No, this is not another crazy idea. This is not clickbait. And no, this isn't meant to be controversial. Stick with me and I'll convince you that having a woman as the protagonist of a God of War game (after Ragnarok) would be a great idea.
RELATED: Could Young Kratos Defeat Old Kratos?
Recently, I replayed Uncharted Lost Legacy (another PlayStation exclusive title). This game takes place in the same universe as previous Uncharted games, but it allows the series' protagonist, Nathan Drake, to enjoy his retirement and focus on two female characters, Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross. In my review of the game, I explained that I realized that I didn't miss Nathan Drake. Don't get me wrong, I appreciated the clever adventurer like everyone else, but the two new heroines of Uncharted Lost Legacy brought a breath of fresh air to the franchise.
Of course, this got me thinking: what if one of the most male-dominated gaming franchises decided to include a female protagonist? What if the God of War himself was joined by a hardened, playable female character? What if the next God of War introduced a heroine to accompany Kratos and Atreus on their adventure? What if the next God of War was a woman?
Wait ! Before you give me the God of War trick. Listen to me.
RELATED: Looking Back, God of War Ragnarok Should Have Been Much Better
The new Kratos
If you've played the latest God of War games (which many consider to be the best games on PS4 and PS5), then you know that while Kratos is still the ever-angry anti-hero we all love, his anger is tempered by the responsibility and love he feels towards his son, Atreus.
This change angered some fans of the franchise early in development. But, personally, I can understand how a child can completely turn your world upside down, even if you are an angry warrior. The introduction of Atreus allowed players to experience a more emotional side of Kratos.
If the father and son story is going to evolve and expand in the next game, it might be a good idea to introduce another hero. It might be a good idea to introduce someone who could become the matriarch of the group, someone who could show Atreus the less angry side of life, but who could still be as dangerous as Kratos, if the situation demanded it. Maybe it's time for a woman to become the next leader of God of War.
RELATED: God of War 6: Exciting Theories About the Next Game
Other Gods of War
God of War has previously hinted at the existence of multiple realms, each made up of different pantheons of gods. From Egyptian mythology to Japanese mythology, all of them have been touched upon in games in one way or another.
A little Easter egg from the 2018 God of War game is a symbol called Triskele, which has appeared throughout history and is most closely associated with Celtic mythology. More commonly called “Celtic spiral”, these symbols have existed for many years.
So what does this have to do with a woman becoming the next God of War?
The Celtic god of war is actually a goddess called Morrigan. Not only is she in charge of all things war, but she is also the goddess of fate and can transform into a raven. Known as the Ghost Queen, she is a mysterious goddess who has the power to predict misfortune and inflict it on those who deserve it. She is also a powerful magician, which can be very useful in combat. More interestingly, she would be associated with premonitions concerning the violent deaths of warriors and would also be known to have alienated other Celtic gods.
Morrigan seems to fit in perfectly with Kratos, or even Atreus.
Let's say, for the sake of argument, that Morrigan finds herself on the wrong side of one of the most powerful deities and is forced to flee her kingdom. She could end up in the Norse Kingdom or another realm where she meets Kratos or Atreus.
Obviously, this could become a great opportunity for a God of War game to show off just how powerful she is, as she and Kratos could face off in the same spectacular way Kratos fought with Baldur. Finally, Morrigan could join Kratos or even Atreus in their inevitable clash against other gods.
RELATED: Did Kratos Retire After the Harrowing Events of God of War: Ragnarök?
Kratos' retirement
Of course, Kratos would probably have to bow out sooner or later as the main protagonist of the series. I mean, he's had a few good years under his belt. Maybe it's time for him to accept his gold watch and retire. One way to transition Kratos to a new protagonist could be to have him fall heroically and emotionally (I'm going to shed a tear) in the final battle against one of the most powerful gods.
As Morrigan tends to have premonitions about the violent deaths of warriors, she might realize Kratos' inevitable end but keep it a secret from him and Atreus. This may also be the reason why she might bond with Kratos' son, realizing that he will have to fend for himself without her.
This would fit well with the ending of the 2018 God of War game, where a discovered mural reveals not only the secret of Kratos' wife, but also Kratos lying in what appears to be Atreus' arms.
Furthermore, did I mention that the Triskele or Celtic Spiral, which consists of three interlocking spirals (or interlocking lives – Atreus, Kratos and Morrigan), essentially represents the movement of life, past, present and future… as in the inevitability of death and moving on?
In an interview, God of War director Cory Barlog indicated that he was not opposed to introducing a new protagonist, but that it should be part of a cohesive narrative. He added that he was at the mercy of history and was willing to go wherever “history and his vision take him.”
I understand that many fans of the God of War series would like to see Kratos beat gods forever, but as the recent soft reboot showed, change can be good for a franchise.
If you had told me, back when the first God of War game came out, that the symbol of anger and masculinity would eventually evolve into a less angry father, I would have laughed (and cried a little) . A few years later, this development turned out to be one of the best things that could happen to the franchise. She breathed new life into a series that seemed to be stagnating.
Introducing a woman as a God of War in God of War 6 would be another bold move that could just help the franchise grow and evolve. The arrival of a female goddess, master of magic, who would take over from Kratos could prove to be a good thing and would help expand the franchise's history significantly.
RELATED: Did God of War Ragnarok Weaken Kratos?
Goddesses of War Who Could Succeed Kratos
The mythology of many ancient cultures has no shortage of fearsome goddesses associated with war, highlighting the importance of female warriors in history. The contingent of war goddesses in myths around the world hints at the possibility of the series taking a woman's point of view.
Recently, God of War creator David Jaffe expressed disappointment with the tone of the new games, mainly due to Kratos' more down-to-earth nature. While some fans of the original trilogy might see this as a bad omen for the future of the franchise, I think it's the perfect opportunity to introduce a new character into the saga, a character diametrically opposed to good old Kratos, in all areas.
This is why the introduction of a female protagonist in the God of War franchise is far from “woke”: in many ways, it's the only thing that makes sense. Knowing this, we should look at a few likely candidates from across mythology in search of the next goddess of war.
Morrigan (Celtic myth)

