Is it Recommended to Play God of War Ragnarok Valhalla Before Finishing the Main Story?

God of War Ragnarok is finally making its highly anticipated debut on PC, following nearly two years of PlayStation exclusivity. Similar to its predecessor, God of War (2018), the PC version of Ragnarok will include all post-launch content in one package, featuring the New Game+ mode, new cosmetic armor sets for Kratos and his companions, as well as the critically acclaimed Valhalla DLC.

The Valhalla DLC, launched last year to rave reviews, is available from the start. You can engage with the DLC before diving into the main story if that’s your preference. Given that it’s a rogue-like mode with limited progression, starting the DLC early could be a tempting option.

However, is it advisable to enter God of War Ragnarok’s Valhalla DLC before completing the main narrative? The answer is no, and here’s why.

Understanding the Role of God of War Ragnarok Valhalla DLC as an Epilogue

The God of War Ragnarok Valhalla DLC is not akin to The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s No Return mode, even though both feature rogue-like elements and similar progression systems. The No Return mode stands apart from the main storyline of The Last of Us Part 2, focusing solely on gameplay mechanics. In contrast, God of War Ragnarok’s rogue-like mode serves a dual purpose.

New enemies await you in God of War Ragnarok Valhalla (Image via Santa Monica Studios)

Rather than being a mere add-on, it acts as an epilogue for the main game, furthering Kratos’ journey and providing a fitting conclusion to his struggle with his new existence as a Norse god. While No Return features some complexities in stealth and weapon progression, its gameplay remains relatively uncomplicated.

In contrast, the Valhalla mode assumes you already have a solid understanding of both the basic and advanced gameplay mechanics of Ragnarok. Additionally, diving into Valhalla reveals many spoilers from the main story, and it grants you access to Kratos’ complete arsenal, which is certainly a major revelation.

In summary, if the PC version is your first encounter with God of War Ragnarok, I strongly suggest that you avoid the Valhalla DLC until you’ve finished the main story. Since Valhalla presents a separate experience with its own progression and mechanics, there’s no urgency to rush through the story just to access the rogue-like content.

After you complete the main storyline and feel confident with the controls and combat system, you can jump into Valhalla for an extraordinary epilogue experience. For veteran players who have previously completed Ragnarok on PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 4, exploring the Valhalla DLC during the main campaign is entirely sensible.

You can unlock the Classic Greek-era Kratos cosmetics upon completing the Valhalla DLC (Image via Santa Monica Studios)

Personally, having dedicated over 200 hours to the base game and the DLC, I plan to tackle the entire Valhalla DLC first to unlock the Classic Greek-era outfits for Kratos, and then revisit the base game on PC. However, if this is your first journey with God of War Ragnarok, I highly recommend prioritizing the base game before exploring the DLC.

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