《戰神：諸神黃昏》（God of War: Ragnarok，即《戰神5》）是Santa Monica Studio於2022年11月推出的動作冒險遊戲，是2018年《戰神》的直接續作，也是北歐神話篇章的結束篇。將克雷多斯與阿特柔斯的旅程推向高潮，探索北歐神話中的命運與宿命主題，同時帶來更加壯觀的戰鬥與情感深刻的劇情。在PlayStation 4與PlayStation 5平台上推出，之後移植到Windows，技術表現與敘事品質再次提升，成為該系列的里程碑。

故事延續《戰神4》的結局，在北歐的「芬布爾之冬」結束的三年後，傳說中的「諸神黃昏」（Ragnarok）即將到來。克雷多斯與阿特柔斯父子住在米德加爾特（Midgard），努力在寒冬中生存。阿特柔斯對自己的洛基身份感到疑惑，渴望揭開自己的命運，但克雷多斯則希望避免挑起新的衝突，尤其是與北歐諸神的對立。然而，事情並不如克雷多斯所願。遊戲一開始，雷神索爾（Thor）與奧丁（Odin）親自登門表示只要不再殺害阿薩神族並放棄尋找提爾就能保證主角們的安全。阿特柔斯在偶然間發現預言的線索，預示他與克雷多斯將在諸神黃昏中扮演關鍵角色。儘管克雷多斯試圖避免過往的暴力與仇恨，但命運的齒輪已經轉動，父子二人被迫踏上阻止奧丁陰謀並改寫預言的旅程。

在旅途中，克雷多斯與阿特柔斯將前往北歐九界的所有地區，與不同的盟友和敵人相遇，包括矮人兄弟布羅克與辛德里（Brok and Sindri）、被逐出的戰神提爾（Tyr），以及曾經的敵人、如今卻被迫合作的弗蕾亞（Freya）。父子之間的矛盾逐漸加劇，阿特柔斯希望掌握自己的命運，而克雷多斯則擔心兒子的安全，這種對未來選擇的分歧成為故事的核心衝突。隨著劇情發展，會發現更多關於阿特柔斯、奧丁以及諸神黃昏的真相。結局中，克雷多斯與阿特柔斯最終聯手擊敗奧丁，阻止他利用知識控制九界的陰謀。儘管諸神黃昏無法完全避免，但父子二人選擇不同的道路：阿特柔斯決定追尋自己的使命，而克雷多斯則選擇留下來，繼續守護這片土地。劇情結尾以深刻的情感與宿命為主題，克雷多斯不再是單純的復仇者，而是一位尋求和解與成長的父親，他的角色轉變成為遊戲的一大亮點。

延續2018年《戰神》的核心玩法，但在戰鬥與探索上進行進一步的優化與擴展。克雷多斯的武器除利維坦之斧外，還重新引入「混沌之刃」，並加入新的盾牌系統，可根據戰鬥風格選擇更具策略性的防禦裝備。戰鬥系統更加流暢且多樣化，需要靈活運用斧頭、混沌之刃和拳頭進行連擊，同時使用盾牌進行格擋與反擊。阿特柔斯則擁有更強的獨立能力，並學會召喚靈獸與使用新的箭矢技能。父子合作的戰鬥設計更具深度，要根據敵人的弱點切換角色並協調攻擊。

謎題與探索依然是重要元素，許多地區設計複雜的機關與隱藏區域，利用武器與環境互動來解決問題。九界地圖比前作更加廣闊，每個地區都有其獨特的生態與敵人，例如瓦納海姆（Vanaheim）的茂密叢林與亞斯加德（Asgard）的神祕宮殿。新加入的坐騎系統與特定場景的快節奏動作，例如乘船或滑雪，增添更多動態感與探索的自由度。此外，引入更多支線任務與角色互動，提供豐富的世界建設與敘事內容。

關卡設計精緻且具有深度，前作只開放九界領域中的六的區域，本作則開放所有國度，並有不同的故事情節發展。九界的每個地區都展示出獨特的藝術風格與細節。例如，尼福爾海姆（Niflheim）充滿迷霧與冰雪的壓迫感，而穆斯貝爾海姆（Muspelheim）則展現出燃燒火焰的末日氛圍。這些地區不僅提供多樣化的挑戰，也讓玩家沉浸於北歐神話的世界中。

畫面表現達到新世代的技術水準，PS5版本特別展現細膩的光影效果與流暢的幀率。角色細節方面，克雷多斯的皮膚紋理、阿特柔斯的面部表情，以及敵人的設計都充滿真實感，特別是在重要過場動畫中，能感受到角色的情感波動。音樂方面，由Bear McCreary再次操刀的配樂恢弘壯麗，融合北歐風格的吟唱與管弦樂，完美襯托出故事的史詩感。同時，戰鬥音效與環境聲音設計也增強臨場感，例如利維坦之斧回歸手中的沉重感，或是環境中的風雪聲音，都讓人倍感真實。

在發售後獲得廣泛的好評，被認為是對前作的完美延續與提升。評論家與玩家一致讚揚遊戲的劇情敘事、角色塑造、戰鬥系統與視覺效果。許多人稱讚遊戲成功將父子關係的情感層次帶入高潮，克雷多斯從一名復仇者轉變為真正的父親，而阿特柔斯的成長則為系列的未來發展留下無限可能。

畫面與技術表現同樣受到高度評價，特別是在PS5版本上，展現次世代主機的潛力。然而，也有少數評論指出，部分支線任務設計較為冗長，節奏略顯拖沓，但這些缺點並未顯著影響整體體驗。

God of War: Ragnarok is an action-adventure game developed by Santa Monica Studio and released in November 2022. It serves as the direct sequel to the 2018 God of War and marks the conclusion of the Norse mythology arc. The game continues the journey of Kratos and Atreus, exploring themes of fate and destiny within Norse mythology, while delivering more spectacular combat and emotionally driven storytelling. Initially launched for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, the game was later ported to Windows, showcasing further advancements in technical performance and narrative quality, cementing its place as a milestone in the series.

