God of War Ragnarok offers a wealth of content, including countless bosses and expansive areas to explore. It's so rich in detail that it's unlikely you'll experience everything the game has to offer in a single playthrough.

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Just when you think you've uncovered it all, God of War Ragnarok surprises you with a massive secret area in Vanaheim. This hidden gem can easily be missed if you're not paying close attention to your surroundings. Within this area, you'll find unique side missions, challenging bosses, rare resources, and much more. The guide below covers everything you need to know about this secret location.

How To Unlock The Crater Region In Vanaheim

The Crater region can only be unlocked after completing the mission "The Creatures of Prophecy," where you assist Freyr (Freya's brother) with a major issue and return to Freyr's camp. You'll know if you have completed this mission yet. Once it's done, follow these steps:

  1. Head to the Nearest Mystic Gateway
    • On your way, you'll encounter Helka, the pig-dog creature from Freyr's camp. Helka will prompt you to follow, initiating the "Scent of Survival" side quest.

  2. Follow Helka
    • Stay on Helka's trail and board a boat when you reach the water.
    • Take the newly opened path to the right.
    • Once back on land, continue following Helka. Defeat any enemies you encounter along the way.

  3. Restore the Sunlight
    • Eventually, you'll reach a Celestial Altar. Use it to summon Skoll, the wolf that brings back the sun, to progress further.

  4. Reach the Cliffside
    • Continue following Helka until you arrive at a cliffside.
    • Use your Air Boat here and watch the cutscene.

Afterward, you'll arrive in the undiscovered area of Vanaheim known as The Crater.

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What To Do After Reaching The Crater

After exploring a bit, you'll find a nearby Mystic Gateway. From here, you have a few options:

  1. Continue your main mission as usual.
  2. Visit any other realm, just as you could previously.
  3. Alternatively, take time to explore this new region, which is packed with content.

The Crater offers a wealth of activities and challenges, enough to keep you engaged for over ten hours. However, be prepared — many of the bosses in this area are quite challenging. If you find them too difficult, you can always return later after leveling up and upgrading your equipment.

It's strongly recommended to complete the Crater region before finishing the main story, as it adds a lot to the overall experience and prepares you for the game's final challenges. Though fear not; if you expore it in the post-game, character dialogue and interactions do account for this.

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God of War: Ragnarok Tag Page Cover Art
God of War Ragnarok
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10 /10
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Released
November 9, 2022
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

ESRB
M For Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
Developer(s)
Santa Monica Studio
Publisher(s)
Sony
Engine
Proprietary Engine
Franchise
God of War
Genre(s)
Action, Adventure
How Long To Beat
26 Hours
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
God of War Ragnarok the crater region and lightning
6 Images