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However, given the many games in Sony’sfranchise, it’s only natural that some titles have better cover art than others. Which God of War holds the distinction of being the best in this area?
9 God of War 3 (2010)
The climactic finish to the classic trilogy, God of War 3 depicts Kratos reigniting the Great War in a bid to finally end the reign of the Olympian Gods. Prior to its release, this installment has players itching to learn what fate would befall Kratos as he sought to tear down the deities that caused him so much misery.
Sadly, the God of War 3 cover doesn’t depict this excitement at all. Its cover art simply shows Kratos’s left eye, and his ashen-white face smeared with red warpaint. Granted, by 2010, Kratos was a big enough icon to make such a simple cover work, but the lack of creativity was a missed opportunity to highlight the sheer thrill of this game.
8 God of War Saga (2012)
Unlike other God of War collections whose boxes simply show the cover of the games they include, God of War Saga finally has a unique presentation. Featuring Kratos on a gray background wielding the Nemean Cestus, the God of War Saga cover does reveal a lot about the nature of the “game.” The Saga contains the original God of War trilogy as well as Chains Of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta.
Although the inclusion of an original cover is nice, the absence of Kratos’s signature Blades of Chaos and a more dynamic pose hurt this art’s appeal.
7 God Of War: Betrayal (2007)
Released as a mobile action game, God of War: Betrayal depicts Kratos being framed for the murder of Argos and his journey to brutally clear his name. Despite its side-scrolling nature, the game retains its action-packed premise, making it a welcoming addition to the franchise.
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Its cover could use some work, however. This time around, Kratos is seen rushing toward the player with his Blades of Chaos. He is placed on a red background with lighter highlights, possibly depicting blood. Despite the evocative nature of the cover, Betrayal remains remarkably mundane in its appearance.
6 God of War 2 (2007)
After Kratos becomes the new God of War, the other Gods of Olympus ignore him for his destructive ways. And when Zeus kills Kratos in a bid to stop him from acquiring power, the Titan Gaia stops Kratos’s descent into the Underworld to give him another chance to seek vengeance against the Olympian Gods.
Zeus becomes Kratos’s primary target, and God of War 2 depicts this perfectly through its cover. Kratos has two flaming Blades of Chaos as he turns his back to the player, this time facing the gates of what could probably be Olympus itself.
5 Bonus: Key Art For God Of War: Ragnarok (2022)
Despite the appeal of the banter between Kratos and his son Atreus throughout the first God of War game, Ragnarok doesn’t seem to evoke the same appeal with its key art.
Featuring a snowy landscape, fierce lightning, and a giant helmet implying the presence of Frost Giants, there’s nothing truly “evocative” in this artwork. Kratos and Atreus are both wearing more “covered” outfits fitting for the snowy landscape. Not only that, both are facing the players in a standing pose that wouldn’t hurt to have more dynamism.
4 God Of War: Chains Of Olympus (2008)
God of War: Chains of Olympus serves as a prequel to the events of the 2005 game. This title details the start of Kratos and Athena’s relationship, with the latter contacting the former to ask for his help in finding the Sun God Helios in order to awaken the other Gods from their deep slumber.
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While this game’s events don’t have any direct effect on the rest of the series, they do inspire the cover. Kratos is seen holding his Blades of Chaos as he looks towards the sun that remains bright despite being covered by clouds. Perhaps the most “optimistic” of all classic God of War covers, Chains Of Olympus deserves credit for this unique aesthetic.
3 God Of War: Ghost Of Sparta (2010)
God of War: Ghost of Sparta has quite a unique cover compared to the rest of the franchise. Instead of depicting Kratos with his back turned to the player, Ghost Of Sparta presents almost a silhouette of the protagonist as he gives his back to the fires of war.
Kratos’s red marks are especially eye-catching in this cover art. This rather foreboding aesthetic greatly emphasizes the game’s plot: Kratos embarks on a journey to explore his past after the death of the previous God of War, Ares.
2 God Of War (2005)
Almost nothing beats the original, and this is the aura that the 2005 cover of God of War screams. Depicting Kratos and a bloodied pair of Blades of Chaos looking towards a large Greek structure, this cover art just evokes an intense plot wherever players look.
After players get through the opening sequence and learn Kratos’s intentions to kill Ares for luring him into killing his own family, they will acquire a new appreciation for the point of this cover. This art implies maturity, gore, and brutal action, all of which the game provides.
1 God Of War (2018)
The 2018 God of War completely stunned fans by significantly revamping the franchise. The cover does not only show an older Kratos, but it also features a young archer (named Atreus). Without any Greek iconography, the cover instead depicts the father and son duo on a boat with predominant Norse features, as well as a natural landscape largely absent in previous covers.
Kratos appears much more serious in this image, implying growth from his younger self. Furthermore, the lack of the Spartan’s Blades of Olympus reinforces that this game marks a new era in God of War.
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