The latest God of War title was highly celebrated upon release for its incredible story. While the game's gameplay, gorgeous art direction, one-shot feature, and mythology were praised as well, what drives the game home as one of the best video games of all time is its overall story.

Playing the game is a rollercoaster from start to finish. The players will be treated with twists upon twists and well-earned payoffs in the end. Aside from that, there are also details about the game's story that are more subtle than others. These are details only those who are observant and keen will really have the pleasure of discovering.

10/10 Faye Had Kratos Purposefully Cut Trees To Jump Start Their Journey

god of war tress

At the beginning of the game, Kratos is cutting down trees to create a funeral pyre for his recently deceased wife. It is later revealed that these trees were marked by Faye herself. In life, these trees held a protective barrier on their home, which kept them hidden from the gods and monsters of the land.

In the ending, it is clear that Faye purposefully had Kratos cut the trees, and therefore destroy the protective barrier, so they'd be forced to start their journey. Faye knows that Kratos would be hesitant to start the journey with Atreus, whom he believes is not ready. Faye was right in this assumption as Kratos had indeed deemed Atreus unprepared. He was only forced to leave their home after they were attacked by Baldur.

9/10 The Display Of Balance Between Atreus' Kindness And Rage

Atreus with Kratos

Kratos' way of seeing if Atreus is ready for the journey or not is to have him hunt a deer. Although he fumbled in the beginning, Atreus successfully managed to complete this task. However, he was hesitant in landing the killing blow as he felt pity towards the poor animal.

Later, Kratos and Atreus are attacked by a troll. When the pair brought it down, Atreus' rage started to surface as he sliced and diced a fallen troll in anger. The contrast between these two actions perfectly encapsulates Atreus' kindness, but also his tendency to give in to his emotions.

8/10 The Mural Near Kratos' House

gow mural

Kratos and Atreus' journey to reach the highest peak in all the realms is jump-started when Baldur visits Kratos' home. This boss fight is incredibly action-packed, and the battle between the two insanely powerful gods literally alters the landscape around them.

At one point during this battle, Kratos picks up a giant rock and slams it on Baldur. If looked at closely, this giant rock actually portrays a mural that shows the events of the rest of the game. This mural is very similar to the one found in Jotunheim.

7/10 Freya's Protection Mark

god of war freya

Freya is a character Kratos and Atreus later meet on their journey. Although their meeting starts off oddly, Freya later begins to assist the duo, starting with the protection mark that she places on their necks.

The protection mark that she leaves on Kratos and Atreus is actually a real, powerful spell in Norse mythology. The spell she uses is called Aegishjalmur, also known as The Helm of Awe, a powerful protective spell. She also utters "leyna" as she is applying the mark. "Leyna" roughly translates as "to protect."

6/10 The Dwarves Always Disappear When Freya Is Around

god of war brok and sindri

An odd recurring circumstance about the Huldra brothers is that they always seem to disappear whenever Freya is around, despite them often voicing their adoration towards the Vanir goddess.

This first happens with Sindri who appears missing from his shop at the base of the mountain when Freya is accompanying Kratos and Atreus. Later, when they reach the Temple of Tyr, Brok is also missing from his shop. The reason for this, or even if it has narrative implications, is unknown.

5/10 The Dying Words Of The Dark Elf King

dark elf king

After Kratos and Atreus successfully gather the light of Alfheim, they are stopped by the Dark Elf King on their way back to Midgard. The Dark Elf King, whose name is Svartáljǫfurr, is a very tough fighter. However, despite his best efforts and tricks, he proves no match against Kratos and Atreus.

Before he dies, the Dark Elf King leaves a message for Kratos and Atreus. Atreus says that the only thing he understood was "grave mistake." In the official novel, the Dark Elf King's exact last words were "you... grave mistake. Oppressors will enslave all."

4/10 Mimir's Prison Is Made Of Yggdrasil's Roots

mimir kratos atreus

Mimir is the widely proclaimed "smartest man" in the nine realms. Despite Mimir's cheerful demeanor and kind intentions, his past and fate are dark, tragic, and painful. After being accused by Odin of treachery, he is bound at the highest peak in Midgard.

The tree that binds Mimir is no ordinary tree either. Mimir is bound by the roots of the World Tree, an ability Odin picked up from Freya. This is why no blade or magic can cut the roots and branches of Mimir's prison.

3/10 The Weather's Reaction To Atreus' Sickness

God of War Atreus deep in thought

After Atreus falls ill, not only does his appearance alter, but the world around him also seems to react to his affliction. This event is very similar to what happens in previous games when Kratos slays a god.

It is very possible that the weather reaction is due to Atreus' affliction. He is a god, after all, and the grandson of Zeus, no less. However, the novelization of the game states that the storm is caused by the gods of the land who are trying to prevent Kratos from saving his son.

2/10 Freya's Tattoos Grow Darker In Time

god of war freya and atreus

Many of the characters in God of War have their bodies covered in tattoos. In Freya's case, her tattoos are on both of her arms. Interestingly, the opaqueness of Freya's tattoo increases over time.

When you first meet her, Freya's tattoos are almost invisible. Moving forward, Freya's tattoos will become more and more clear each time you meet her. By the end of the game, her tattoos are very dark and clear. This could be tied to her use of magic, as she uses it more of it as the story progresses.

1/10 Kratos And Atreus Versus Thor

God of War Thor at Kratos' Door

There is a secret ending in God of War that reveals itself if you go home after returning from Jotunheim. Kratos and Atreus will take a well-deserved rest. The scene will then cut to a vision of the future, wherein their home is attacked once again, but this time, by Thor himself.

This scene is revealed to be Atreus' dream, as he is showing signs of being able to glimpse into the future, a trait common among Jotunns. Another interesting factor about the scene is how Kratos reacts where Atreus is concerned compared to the last time their house was attacked. When Baldur attacked their home, Kratos immediately urged Atreus to hide. When Thor attacked their home, the first thing Kratos does is urge Atreus to pick up his bow, showing the growth of trust partnership.

NEXT: 10 Gods Who Still Haven't Appeared In God Of War (Who Could Show Up In Ragnarok)