What order should I play the God of War series in?

I've never played God of War before so I picked up the Collection, III, and the PSP games today. My question is, what is the best order to play them in? Should I play by the game's release date, or by the actual in-game story timeline? I'm looking for the most engrossing experience!

God of War

God of War II

God of War III

God of War: Chains of Olympus

God of War: Ghost of Sparta

Im not sure of the chronology of them all, i'd google it. But im sure starting with GoW1 would be the best, im sure they recap what happened previously in the PSP games, kuz im sure they take place sometime before or in the middle of the series.

I'm kind of surprised that without ever playing them you went out and bought all of them, but I hope you enjoy them. Either way, I suppose I was lucky in that the first God of War game I played was Chains of Olympus on PSP. If you really want to go chronologically, go:

GoW: Chains of Olympus

GoW1

GoW: Ghost of Sparta

GoW2

GoW3

In the end, all I can recommend is that you play the main games (1, 2, and 3) in order, as it'll keep the gameplay and story a little more structured. If you don't mind playing the PSP game to start off (worked great for me, I love the series now), go chronologically. They're great games, enjoy them.

What the dude above me said.

I played the 3rd first, and then went back and played 1 and 2. I wish I would have played them in order. Great series.

The order you listed is the order in which the games are meant to be played.

The order you listed is the order in which the games are meant to be played.

parvie

Absolutely agree, play them in order you listed.

Other than going by release date, my advice would be

God of War

Chains of Olympus

Ghost of Sparta

2

3

Going by my experience, I suggest you don't play them all one after the other. I tried it myself and I absolutely LOVED the first game, but when I got to the second, I was let down. It's probably because I was already all GOWed out by the time I started the second. I would have liked it a lot more if I waited in between. After that, I started the third and by the time I beat the first boss, I just stopped all together.

So play them in the order they released, but space them out

I actually enjoyed playing them by release date, still knew what was happening and viewed the PSP games as flashbacks.

I've never played God of War before so I picked up the Collection, III, and the PSP games today. My question is, what is the best order to play them in? Should I play by the game's release date, or by the actual in-game story timeline? I'm looking for the most engrossing experience!

God of War

God of War II

God of War III

God of War: Chains of Olympus

God of War: Ghost of Sparta

GIXX3R

I'd say that you should play the 1st one 1st. Then ghost of sparta then 2 then 3. If you still want some more GoW then play chains of olympus or play it after the 1st. I just feel like the original should be the first one you play

To avoid spoiling the story (what story there is) play them in order of release, as the prequels assume that you already have.

The new God of War collection which has all of the games on it. They are arranged in a proper timeline so you can play the games in order. But if you have the PSP, PS2, PS3 games. Play the PSP first and then the PS3 discs. For now the order of release. Or google the God of War timeline. As one of the PSP games is a prequel and the other is a midquel. The you will be ready for God of War 4.

Probably just in the order of their release.

I would suggest

GoW

GoW: CoO

GoW: GoS

GoW 2

GoW 3