As an avid gamer who has eagerly awaited this sequel for years, I was overjoyed to dive back into Santa Monica Studio’s acclaimed God of War reboot in November 2022. Like many fans, I eagerly began forging through the epic Norse saga on release day.
After over 40 hours completing the intense, moving adventure, I can safely call Ragnarök Kratos’ grandest odyssey yet. It builds beautifully on 2018’s foundations while delivering incredibly cinematic set-pieces and fully realized realms.
However, a whole extra layer of payoff awaits players after the credits roll in the form of a secret ending. Tucked away unless you know how to unlock it, this tear-jerking conclusion adds richness and closure often missing in game narratives.
As a content creator and gamer who values compelling storytelling above all else, few gaming moments have moved me more this decade. I had to share why it’s so special.
In this guide, I’ll break down how to find God of War Ragnarök’s secret ending, why it resonates so deeply if you’ve followed the series, and what it might set up next for beloved characters:
How to Access the Secret Ending
First, how exactly do you view this hidden cinematic sequence for yourself?
Unlocking the secret ending in God of War Ragnarök takes several quick steps:
Finish the main story – Complete the climactic final mission called "The Realms at War" to trigger end game content.
Speak to Lunda – Visit any shop and talk to Lunda to get the “A Viking Funeral” favor.
Travel to Nidavellir – Journey to Sindri‘s former home and find Raeb‘s Tavern.
Learn funeral details – Chat with Lunda, Raeb and Durlin to hear Brok’s sendoff plans.
Use the gateway – Return to the mines with the special gateway contraption.
Activate the scene – Use the contraption to reach the hidden beach ritual.
If you already finished the game, you can select "Continue Story" to access post-game content. This lets you revisit shops and key locations to experience the funeral.
Now let’s examine why this resonates so deeply.
A Somber, Stirring Ceremony
Those who play through the post-game content witness Brok’s dying friends give the talented blacksmith an emotional Viking funeral.
Having journeyed across so many realms and battles alongside Brok, it’s painful to lose the gruff yet stalwart companion mid-adventure. Santa Monica Studio‘s choice to handle it with nuanced care versus glossing over makes a difference.
As Lunda, Durlin, Raeb and others push Brok‘s body to sea, there remains one glaring absentee…
Mending Broken Bonds
Brok‘s brother Sindri, conspicuously missing initially, soon appears alone in the distance, walking slowly towards the assembled mourners.
As a long-time franchise fan dating back to the original games, this resonated deeply due to awareness of the formerly inseparable siblings‘ past falling out.
Recall that God of War (2018) revealed a bitter dispute had fractured relations between the dwarven brothers at one point. They hadn‘t spoken in ages despite a once close-knit working relationship.
Yet Sindri ultimately shows up to farewell Brok despite lingering resentment towards Kratos over his brother‘s fate. This willingness to temporarily put anger aside highlights Sindri‘s grief and love ultimately outweighing the lingering grudge.
It’s an enormously affecting moment if you know the history, proving certain bonds overpower even long spans of silence.
Image Source: Santa Monica Studio
As Sindri approaches alone looking bereft and weary, Lunda reassures him they waited before pushing Brok to sea.
Sindri quietly goes to the water‘s edge to bid farewell one last time. The emotion flows freely in this beautifully written, voice acted scene.
Santa Monica‘s writers know injecting history makes the funeral‘s full dramatic weight land.
A Changed Kratos
Interestingly, the sequence also illustrates Kratos‘ softer evolution since his vicious past. He doesn‘t crush Sindri‘s grief underfoot. Instead this wiser Kratos understands some things override vendettas.
The God of War allows beloved characters room to organically change over decades of adventures and here you see time‘s tempering impact through graceful moments.
As Freya fires a blazing arrow to ignite Brok’s vessel, Kratos stands stoically while Sindri leaves without conversation. This restrained response shows maturity outpacing destructive rage.
Subtly effective storytelling choices make this short post-game tale feel tonally earned and essential.
Why The Secret Ending Satisfies
For me, Brok‘s funeral worked brilliantly because it provides:
- Emotional closure – a cathartic ceremonial sendoff processing traumatic loss
- Series history payoff – rewarding fans who recall key character backstories spanning decades
- Organic growth – evolution grounded in past events so it resonates naturally
Let‘s analyze why this brief narrative beat impacts much more deeply than its runtime suggests.
Cathartic Farewell
Losing Brok mid-adventure stunned me. As a consummate craftsman and arch-rival of Sindri, his gruff wisdom buoyed multiple journeys, forging signature Leviathan Axe and Blades of Chaos helping slay titans.
