping in God of War?
Artifacts in God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök have no other purpose other than collection. You can sell them without impacting your completion progress. The game explicitly points out, “Artefacts will continue to count towards collection progress even after they are sold.”
Do you need all the artifacts in God of War?
You’ll need to collect all Artefacts in God of War Ragnarök to earn the Trophy named “The Curator.”
Do you visit all 9 realms in God of War?
In God of War Ragnarök, you’ll get to explore all of the Nine Realms mentioned in Nordic Mythology.
Are Odin’s Ravens missable?
No, none of Odin’s Ravens are missable in God of War Ragnarök.
What is the missable achievement in God of War?
God of War Ragnarök has no missable Trophies. The game can be completed 100% in a single playthrough.
Can you miss frozen flame God of War?
In God of War Ragnarök, five out of eight Frozen Flames can be obtained during the main storyline, making them impossible to miss during one’s playthrough.
How many endings are there in God of War?
God of War Ragnarök technically has two endings. To unlock the secret ending, you need to return to Sindri’s House after the final battle.
Ultimately, both God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök offer generous opportunities to revisit and complete content after the main story. While a few specific areas or items might be permanently missable, these exceptions typically don’t prevent players from achieving a full 100% completion rate. So, explore the realms at your own pace, and don’t fret too much about missing something along the way. The world of God of War awaits, ready to be fully explored and conquered!
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