God of War Ragnarok, the sequel to the phenomenal 2018 soft reboot of the God of War series, has finally been released. However, the game is currently exclusive to the PlayStation consoles, with a possible PC release in the future, with no plans for it to arrive on other major console platforms.
Many players on current and last generation Play station consoles already own the game. However, a significant portion of the console player base on both Microsoft and Nintendo platforms will not experience what is arguably one of the best narrative action-adventure games of 2022.
God of war Ragnarok may never appear on Nintendo’s current-generation console, partly due to the Switch’s limited hardware capabilities and also because the God of War IP is owned by PlayStation. However, fans of the game’s action-packed combat and narrative set pieces can get a similar (if not better) experience with other games already available on Nintendo Switch.
Here are five games like War god Ragnarok on the Nintendo Switch.
Note: This article is subjective and reflects the author’s opinion.
Five action-packed, story-driven games like God of War Ragnarok, but on Nintendo Switch
5) Bayonetta 3
The recent entry in PlatinumGames’ iconic hack-and-slash action series, bayonet 3is easily one of the best games in 2022. In keeping with the tradition of crazy storytelling, Bayonetta 3’s story is as absurd as it gets, which doesn’t match the rather serious tone of God of War Ragnarok’s main story.
However, it does deliver action gameplay as engaging as a PlayStation exclusive. The Bayonetta series has always excelled at delivering a high-octane hack-and-slash combat system that’s easy to learn for any newcomer, but offers plenty of depth for veterans of character action games.
Like God of War Ragnarok, Bayonetta 3 is the final chapter in Umbra Witch’s titular story, with some heartfelt moments scattered throughout the game. Fans of character action games looking for a God of War-like experience on Nintendo switch can’t go wrong with Bayonetta 3 or any other two Bayonetta games.
4) Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition
Like the Bayonetta series, Capcom’s iconic slash-them-up style game, Devil May Cry, has much more in common with the classic God of War games than The Norse saga of Kratos. The Devil May Cry series was cited as one of the main inspirations for the original God of War title in 2005.
Santa Monica Studio has significantly changed the hack-and-slash action formula of the God of War series with the story of the newer titles. They still retain the classic games’ action-oriented approach to combat. So what better game to play on Nintendo Switch than the one that inspired the team behind the God of War series in the first place?
While Capcom has made the first three games in the Devil May Cry series available for the Nintendo Switch, the third mainline title is the best choice for players yearning for a polished and fantastic experience on the Nintendo console.
Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition includes not only the base game, but also a number of additional features, such as the ability to play as Vergil and a freestyle mode that allows players to instantly switch between Dante’s four different combat styles. The Devil May Cry series is known for its exaggerated storytelling and exhilarating battle system, and Devil May Cry 3 brings them both at their best on Nintendo Switch.
3) Hellblade: Senua’s sacrifice
Coming from Ninja Theory, the developers of Heavenly Sword, Odyssey: Journey to the West, and DmC: Devil May Cry, Hellblade has a lot more in common with God of War Ragnarok than it first appears.
From a Norse setting filled with mythological creatures from the Viking age, an action-oriented melee combat system, a plethora of environmental puzzles, a heartbreaking tale of the loss of a loved one, and even the main character wearing a severed head on her waist, the similarities between Hellblade and God of War Ragnarok are uncanny.
Like the Norse saga of Kratos, the story takes center stage in Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. However, the combat system is no slouch either. With a slower and more methodical melee combat system and challenging boss fights, playing Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is as close as experiencing a God of War Ragnarok-esque action-adventure game on Nintendo Switch.
2) Eternal Doom
Players looking for a challenging yet satisfying action gaming experience similar to God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarok on Nintendo Switch need look no further than Doom Eternal. The most recent title in the iconic first-person shooter id Software’s franchise, Doom Eternal, is as metal as the original God of War games, with a systematic approach to its action-packed gameplay similar to the newer installments in the series.
Both Kratos and Doom Eternal’s protagonist, aptly dubbed the “Doomguy”, are men of fewer words who let their combat tools and bare fists do the talking for them. While Doom Eternal only features a superficial story about the destruction of Earth and humanity at the hands of literal demons, the action-heavy FPS combat makes up for the lack of narrative depth.
1) Darksiders 2
Developed by now-defunct Vigil Games, the Darksiders series takes a lot of inspiration from games like The Legend of Zelda, Devil May Cry, and even the classic God of War games. The first game in the series feels like a God of War game, but with much sharper character models and a more complex story.
However, the sequel to the original Darksiders 2 feels very much like the new God of War games, with mild RPG mechanics, non-linear progression, and a more fleshed-out story. While reminiscent of the original game’s action-packed roots, the combat system has been tweaked to give players flexibility in their choice of weaponsof which there are quite a few.
Although Darksiders 2 originally came out in 2012, it’s still one of the best action-adventure games across all major console platforms, including the Nintendo Switch, and something players crave for an experience similar to God of War Ragnarok can’t miss out on.
