The God of War series has been a PlayStation staple for four console generations. Kratos' vengeful journey, beginning in 2005, has defied expectations, thriving where other long-running franchises faltered. This longevity stems from a willingness to adapt. The pivotal 2018 reboot, shifting from Ancient Greece to Norse mythology, dramatically altered presentation and gameplay, yet preserved the series' essence. Even before this acclaimed reboot, Sony Santa Monica subtly refined the series, ensuring its survival.

Reinvention remains crucial for future success. Director Cory Barlog hinted at potential Egyptian or Mayan settings, fueling speculation—understandable given Ancient Egypt's rich culture and mythology. However, a new setting is merely a starting point. Future God of War installments must reinvent themselves, building upon the successful elements of the Greek trilogy while enhancing them, much as the Norse games did.

The Greek trilogy, spanning a decade, progressively refined its hack-and-slash gameplay. God of War 3, built for the PlayStation 3's enhanced power, featured a refined magic system complementing melee combat and more challenging enemies. Improved camera angles showcased the game's graphical prowess.

The reboot, however, shed some defining elements. The Greek trilogy's platforming and puzzles were largely removed in the Norse games due to the new over-the-shoulder camera perspective. Puzzles persisted, but were redesigned to suit the adventure-focused approach.

Valhalla, the God of War Ragnarök DLC, interestingly brought back battle arenas—a feature from the original trilogy—adapted for the Norse setting. This mirrored the narrative, seeing Kratos confront his past in Valhalla. This cyclical return to Greek roots, both mechanically and narratively, completed Kratos' arc.

The Norse games weren't mere reinterpretations; they introduced new mechanics: the Leviathan Axe's throwing ability, a parry system using various shields, and Ragnarök's fast-paced spear combat. These tools facilitated exploration of the Nine Realms, each with unique enemies and visuals.

Beyond combat and exploration, the storytelling drastically changed. The Norse duology delves into Kratos' grief and his complex relationship with Atreus, a stark contrast to the original trilogy's more brutal narrative. This emotive approach significantly contributed to the Norse era's success.

God of War's evolution stems from a unique approach to sequels; the Norse games are viewed as extensions of Kratos' journey, not mere sequels. This philosophy should guide future installments.

However, radical reinvention isn't guaranteed success. Assassin's Creed, despite frequent changes in setting and time period, hasn't maintained consistent fan engagement across generations. Its shift to open-world RPGs, while profitable, diluted its core assassin identity, leading to criticism of content bloat and departure from its roots. Recent attempts at course correction with Mirage and Shadows aim to revitalize the series.

Assassin's Creed's experience highlights the risk of abandoning a series' core strengths. God of War skillfully avoided this. The Norse games, while radically different, retained Kratos' compelling nature and the series' core combat. New additions enhanced, rather than replaced, the foundation, maintaining a strong identity and deepening lore. Future installments must continue this approach.

Regardless of setting (Egyptian or otherwise), future iterations must build upon God of War's success. While the Norse games excelled in combat, future installments will likely be judged by their storytelling, a key element of the Norse duology's success. Kratos' character development showcases the importance of strong writing. Future entries must build upon this, while simultaneously introducing bold, memorable changes.