We've deliberately left out any story spoilers from this article, but if you want to know nothing about the game, then you can consider this beginner's guide to ...
There are a lot of sections in the game that see Kratos and Atreus take to the water in a canoe. Speaking of Niflheim, you'll gain access to this realm relatively early in your adventure, and it can be a useful place to hang out if you're the type who likes to train and work on your moves. There is a bevy of accessibility features that allow you to customize your experience to meet your unique needs, including options for low vision, hearing, motor, motion options, and much more. When you hear one, start looking up and around to see if you can find and destroy it with your axe. As long as you're completing at least some of the side quests and exploring thoroughly, you'll have a constant influx of XP that will ensure that you can purchase most of the skills available at any one point in the story. Most of them prompt some funny conversations with Mimir, and a few of them are even related to quests. [Frozen Flame and Chaos Flame](/articles/god-of-war-ragnarok-where-to-get-frozen-flame-and-chaos-flame/1100-6508934/), there are plenty of skills for Kratos and Atreus to unlock throughout the game's lengthy campaign, and you can feel free to buy them in any order, really. Like in the first game, this realm features a selection of combat challenges that reward you with loot when completed. The further you progress in the game, the higher enemies' levels will become, so if you forget to keep up your gear levels, you may find yourself against foes who can kill you very quickly--even in a single hit sometimes. Many of these are off the beaten path and require you to be extremely thorough as you navigate a biome. Any time you approach a forge throughout the game, the chest will be closed and glow blue when there's something to snag from it--usually crafting materials you didn't see after a combat encounter. As you explore each realm, you'll quickly notice that there is an abundance of secrets to find throughout each one--hidden chests, lore scrolls, buried treasure, and a myriad of events tied to side quests that unlock as you move forward in the main story.
God of War Ragnarok brings back Mimir, the disembodied head who loves to tell stories, and he's got a new tale that bears a striking resemblance to ...
[God of War 3](https://www.polygon.com/game/god-of-war-3/1851) depicts the destruction of Sparta, which happened in 464 B.C. [a real-life Fimbulwinter](https://sciencenorway.no/archaeology-climate-cultural-history/the-long-harsh-fimbul-winter-is-not-a-myth/1613223). [God of War](https://www.polygon.com/franchise/god-of-war/610) games take place circa 495 B.C. The play Macbeth was partially inspired by the reign of a king of Scotland who shared that name and ruled from 1040–57 A.D. [God of War Ragnarök](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23438548/god-of-war-ragnarok-review-ps5-ps4-release-date), which means his stories return, too. Mimir’s story bears too much resemblance to Macbeth to be a coincidence; he describes the man as a “thane” who hears the prophecy from three soothsayers, and so on.
Kratos leans on a windowsill, exhausted with how long God of War Ragnarok is. Who's more tired, you or Kratos? Image: Santa Monica Studio/Sony via Polygon.
We’ve also listed the realms they’re set in, so you can be extra sure where you’re at. What’s more, God of War Ragnarök never tells you how far along you are, and it doesn’t include a percentage completion meter, so it’s tough to tell for sure how long the game actually is. You know how the previous game — 2018’s well-regarded God of War for the PlayStation 4 — was centered around a giant hub area called the Lake of the Nine?