4 Video Games That Need a God of War Style Reboot

by

Video game companies are relying on revisiting older titles – through reboots, remakes, and remasters – more than ever, and the 2018 God of War is a prime example of how well this strategy can work. With advances in technology and changing player preferences, studios are eager to reimagine popular franchises, making them more visually stunning, dramatic, and emotionally engaging. God of War demonstrated that a series can evolve without losing what made it special – it just needs a fresh approach to storytelling, combat, and character development.

As a long-time fan, I’m always excited when a series I love gets a fresh start. It’s especially great for those that have been quiet for a while or just haven’t hit the mark recently. Honestly, a big change – like switching up the genre or completely rethinking the story – can make familiar worlds and characters feel brand new. Think about it: a game focused on fighting could become a really compelling story, a puzzle game could open up into a huge adventure, and even older, straightforward games could be amazing with modern storytelling techniques and better character development. With the power of today’s consoles and what we expect from games now, I genuinely think these four games could really benefit from a reboot in the style of the new God of War.

4) Soulcalibur

The Soulcalibur series is a long-running and beloved fighting game known for its weapon-based combat, but it hasn’t gotten much attention lately. The game’s rich history and fantastical elements don’t quite fit the traditional fighting game format. A reboot similar to God of War could be the key to revitalizing the series, turning it into a large-scale, story-driven action-adventure game.

Picture a dark and atmospheric world inspired by gothic settings, where Siegfried battles the curse of Soul Edge in a complete, story-driven adventure with large areas to explore, challenging puzzles, and intense third-person combat. Or experience the journeys of Sophitia or Kilik through campaigns rooted in mythology, combining rich lore with compelling character development. The Soulcalibur series already has a strong visual style – detailed weapons, impressive armor, epic conflicts, and grand environments. What it needs now is a modern approach to storytelling and a fresh take on gameplay to truly revitalize it.

A fresh start for the series could maintain the fast-paced sword fighting while adding more depth and strategy, similar to games like God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, and Nioh. Bandai Namco is clearly focusing on strong action games, and Soulcalibur – despite being a fighting game – has the potential to be their biggest success with a compelling story and a focus on single-player gameplay. It has all the ingredients for a truly grand adventure.

3) Legacy of Kain

The Legacy of Kain series is a classic game franchise that many fans still hope will return. Developed by Crystal Dynamics, these gothic adventure games were known for their complex story, memorable characters like Kain and Raziel, and thought-provoking themes of fate, corruption, and morality. Despite being critically praised, the series hasn’t had a new installment in twenty years – a real shame, as it has the potential to be amazing with today’s storytelling methods. All that exists is a remastered version.

Reimagining Legacy of Kain with a style similar to the modern God of War could transform it into a truly exceptional game. Picture a sweeping, story-focused adventure through the world of Nosgoth, beautifully brought to life with today’s technology – stunning visuals, compelling voice acting, and detailed environments. Legacy of Kain was always innovative with its complex characters, intriguing story twists, and strong writing. A reboot could build on these strengths by using modern techniques like smooth cutscenes, expansive yet connected areas to explore, realistic character expressions, and a combat system that feels powerful, graceful, and legendary.

Today’s action games often focus on characters’ emotional journeys, and Legacy of Kain excels in this area, with both main characters grappling with questions of who they are, seeking revenge, searching for meaning, and facing deep despair. Considering the recent popularity of vampire games like V Rising, The Blood of Dawnwalker, and Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, now would be an ideal time to bring Legacy of Kain back. A reboot could revitalize this beloved series with updated gameplay and combat comparable to modern hits like God of War Ragnarok and Devil May Cry 5. It’s a series that truly deserves a second chance.

2) Prince of Persia

The Prince of Persia series has been reimagined many times, starting as a simple platformer, then becoming the critically acclaimed Sands of Time trilogy. More recently, we saw a visually striking reboot in 2008 and the indie-inspired The Lost Crown. With the Sands of Time Remake on the horizon, Ubisoft clearly isn’t abandoning the franchise, but it needs to decide on a clear path forward. A good option would be to create an action-adventure game in the style of God of War, focusing on both a compelling story and believable mythology.

This game series has always been strongest when it delves into big ideas like destiny, time, duty, and self-sacrifice – all great ingredients for a compelling, character-focused story. Instead of focusing on quick action, picture a thoughtful protagonist struggling with the impact of changing time, brought to life with stunning visuals, realistic character movements, and beautifully designed worlds. This approach could revolutionize how time is used in gameplay, much like the upcoming game Exodus aims to do.

The famous parkour moves could be expanded to allow smooth exploration of huge desert areas, magical ruins, and old palaces. Instead of quick, showy combos, fights could become more realistic and personal, like those in God of War or Assassin’s Creed Mirage. If done well, a new Prince of Persia game could become a legendary action-adventure series, capturing the spirit of Sands of Time while telling a more complex story for today’s audiences.

1) Castlevania

The Castlevania series is ripe for a reimagining similar to the recent God of War reboot. While Castlevania: Lords of Shadow explored this possibility in the past, the franchise has grown significantly, particularly with the popularity of the Castlevania and Nocturne animated shows on Netflix. Because of these shows, fans are now more invested in the Belmont family, the vampire threat, and the overall gothic world than ever before. This makes it an ideal time for a large-scale, story-focused action-adventure game that could revitalize the series for modern audiences.

A new Castlevania game could center around a member of the Belmont family – like Trevor, Simon, or Richter, or even a brand-new character – and take them on an epic, story-driven adventure through a world facing destruction. The story of Dracula’s return, the vampire wars, the Belmont family history, and the dangerous lands all fit the kind of compelling narrative that made the recent God of War games so successful. As the Netflix series showed, these characters can handle a more realistic and emotional story while still embracing the supernatural, and fans want to see Dracula explored as more than just a villain.

I’ve been thinking about how awesome a new Castlevania could be, and I’ve got some ideas. Imagine combat that’s a mix of fast whip attacks, cool magic, and different gear – really brutal but with a ton of style when you’re fighting hordes of undead and massive bosses. I’d love to see exploration done like in God of War – big, open areas all connected, where you unlock new abilities that let you reach new places. And it all needs to look incredible, like a really polished cinematic experience. Konami’s starting to bring back its old games, and honestly, Castlevania feels like the one that could really make a huge splash if done right.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

Read More

2025-12-03 03:11