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In the world of God of War Ragnarök, you'll learn more about the world of Norse mythology that's so heavily featured within the game. Among some of the important concepts is Fimbulwinter, a major event of which many of the gods harbor an intense fear. It's important that you know exactly what it's referring to if you want to get the most out of God of War Ragnarök, the newest installment in the longrunning God of War series.
What is Fimbulwinter in God of War Ragnarök?
Fimbulwinter is an important event that signals the beginning of Ragnarök, or essentially the end of the world as the gods and everyone else know it. It's a wintry event, a three-year period of heavy snow and blizzards that serves as notice for what's to come.
The Fimbulwinter of God of War Ragnarök is underway during the events of this game, as Kratos and Atreus make reference to it several times over. We first heard of it during the 2018 God of War, when Kratos and Atreus journeyed to Jötenheim and back. Brok related to his brother Sindri that the snowfall they were suddenly experiencing was not only happening a century earlier than it should, but that it was indeed Fimbulwinter.
It's the winter to end all winters and it's said to wipe out humanity completely. But it will also herald Ragnarök as previously stated, a series of events that comes ahead of the ultimate battle ending in the deaths of several gods, including Odin and Thor. Its eventual end is the second mark of Ragnarök, which is not great news for Kratos and kin, as it's something they're trying to delay or keep from happening entirely if possible.
This Fimbulwinter also took place after Baldur, the son of Freya, was killed in the first game. It's a major part of the new game, and something that players will experience as they make their way through the main narrative.
Will Fimbulwinter eventually give way to the end of times as prophesied? We won't spoil that here ahead of your playthrough, but it's certainly not a good sign. One important thing to remember is that we can change our own fate, and that's a major theme of Ragnarök, so consider that before heading into the game and seeing what ends up happening.
God of War Ragnarök will release on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on Wednesday.
About the writer
Brittany Vincent is a Newsweek gaming editor based in Kentucky. Her focus is reporting on video games, the game industry, ... Read more