Despite prickly edges, Brok earns loyalty through staunch reliability meeting every battleground challenge. We expect Odin‘s death battling Kratos, but losing Brok blindsides…this larger-than-life figure somehow seemed immortal thanks to boisterous swagger.
Laying a flawed yet steadfast friend to rest reminds us that death always arrives unexpectedly even for legendary heroes.
Attending his distinctly Nordic ceremonial torching on a floating pyre therefore helps me process sudden grief. I realize that even cantankerous giants have loved ones who care to send them off properly into the mist.
It‘s a quietly magical story beat making his loss resonate harder. 72 hours later, gratitude still emerges that Brok went out in iconic style befitting ornery Norse legends.
Source: PlayStation
Rewarding invest history
Moreover, this solemn sequence works thanks subtly leveraging franchise lore spanning almost 20 years across half a dozen core entries.
Recall that the original God of War sequel launched back on PS2 in 2007 showcasing namesake anti-hero Kratos slaying icons from sword-clashing Sparta soldiers to titanic minotaurs to Greek gods themselves.
Throughout the gory odyssey we‘re introduced to series mainstays like our weapons crafting duo Brok and Sindri the bickering Huldra blacksmiths.
Ragnarök richly rewards faithful series fans remembering their bitter falling out revealed in 2018‘s Nordic reboot. Showcasing regretful Sindri reconsider past grudges for closure here lands masterfully due building on backstory spanning over 15 years.
Cynics may disregard video game writing talent, but scribes like Matthew Sophos and Richard Gaubert imbue digital ink with soul rivaling prestigious HBO dramas. This short post-credits scene seals it.
Kratos‘ organic evolution
Similarly, Kratos current restraint reveals natural world-weary tempering rather than rewriting core traits betraying series foundations.
Through multiple eras, everyone from original Greek era architect David Jaffe onward ensured this iconic antihero reflected uncontrolled fury driving harsh Spartan purity.
Yet 2018‘s game acknowledges that after lifetimes battling gods and demons, a glint of humanity may finally reflect in Kratos‘ eyes realizing sons risk repeating past generational trauma.
Ragnarök leans into this late-stage grief, pain and redemption arc, Handle prior unhealed pain before losing your progeny to similar cycles.
The once savage demigod convincingly transitions towards measured protective papa without sacrificing the weary weight years battling Titans and Norse figures leaves behind.
During Brok’s final farewell, you witness a grace notes of this redemption song personified subtly.
Additional Post-Game Content Worth Exploring
After the credits roll on God of War Ragnarök‘s secret ending, several quests unlock letting you further explore beautifully realized realms.
I strongly recommend tying up any unfinished side content beforehand, but notable post-game Pursuits well worth investigating include:
Sigrun‘s Daughters – Track down valkyrie echoes across realms for armor rewards
Groa‘s Secret – Help miniature spirit Týr reclaim mystical knowledge
In Service of Asgard – Aid survivor spirits from a fallen noble house (great loot)
Take the time to knock out additional Favors opening up as well. Ragnarök‘s best-in-class combat continues shining while you tie up loose ends. Plus you help worthy souls pass into the next world,
Before putting down the Leviathan Axe indefinitely until Kratos’ next adventure, soak up every last drop of sweet sorrow across the 10+ realms.
An Ending Etched In Memory
I can hardly recall weepier moments in modern gaming history offhand than the profound Nordic ritual fertilizing God of War Ragnarök‘s secret conclusion.
Gamers famously endure harrowing hero emotional journeys rivaling cinema‘s finest…yet little prepared me to shed tears beside a smoking pyre during an optional ending coda.
Some dismiss video game art as irredeemably juvenile, but experiences like this make me proudly identify as a lifelong fan ready to argue its strengths with any critic.
After hundreds of hours sharing past God of War adventures with Kratos and Atreus, watching beloved figures age gracefully retains its poignancy.
If you journeyed across realms slaying gods and monsters, doesn‘t our gruff weapons savant deserve better than vanishing silently into the icy fog without proper fanfare?
Heed the call should fate provide an opportunity and send off the talented yet brusque blacksmith in iconic Norse style.
It remains seared in my memory weeks later; a fitting bittersweet sign-off awaiting any who seek it.
For those still progressing through the adventure, turn back now lest spoilers overwhelm. But know that something special awaits at the end should fate bless you too.
Farewell for now. Glory awaits across all realms!