As I mentioned before, Morrigan seems like the most likely choice to star in the new God of War. The pieces of the puzzle fit together far too easily. Not only is Celtic mythology closely tied to Norse myths, but the clues scattered throughout the series paint a pretty clear picture of Morrigan being the next Kratos.
Another interesting detail about Morrigan is that she is made up of three different personalities merged into one. The goddess is usually depicted as a trio of sisters called the Three Morrigna. This is where the triskele comes into play again. Having Morrigan join Kratos in the next game would be the best way to introduce the third game in the modern God of War saga.
Itzpapalotl (Aztec mythology)

With its history marked by violence and human sacrifice, Aztec culture is fertile ground for the creation of a formidable warrior goddess capable of leading the God of War franchise. Look no further than Itzpapalotl, the terrifying goddess of death and a fearsome skeletal warrior who strikes terror into the hearts of enemies and allies alike.
This fearsome goddess sprinkles flint into the hearts of her victims to start wars before taking the stage, brandishing her iconic obsidian weaponry to finish the job with her own hands. Aztec mythology, in general, would be a great new setting for the series, as it would take us to some really cool places – not to mention reintroduce the series' signature ultraviolence for more traditional fans.
Oya (Yoruba religion)

Although not expressly a goddess of war, Oya is a deity deeply connected to storms and violent winds. Known for being a fierce protector of women and for controlling lightning and other destructive forces of nature, Oya has all the volatility and power the series requires.
Oya can also transform into a buffalo, which is ideal for one-on-one battles against deities. Her bond with Maman Brigitte du Vodou makes her a fascinating character who could take the God of War series to the most unexplored territory there is: America.
Durga (Hinduism)

With her multiple arms brandishing formidable weapons, the Hindu goddess Durga perfectly embodies the image of female warrior prowess ready to translate into powerful gameplay. Revered for channeling the invincible feminine force (Shakti) to defeat demons and defend the gods themselves, Durga has what it takes for high-level carnage.
Durga rides a lion (or a tiger, sometimes) to fight. His array of supernatural combat skills, from shapeshifting to creating protective force fields, provide fertile ground for God of War developers to create different playstyles.
She would be the first woman to succeed Kratos as the protagonist of God of War.
Sekhmet (Ancient Egypt)

Since the beginning of the God of War series, fans have only wanted one thing: to finally see the Egyptian pantheon in action. For a while – before the PS4 games came out – it seemed like Egypt was the logical next step for the series – and how wrong we all were.
However, now it's time for the series to finally land on the warm sands of Egypt – and who better to announce this new saga than Sekhmet herself? Hell hath no fury like the ancient Egyptian goddess Sekhmet when she wages war on her enemies – this bloodthirsty deity embodies divine punishment through her worship of the “Mighty One”. With the head of a lioness and a voracious taste for revenge, Sekhmet engages in merciless slaughter on the battlefields of the scorched desert.
Players can embody its fierce might while traversing pyramids, temples, obelisks and other iconic elements of ancient Egyptian architecture, all in stunning next-gen graphics. Frankly ? It's everything I wanted from a God of War game.
RELATED: 15 Powerful Gods Kratos Could Face in God of War 6