God Of War: 10 Easter Eggs Most Players Never Discover
From a Dark Souls-inspired lizard to a Carole King song, there are a ton of fun Easter Eggs in 2018's God of War. These are some of the best.
The expansive Norse realms in 2018’s God of War gave players a lot of hidden references and Easter eggs that even the most eagle-eyed fans may have missed. From callbacks to previous games to cryptic messages written in runes, several of these secrets can go completely unnoticed.
Some of the best Easter eggs from the game are often pleasantly surprising for players who happen to stumble upon them, almost always referencing something from pop culture or events from the prequels. These remind players that the developers responsible for Kratos and Atreus’ profound journey know how to have fun in the wittiest ways.
10 The Troll From E3
God of War was one of the most exciting new game reveals in E3 2016 – fans were thrilled to see Kratos again, as well as meet his son, Atreus. Part of the teaser trailer was an epic fight against a troll that jumps out from under a bridge, showcasing the RPG’s impressive combat mechanics.
In the actual game, however, the troll doesn’t appear until a bit later, but there is an Easter Egg that references the 2016 event if players pass through the bridge. Atreus will comment about the missing troll, saying how it’s funny, he thought there would be a monster under there.
9 Greek Clothing
Some of Kratos’ fashion choices are rooted in his Spartan upbringing. Fans who take a closer look at his clothes will find that he proudly wears red leather straps under his belt, which he also wore in Greece for all the prequels.
Even Atreus wears his father’s old clothes in the form of a red and yellow sash. This sash is actually Kratos’ loincloth from the older games, which is what he wore while he was destroying villages and annihilating armies. It would be fascinating to see exactly how he passed this on to his son, considering how it’s inextricably tied with his tumultuous past.
8 Dark Souls Lizard
God of War’s combat has been previously compared by the developers to Dark Souls in a YouTube video explaining the game’s combat system. The game includes an homage to the Soulsborne series by including a tiny but surprisingly strong enemy that probably deserves a spot next to God of War’s hardest bosses.
The glowing lizard only appears once in the game in The Mountain and looks astoundingly similar to the Crystal Lizards from Dark Souls. Thankfully, its attacks are not too strong, but it does take several hits to kill and can slither away from players at any moment.
7 You’ve Got A Friend
One of the more complicated puzzles in Tyr’s Temple can be found in a room with four large rune symbols on the wall. Kratos must use his Leviathan Axe to turn the runes and arrange them in the right order, while Atreus writes them down in a sand bowl.
At one point, Mimir starts to sing the Carole King song, “You’ve Got a Friend” before he’s rudely interrupted by the protagonist. The runes are actually a reference to the seasons mentioned in the song and the right order can be found in the chorus where it says “winter, spring, summer, or fall.”
6 Infinity Gauntlet
Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will immediately recognize a powerful weapon in the game called the “Shattered Gauntlet of Ages.” It’s described as a strong weapon that became weaker after it lost six gems, with each one referencing an Infinity Stone.
Just like how Thanos scoured the universe for each Infinity Stone, players have to find the gems hidden around the game to use the gauntlet. Equipping it with at least three of the stones will turn it into a formidable weapon that can cause shockwaves and knockback upon impact. A lot of the gems can be found after defeating certain Valkyries, which is not an easy task.
5 Puny Troll
Another Marvel Easter egg can be found in one of the rooms in Tyr’s Temple where players have to battle two of the most laughable villains in God of War. The frost and fire trolls are easy to defeat since they move slowly and in predictable ways. Kratos comments on this battle by saying “I’ve beaten bigger” and Atreus replies with “Heh, puny troll.”
If it sounds familiar, it’s because it’s a reference to what the Hulk said after beating Loki up in The Avengers. As he walks away from the stunned God of Mischief, the Hulk mockingly says “puny god.” It’s a brilliant Easter egg, as fans later discover that Atreus is actually Loki. At least in the GoW universe, he gets his revenge.
4 Atreus’ Tattoos
While most fans are likely familiar with the history of Kratos’ markings, some may not know that Atreus’ tattoos have important meanings, too. The tattoo on his hand means “fast hand,” which makes sense, given how his primary weapon is a bow and arrow.
His neck tattoo, on the other hand, translates to “calm mind.” It says a lot about the young god’s character, as he struggles to find and accept his identity as a half-god, half-giant individual. His internal conflict is something the game explores, with his story arc including a crucial pivot, where Atreus must learn to calm his mind to control his emotions and power.
3 The Boat Captain
The Boat Captain has definitely become one of the most tragic characters in God of War, with fans of the series introduced to him in the mouth of the Hydra in the first game. Instead of helping him out, Kratos simply takes his key and kicks him into the beast’s belly.
He makes another appearance in Gods of War 2 as a weak enemy, and then again in the next game in the form of an angry note. In the 2018 game, there’s an Easter egg in one of Kratos’ treasure maps from Stone Falls that recounts the protagonist’s brutal treatment of the captain. He’ll hopefully show up again in some form in the upcoming sequel.
2 Loki’s Name in Kratos’ Home
One of the last Easter eggs ever discovered by the gaming community is deviously hidden in Kratos’ home. The boy’s real name has been hidden in different spots around the house the entire time, spelled out in runic symbols.
Players can find these letters above the two beds, near the firepit, by the doorway, and on the beam on the opposite end of the door. While there’s no reward or trophy for finding the symbols, it’s still satisfying to see them and realize that the biggest twist was in the pair’s house all along.
1 Thor’s Hammer
God of War’s secret ending is undeniably the biggest Easter egg in the game, as players who never travel back to Kratos’ house after the end of the main storyline will never find the epic cutscene.
After the duo return to their home and rest, several years pass, and players are thrust into the raging storms of Fimbulwinter. A hooded figure appears outside of Kratos’ door, standing menacingly as lightning strikes all around him. Thanks to a strong gust of wind, the Mjolnir that’s hanging on his waist is revealed, implying that Thor, the God of Thunder, has come for his revenge.