The story picks up three years after the conclusion of God of War (2018), as the Norse Fimbulwinter draws to an end, heralding the imminent arrival of the legendary Ragnarok. Kratos and Atreus reside in Midgard, struggling to survive the harsh winter. Atreus, burdened by the mysteries surrounding his identity as Loki, yearns to uncover his destiny. Meanwhile, Kratos seeks to avoid further conflict, particularly against the Norse gods.

However, Kratos’ wishes are soon disrupted. At the game's outset, Thor and Odin personally confront the duo, offering peace if Kratos refrains from harming the Aesir gods and abandons the search for Tyr. Atreus, driven by clues from ancient prophecies, discovers that he and Kratos are destined to play pivotal roles in Ragnarok. Despite Kratos’ desire to prevent further violence, fate inevitably forces father and son to embark on a journey to thwart Odin's schemes and reshape prophecy.

Throughout their journey, Kratos and Atreus traverse all nine realms of Norse mythology, encountering various allies and adversaries, including the dwarf brothers Brok and Sindri, the exiled god of war Tyr, and Freya, a former foe who becomes a reluctant ally. As the narrative unfolds, the growing divide between Kratos and Atreus intensifies—Atreus seeks to seize control of his fate, while Kratos remains concerned for his son’s safety. This clash of perspectives forms the emotional core of the story.

As the plot progresses, deeper truths regarding Atreus, Odin, and Ragnarok are unveiled. In the climax, Kratos and Atreus join forces to defeat Odin, putting an end to his quest for knowledge-driven domination across the nine realms. Although Ragnarok cannot be entirely averted, the father-son duo emerges with renewed purpose—Atreus embarks on a journey to fulfill his unique destiny, while Kratos remains to continue safeguarding the realms.

The game’s conclusion highlights themes of emotional growth and redemption. Kratos evolves from a vengeful warrior into a compassionate father seeking reconciliation and peace, a character transformation that stands out as one of the game's most compelling aspects.

Building upon the core mechanics of the 2018 installment, God of War: Ragnarok refines and expands its combat and exploration systems. In addition to wielding the Leviathan Axe, Kratos reacquires the Blades of Chaos, and a new shield system is introduced, allowing for customizable defensive strategies based on different combat styles.

Combat is more fluid and diverse, requiring players to seamlessly switch between weapons, execute combos, and utilize shields for parrying and counterattacks. Atreus, now more independent, can summon spirit animals and utilize new arrow-based abilities. The cooperative combat dynamic between Kratos and Atreus introduces greater tactical depth, encouraging players to exploit enemy weaknesses through character synergy.

Puzzles and exploration remain integral to the experience, with intricately designed environments featuring hidden areas and complex mechanisms. Players interact with the surroundings using weapons and abilities to solve challenges. The expanded map encompasses all nine realms, each with distinct ecosystems and adversaries—ranging from Vanaheim’s dense jungles to Asgard’s majestic fortresses.

New gameplay additions include a mount system and dynamic traversal elements, such as boat rides and sledding, enhancing the sense of adventure. Moreover, expanded side quests and richer character interactions deepen world-building and lore.

Level design has been significantly enhanced, with previously inaccessible realms now fully explorable. Each region boasts unique artistic styles and atmospheric details—Niflheim’s misty, ice-laden expanses contrast with Muspelheim’s fiery, apocalyptic landscapes, enriching the player’s immersion in the Norse mythos.

Visually, God of War: Ragnarok achieves next-generation graphical fidelity. The PlayStation 5 version, in particular, showcases intricate lighting effects and smooth performance. Character models—such as Kratos’ rugged textures and Atreus’ nuanced facial expressions—display remarkable realism, further heightened during key cinematic sequences.

Musically, Bear McCreary returns to compose a powerful score that blends Norse choral elements with orchestral arrangements, perfectly underscoring the epic nature of the story. Sound design enhances immersion, from the heavy thud of the Leviathan Axe returning to Kratos' hand to the ambient howling of wind and snow in Midgard.

Upon release, the game garnered widespread acclaim, praised for its seamless continuation of the previous installment and significant improvements across all aspects. Critics and players lauded the narrative depth, character development, combat mechanics, and visual presentation. Many highlighted the evolving father-son relationship as a narrative high point, with Kratos’ transition from avenger to protector resonating deeply with audiences.

The game’s visual and technical achievements were equally celebrated, especially on PlayStation 5, where it showcased the full potential of next-generation hardware. While some reviews noted that certain side quests felt overly long, these minor criticisms did little to detract from the overwhelmingly positive reception.