God of War PC Review - PC players get to experience one of the best games on PS4

Synopsis: His vengeance against the Gods of Olympus years behind him, Kratos now lives as a man in the realm of Norse Gods and monsters. It is in this harsh, unforgiving world that he must fight to survive… and teach his son to do the same.

Publisher: Sony Entertainment Interactive

Reviewed on: PC (5800X, 32GB RAM, Nvidia RTX 3070)

Also available for: PS4/PS5

Cast: Christopher Judge, Sunny Suljic, Jeremy Davies, Danielle Bisutti, Alastair Duncan, Robert Craighead, Adam J. Harrington, Carole Ruggier, Corey Burton, Nolan North, Troy Baker

Developer: SIE Santa Monica Studio, Jetpack Interactive

Creative Director: Cory Barlog

Writers: Matthew Sophos, Richard Gaubert, Cory Barlog

Story & Design Lead: Dori Arazi

Design Director: Derek Daniels

Gameplay Design Lead: Jason McDonald

Composer: Bear McCreary

God of War is the story of father and son, Kratos and Atreus, on a journey to lay their beloved wife and mother’s ashes to rest at the peak of a mountain, as per her final request. On the way, they battle monsters and gods to fulfil their oath.

God of War is one of Sony’s longest-running franchises. Revitalised on PS4 with a deeper story, focused combat, RPG elements and gorgeous visuals, it already felt ahead of its time. On PC, the magic shines again with ultrawide support, up to 4K/120fps, and modern PC features including DLSS (with settings dialled to 3440×1440 at 120fps during testing).

Kratos and Atreus observe fading magic — *Father and son observe the fading magic that has protected them — image captured by the author on their PC*

The opening finds Kratos felling a marked tree, revealing an older warrior with a new axe and bandaged arms in place of the Blades of Chaos. He and his son, Atreus, prepare a funeral pyre, setting the emotional tone: a strained bond, grief, and duty. The scene’s performances and visuals immediately land with weight.

Kratos grieving — *Kratos, struggling with the death of his wife — image captured by the author on their PC*

Soon, a mysterious stranger arrives, provoking the game’s first epic boss fight and a tutorial-by-fire for light/heavy attacks, blocks, parries and bare-handed brawling while the Leviathan Axe recalls satisfyingly. Rage builds to devastating finishers. The duel tears up the homestead and launches the journey to the mountain.

Kratos faces the stranger — *Kratos and the stranger, sizing each other up — image captured by the author on their PC*

The adventure mixes linear story beats with generous exploration. Side quests reward XP and specialised gear, and the RPG systems encourage custom builds and quick loadouts before tough encounters — a godsend when swapping tactics on the fly.

Ultra-wide PC gameplay — *Image captured by the author on their laptop*

PC options are plentiful. Using GeForce Experience to optimise on both desktop and laptop delivered smooth results; DLSS helped keep a 2K target with steady 60fps on portable hardware. Photo Mode is dangerously compelling — from Kratos’s ashen skin to enemy materials, the detail pops across fiery realms, icy wastes and the watery hub.

Controls are flexible and responsive across Xbox, DualShock/DualSense, keyboard/mouse and even a Backbone. Prompts swap on the fly. DualSense haptics/adaptive triggers add immersion (with the occasional prompt-recognition quirk that didn’t affect gameplay).

Playing on laptop with Backbone controller — *Playing on a laptop with a Backbone controller — image captured by the author*

The world brims with characters and tales: Freya, the dwarven duo Sindri and Brok, and the ever-entertaining Mimir, whose history lessons enrich every boat ride. Enemy lore and languages fleshed out via journals and the world tree deepen the sense of place.

Watch gameplay capture on YouTube

Ultimately, the reason to stay isn’t just the impeccable feel — it’s the characters. The father/son arc is nuanced and humane, evolving from restraint and distance to earned understanding. Replaying on PC only heightened the appreciation for Santa Monica Studio’s craft.

Scenic capture from PC — *Image captured by the author on their PC*

Verdict: God of War on PC elevates a PS4 classic with sharper visuals, ultrawide support, higher framerates and robust options — the definitive way to experience Kratos and Atreus’s journey.