The spin-off to God of War has a somewhat hidden multiplayer mode. We’ll tell you how to play Sons of Sparta in co-op mode.
After the surprise release of God of War: Sons of Sparta, one detail from the PS Store raised a legitimate question. The 2.5D Metroidvania is for 1 to 2 players, but exactly what this multiplayer mode looks like is not explained, and there is no sign of it in the game itself. So where is the co-op mode? Don’t worry, we have the answer.
- Unlock co-op mode in Sons of Sparta
- How does multiplayer work?
- What is Sons of Sparta about?
Unlocking co-op mode in Sons of Sparta
Unfortunately, you can’t experience the story of the early years of Kratos and his brother Deimos together with another player, as you might expect with the two main characters.
As Sony’s Santa Monica studio explained in an X post, multiplayer mode is only unlocked after you have played through the main story once. Unfortunately, this is not explained anywhere else.
❗PSA: God of War Sons of Sparta 2-Player Mode
After completing Sons of Sparta’s main story, you will unlock a challenge mode that can be played solo or with local 2-player couch co-op.
— Santa Monica Studio – God of War Sons of Sparta (@SonySantaMonica) February 13, 2026
How does multiplayer work?
After completing the story, you unlock Challenge Mode, which you can then play alone or with a friend. The mode is only available locally on PlayStation and cannot be played online.
The name of the mode suggests that you cannot replay the story as a pair, but instead face challenges that are separate from it.
What is Sons of Sparta about?
You accompany the young Kratos and his brother Deimos on a journey through Greece, where they can put their Spartan training to the test.
With a shield, spear, and powerful gifts from Olympus, you fight enemies from Greek mythology and, of course, take on a few boss battles. There are also a few environmental puzzles.
The challenge mode for God of War: Sons of Sparta, which costs a good €30, is probably more of a little extra than a main feature of the game. However, the way this was communicated caused confusion rather than delight among fans. The other announcements at State of Play are likely to be much more welcome. You can find more information about this in the box above.