Summary
Mini-games are becoming more common in adventure and role-playing games, as they generally serve as a satisfying respite from more demanding activities such as a game’s story or collectibles. Modern titles likeHorizon Forbidden West,The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and nowFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthhave all included mini-games, providing some of the most entertaining and unique in-game escapes and further proving the appeal of such activities. Some franchises, like the 2018God of Warreboot, have yet to feature mini-games of any kind, but that’s not to say they could not or should not eventually do so.
There are currently no mini-games in the newGod of Warseries, but with the prospect of an Atreus spin-off on the horizon, the notion of implementing one doesn’t seem so far-fetched. WhileGod of Warand its sequel,God of War Ragnarok, have plenty of collectibles to find and side quests in the form of Favors, they still lack the relaxing change of pace that comes with mini-games like those found in many of today’s adventure and role-playing titles.
An Atreus Spin-Off Should Consider Including a Mini-game
A Mini-game May Only Be Justifiable in an Atreus Spin-Off
The idea of adding some sort of mini-game toGod of War’s new era may seem like a bit of a stretch, but that may only apply to any installment featuring Kratos as its main character. A mini-game might be more smoothly integrated into a potentialAtreus spin-offsince he is much younger than Kratos and probably more likely to find interest in that sort of thing.
At the same time, perhaps a bonding moment could be found in an adventurous Atreus introducing his stoic father to his favorite card or tabletop game.
This wouldn’t be the first time theGod of Warfranchise has included mini-games, asthe originalGod of Warhad a mini-game, albeit a controversial one. Of course, an Atreus-ledGod of Wargame would likely need to include mini-games more akin to what a young kid like Atreus would play, but at least it wouldn’t be anything too surprisingly new to the series. The only difficulty might be making it fit in withGod of Warlore.
A Relaxing Mini-game Is Perfect for God of War’s Chaotic Gameplay
The best argument for why theGod of Warseries should begin implementing mini-games is the break and change of pace that it would offer players in the midst ofGod of War’s typically chaotic gameplay.God of Waris known for its action-packed, fast-paced sequences, and a mini-game would arguably be the best way to provide a hiatus from that normalcy. Mini-games likeThe Witcher 3’s Gwent andFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s Queen’s Bloodhave proven the value of a recess from otherwise demanding gameplay.
It’s still unclear whether the rumored Atreus spin-off will eventually happen, but if it does, a mini-game should be considered. It is quickly becoming more apparent that gamers crave activities likeHorizon Forbidden West’s Machine Strikemini-game, and an activity such as that would fit in well in theGod of Warfranchise. Even if the Atreus spin-off game never happens and Santa Monica chooses to go straight to another mainlineGod of Wargame, mini-games shouldn’t be left off the table as a potential feature.
