The Big God Of War Ragnarok Clue That Everyone Missed
Sometimes, the best secrets are what's right in front of your face the entire time. For example, the ending of the 1995 film "The Usual Suspects" shows someone who is initially perceived to be weaker eventually being revealed as the big criminal mastermind the entire time. "God of War Ragnarok" pulls a similar stunt in its critically acclaimed narrative. And though most players won't piece it together until the endgame of "Ragnarok," some keen eyes within its player base have uncovered a few huge clues that almost everybody missed until it was too late.
Be warned, there are massive "God of War Ragnarok" spoilers ahead!
Early on in "God of War Ragnarok," Kratos and his son Atreus rescue Týr, an Asgardian who previously identified as the God of War, Law, Justice, and Honor before embarking upon a life-altering journey that culminated in him becoming a pacifist and preaching peace instead. However, near the game's ending, Týr's demeanor seems to shift and he kills Brok after the latter notices the change. This is the moment when it is revealed to players that "Týr" was actually Odin taking Týr's form.
For many, this was by far the biggest narrative twist in "Ragnarok," kicking things into high gear and setting the stage for the game's revenge-filled ending. But if you were paying very close attention, there's a clue that you probably missed that gives it all away.
The subtitles give away God Of War Ragnarok's biggest twist
When spelled correctly, Týr's name has an accent over the y. This is significant because early on in the game, when Kratos and Atreus rescue him, the character's name is spelled without the accent in the game's subtitles (per GameRant). Obviously, not many gamers would stress over such a detail as mundane as a tiny accent mark. However, later in the game, Kratos finds the real Týr, whose name is properly spelled in the game's subtitles.
As revealed by "God of War Ragnarok" game director Eric Williams during an episode of IGN's Spoilercast, some players noticed this difference in the game's subtitles. And according to Williams himself, this was done intentionally by Santa Monica Studios to differentiate between the real Týr and the "Tyr," who is actually just Odin in disguise.
It's a super small detail, and one that wouldn't have been obvious until the end of the game. This serves as a testament to Santa Monica Studios' commitment to narrative greatness, which is why "God of War Ragnarok" dominated the nominations at the Game Awards this year. But that wasn't the only subtle hint towards Tyr's true identity that players might have picked up on. Another moment actually relies on players' knowledge of the events preceding the "God of War" games.
Hello, Frigg
At one point in "God of War Ragnarok," Kratos and his crew attempt to recruit the goddess Freya into their fold. Having been at war with Kratos for years at this point, Freya is extremely reluctant at first and refuses to join forces. However, after Kratos rescues her from a transformed Atreus, she has a change of heart and decides to aid them in their journey. Upon first visiting Sindri and Brok's house, Freya is greeted by Tyr, whom she hasn't seen in a long time. However, a line spoken by Tyr sneakily reveals to the player that he may not be who he says he is — if the player knows what to look for.
When he first sees Freya, Tyr is stunned that she's there. "I never thought I'd have the pleasure of seeing you again, Frigg," Tyr says to Freya upon reuniting with her. Freya then immediately corrects Tyr, politely instructing him not to use that name, as it obviously brings back memories of a past that she'd rather keep buried. For those who might be unaware (or haven't replayed the previous game in a while), Freya is the ex-wife of Odin, and Frigg is the name that he knew her by while they were married. And as you might have guessed, their breakup wasn't exactly a clean one.
Obviously, using this name to describe Freya is a very dated reference, and no longer appropriate by this point in the game. Of course, players could write this mistake off as being a consequence of Tyr's long-term imprisonment. But because "Tyr" is actually Odin, it's also possible that this either a slip of the tongue or a dig at Freya that Odin just couldn't help making. After all, he just has seen his former wife in the flesh for the first time in years.