One of the best games of 2022 has added New Game Plus today, and like NG+ for the 2018’s God of War, it’s packed with many new additions and features. Unlike other games where NG+ simply allows you to play through the game once again with your stats and gear, Santa Monica Studio likes to go the extra mile by turning NG+ into a full-fledged feature. As soon as you’ve beaten God of War Ragnarök, you’ll be able to access NG+, with your equipment, weapons, and skills carrying over from your previous save. You will not, however, have access to Sonic and Hex arrows. Any area that requires either those arrows or the Draupnir Spear to access won’t unlock until you reach the correct point in the main questline. However, you will have the Draupnir Spear with you at the start of NG+.
There are a few new armor sets being added as part of NG+: Armor of the Black Bear, Spartan Armor, Ares Armor, and Zeus Armor. The Spartan Aspis shield also makes a return and will be purchasable at Huldra Brothers’ Shop with Hacksilver. Additionally, 13 existing armor sets have been remixed with new color combinations and styles.
Just so New Game Plus isn’t a snooze fest, there is an increased level cap. That means you’ll be able to convert all your Level 9 equipment into new “Plus” versions for extra levels of progression. When you convert your equipment, you’ll get a Gilded Coin, which can be used to purchase new Enchantments. These take a selection of powerful and versatile perks from Engravings and Badges, so you can equip them in your Amulet as Enchantments. You can also get some new Enchantments by defeating the Berserker Souls in NG+.
If you’re looking for an extra challenge, NG+ also adds Burdens, which are a new set of Enchantments that inflect negative Perks. For example, the Burden of Evasion will automatically give Kratos the Frost status effect when he rolls. Naturally, a new UI option has been added called “Show Difficulty” so you can show off the Burdens you have equipped.
There are also new progression paths as part of NG+. New Skill Mod Plus allows you to upgrade your existing Skill Mod tokens using XP, so you can further enhance the effects of your Mods. You can carry over any progress from your Kill Labors or Ratatasks to continue unlocking a new Platinum Tier of rewards. Finally, Nornir Chests will now provide Yggdrasil Dew so you can push your stats even further.
The first time I completed God of War Ragnarök, I found the end-game a bit strange — trying to avoid spoilers here. But that’s fixed in NG+ with the expanded Sparring Arena in Niflheim. With it, you can choose to play as either Kratos or Atreus, and you can choose the companion to fight beside you: Atreus (with Kratos), Freya, Brok, Sindri, Angrboda, Ingrid, Thor, and Thrúd. NG+ also changes up some of the endgame bosses, so even if you’ve beaten all the Berserker Souls and Valkyrie Queen Gná before, you’ll want to face them again.
Other minor additions to NG+ include adjustments on The Hateful and the Ormstunga — two of the optional mini-bosses. If you opt to play on Give Me No Mercy or Give Me God of War difficulties, all the bosses and mini-bosses will have Runic Armor.
Finally, there’s a Black and White Render Munder the Graphics & Camera settings menu if you want to relive the experience sans color.
Still don’t own a PlayStation 5? There is currently a deal on a bundle that includes God of War Ragnarök.
