High One; Raven God; Father of the Slain. Norse mythology’s illustrious Allfather bears more titles than a silver-spoon aristocrat, although he’s perhaps most commonly referred to as Odin. In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, however, the son of Bor goes by a lesser-known name: Havi. This is a subtle but important point to consider when discussing Dawn of Ragnarok.
Norse mythology buffs with a penchant for video games have been spoiled over the last few years. From Valhalla itself to God of War, to indies like Hellblade and Valheim, it’s clear that game developers have a bit of a thing for Viking games. What makes Dawn of Ragnarok special in spite of this rapid approach towards saturation is how inherently different it is to similar endeavors. It’s definitely a story rooted in the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, but it’s also one with its own clear ambition to subvert what that origin can mean in 2022. For the most part, it succeeds.
