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What Is Sons of Sparta?
God of War Sons of Sparta is the 10th game in the franchise and the first chronologically — a prequel to the entire series. Developed by Mega Cat Studios in collaboration with Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Released as a PS5 exclusive, digital-only.
Alongside the announcement, Sony revealed that a God of War Greek Trilogy Remake is in development — a revelation that almost overshadowed Sons of Sparta itself.
Key Information
- Developers: Mega Cat Studios + Santa Monica Studio
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Genre: 2D Action-Platformer / Metroidvania
- Platform: PlayStation 5 (exclusive)
- Release: February 12, 2026 (shadow drop)
- Music: Bear McCreary
- Metacritic: 73/100 (mixed reviews)
Gameplay: Metroidvania in Ancient Sparta
Players control young Kratos as he trains at the Agoge — Sparta's famous military program. Weapons include the Dory (spear) and Aspis (shield), along with Gifts of Olympus that unlock new abilities and areas (like the Victory Sandals for speed and long jumps).
Metroidvania Style
2D side-scroller in the style of God of War: Betrayal, but with exploration and backtracking.
Red Blood Orbs
The classic XP system returns. Learn new abilities for Dory, Aspis, and Victory Sandals.
Crafting System
Similar to GoW 2018/Ragnarök. Find resources, create and upgrade attachments with perks.
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Challenge Mode
Co-op local multiplayer mode after completing the main game.
Story: The Sons of Sparta
Long before becoming the God of War, young Kratos (voiced by Anthony Del Rio) trains at the Agoge alongside his younger brother Deimos (voiced by Scott Menville). When a friend fails to return from field training, Deimos persuades Kratos to embark on a dangerous journey across the wilds of Sparta.
The two brothers face monsters, creatures, and a deadly secret that threatens their homeland. The story is narrated by adult Kratos (voiced by TC Carson, returning for the first time since GoW Ascension in 2013). It's the first God of War to return to Greek mythology after the two Norse games.
The Controversy: David Jaffe vs. The Game
Sons of Sparta has sparked intense reactions. David Jaffe, the God of War franchise creator, called it “generic” and “not God of War,” saying it fails to reflect the license's identity. He called young Kratos a “generic boring little kid” and criticized the visual design, UI, dialogue, and voice acting.
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However, he admitted the gameplay is “serviceable” and isn't opposed to a 2.5D God of War, citing Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance as examples of the right approach.
Reviews and Reception
Reviews are divided. Metacritic shows 73/100 ("mixed or average"), while OpenCritic shows just 30% recommend. IGN Benelux gave it 8/10, CGMagazine 7.5/10.
The issue isn't the game itself — it's expectations. When you put the name “God of War” on a 2D Metroidvania, people expect something on the level of the Ragnarök trilogy. As a standalone Metroidvania, Sons of Sparta is decent. As a God of War title, it divides opinion.
Our Take
Sons of Sparta is an interesting experiment. The return to Greek mythology is welcome. TC Carson as narrator is a nostalgic hit. Bear McCreary delivers the soundtrack. And the announcement of the Greek Trilogy Remake shows Sony has big plans for God of War in Greece.
If you love Metroidvanias and Greek mythology, it's worth your time. If you're waiting for the next step after GoW Ragnarök, this isn't it — but the Greek Trilogy Remake that's coming might be.