Best Characters in God of War's Greek Mythology Games

Kratos deserves the number one spot as he is the main protagonist and the character who changes the most throughout the story. He sold his soul to Ares in exchange for defeating his enemies, a decision that haunted him forever, especially after Ares tricked him into murdering his own family. Their ashes were cursed onto his skin as punishment. Haunted by nightmares, Kratos sought revenge on Ares, killing him and taking his place as the God of War, only to be betrayed by Zeus in God of War II.

In God of War III, Kratos exacts his revenge on Olympus, wiping out the Greek pantheon. After the final battle with Zeus, Athena confronts Kratos and demands the return of the power of hope from Pandora's Box. In a selfless act, Kratos refuses, stating his need for vengeance is gone, and impales himself with the Blade of Olympus, dispersing the power for mankind's use.

Zeus is the main antagonist of the Greek era of the God of War series. He was the youngest child of the Titan King, Cronos, and ascended to become the King of Olympus and the God of the Sky, Thunder, Lightning, and the Heavens. Zeus is the father of several gods and mortals, including Kratos. He is the most powerful god among his pantheon and initially acts as an ally to Kratos to defeat Ares.

Despite his power, Zeus is plagued by paranoia and fear, later revealed to be caused by the opening of Pandora's Box.

Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera. He is extremely cruel and destructive, being called the most hated god on Mount Olympus. He is the main antagonist of the first God of War game and the perpetrator behind the events of God of War: Ascension. Ares tricked Kratos into killing his family, turning him into the Ghost of Sparta, fulfilling the prophecy of the Marked Warrior who would destroy Olympus.

At the start of the series, Ares is the original God of War until Kratos kills him and takes his place. In God of War II, it is revealed that Ares is Kratos' half-brother, as a son of Zeus.

Athena was the Olympian Goddess of Wisdom and War, and serves as the overall deuteragonist-turned-final antagonist of the Greek Era of the God of War series. She mostly appeared as an ally of Kratos. In most of the God of War games, Athena was the least selfish and most noble goddess. She helped Kratos in his goals to save fellow Olympian god Helios and stop her brother Ares.

Before the events of the series, Athena saved Kratos' life from Ares' wrath as they were sent to capture the marked warrior who would bring the end of the Greek pantheon. She dies in God of War II by sacrificing herself, putting herself between Kratos and Zeus, ascending to a higher plane of existence.

Hades is the Olympian god of the underworld, the brother of Zeus and Poseidon, and the husband of Persephone. He is first seen in God of War III in the opening of the game, where he jumps off the top of Mount Olympus to fight the Titans.

Later in the game, Hades is defeated by Kratos, who, after a fierce duel, tears off the god's helmet before killing him by absorbing his soul with his own weapons. Hades had many reasons to hate Kratos up to this point. Not only had Kratos killed his niece Athena and his brother Poseidon, but he also killed his wife Persephone.

Poseidon is the Greek god of the seas and the brother of Zeus and Hades. He is first seen at the beginning of God of War III, in which he serves as the first boss of the game. He is defeated by Kratos with the help of the titan Gaia and meets a bloody end, being beaten to death by Kratos.

Poseidon has good reasons to dislike Kratos, as the Spartan warrior caused the destruction of his beloved city of Atlantis.

Cronos was the leader and last of the mighty Titans born to Gaia and Ouranos. He fathered the first Olympians with his wife Rhea: Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hera, Demeter, and Hestia. Cronos was prophesied to be overthrown by his own children. To prevent this, he swallowed each of his children whole as they were born. When Rhea bore Zeus, she could not bear another loss. She called upon an eagle to take Zeus far away and, in his place, wrapped a stone in cloth for Cronos to swallow.

Years later, Zeus defeated Cronos and freed his siblings, leading to a war. After the war, Zeus punished Cronos by chaining him to carry Pandora's Temple on his back. Kratos first encounters Cronos in God of War I when tasked by the gods to retrieve Pandora's Box to defeat Ares. In God of War III, Kratos travels to Tartarus, kills Cronos, and retrieves the stone Cronos had swallowed, which Hephaestus uses to forge a new weapon for Kratos.

Gaia is the Primordial Goddess of the Earth, mother of the Titans, and grandmother of the Olympian Gods. She is the narrator of the series, the deuteragonist of God of War II, and the secondary antagonist of God of War III. After Zeus betrays Kratos in God of War II, Gaia reveals herself to Kratos and decides to help him destroy Zeus, seeking revenge for the Titans.

She heals his wounds and guides him to the Sisters of Fate to aid him in his quest. In God of War III, Kratos travels back in time, bringing Gaia and the other Titans to attack Mount Olympus. After helping Kratos defeat Poseidon, both reach the top of Mount Olympus but are thrown off by Zeus. Gaia then betrays Kratos to save herself. Surviving his fall into the Underworld, Kratos gains more power and kills Gaia during his fight with Zeus.

Hercules was the son of Zeus and half-brother to Kratos. He first appears in God of War III, leading soldiers against the Titans and Kratos. Later in the game, Kratos encounters Hercules in the arena, where Hercules fights as Hera's champion against Kratos. Hercules reveals his belief that Zeus favors Kratos because Kratos was assigned to kill Ares and crowned the God of War while Hercules was sent on labors.

After failing to reason with his half-brother, Kratos brutally beats Hercules to death with his own weapon, the Nemean Cestus, caving in his head and smashing the arena floor.