God of War in 2018 was an exploration of toxic masculinity, and an integral component of that message was its depiction of female characters. By the end of the story, Kratos’ son Atreus had become known to Jotnar (giants) as Loki and had three offspring with mother Angrboda: Fenrir (the massive wolf who will eventually devour Odin), Hel (goddess of death in Niflheim), and Jormungandr (World Serpent that poisoned both ocean and sky before ultimately killing Thor).
God of War Ragnarok from Santa Monica Studios gives an interesting twist to Atreus’ mythology by showing that Loki, Atreus’ father’s first wife, also bears her name among the Jotnar. This revelation not only changes their storyline but has major ramifications for Ragnarok itself.
As Atreus continues his journey across Norse realms, one of the key characters he will encounter on his journey is Angrboda – one of many Jotunns that inhabit Ironwood (an idyllic forest kingdom where Atreus enters at the start of Ragnarok). She spends much of her time foraging for food alone or painting murals that appear to predict her own future.
She’s also an impressive fighter, using magic to move pillars and open gates with just the flick of her wrist and attack enemies with style that both recalls her mother’s work as well as embodying its defining visual motif. Although only appearing briefly throughout the game, her impactful presence remains crucial.