God of War Ragnarok: The Importance of Brok’s Riddle (2024)

PLEASE NOTE: This article contains MAJOR Spoilers for BOTH ENDINGS in God of War Ragnarok. Proceed at your own risk.God of War Ragnarok does a wonderful job of blending silliness into its solemness, crafting a narrative that is comprehensive and uplifting while also being emotional and distressing at times. The levity in God of War’s Norse mythology has largely fallen to Brok and Sindri, the conflicting dwarves who create all the player’s purchased gear. Brok and Sindri were passable as side characters in the previous game, where every second line of dialogue they had referenced what the other did to Kratos and Faye’s Leviathan Axe. In God of War Ragnarok, they are much different.

Brok is still relatively aloof in the phrases he chooses to use and how he approaches situations, being much more hot-headed than his brother. Sindri’s character, however, comes a long way from the hygienic, paranoid individual he was. Sindri is still easily repulsed, but it is finally revealed why in God of War Ragnarok. Brok and Sindri have a troubled history, and while secrets come out there is a lingering riddle Brok asks Mimir that stumps him for the remainder of the game. The answer to that riddle, while trivial otherwise, is devastating at the end of God of War Ragnarok.

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Brok’s Riddle is Unexpectedly Melancholic in God of War Ragnarok

Brok first asks the riddle, “What runs with no legs?” to lighten the mood at one point. God of War Ragnarok’s Mimir answers correctly, stating that it is “a nose.” Later, Brok asks, “What gets bigger the more you take away from it?” Mimir’s guesses for this riddle are shut down, stumping him repeatedly. It is not learned what the answer to this riddle is right away, and before Mimir ever has a chance to guess it correctly, Brok is suddenly murdered. This occurs when Brok’s intuition tells him that something is strange about Tyr’s behavior. Brok was right, as Tyr is revealed to be Odin and stabs Brok.

It is previously learned that Sindri had revived Brok after he had died long before, though he only managed to retrieve three out of four parts of his soul, and could never be whole again or have a spirit leave his body the next time he dies. It is only during Brok’s funeral in God of War Ragnarok that Mimir finally understands the answer to the riddle was “a hole.” This has multiple different meanings and interpretations: for example, a hole is literally left in Brok’s soul, Brok cannot be made whole again, and a hole is left in Sindri’s heart after his brother’s death. Therefore, what began as a seemingly lighthearted and mood-lifting riddle becomes one of the game’s most tragic narrative moments.

Sindri Endures the Most Pain of Any Side Character in God of War Ragnarok

Sindri is wracked with guilt and sorrow following Brok’s death, holding Kratos and Atreus responsible for bringing Odin into his home. Of course, nobody knew that Odin had been masquerading as Tyr in their presence the whole time, but Sindri’s anger outweighs his perception of all events afterward. Sindri reluctantly aids God of War Ragnarok’s cast of characters in the battle at Asgard, and disappears soon after. He then reappears after Odin’s soul is trapped within one of Atreus’ marbles and destroys it, killing Odin’s soul in the process.

Sindri never heals from this wound in the game’s epilogue, and although he arrives to send Brok off at the funeral, he is still deeply traumatized and antisocial. Sindri would normally be disgusted by how much muck is on his armor, but makes no effort to clean it or change out of what he is wearing, which demonstrates how Brok was all he truly cared about. Sindri easily experiences the largest shift in character development and story beats in God of War Ragnarok, even with Freya’s brother Freyr sacrificing himself during Ragnarok. Having lost his brother, it is unknown where Sindri will end up if he appears in a future God of War installment. But if he returns, Sindri will no longer be the same cheerful, paranoid dwarf that fans knew.

God of War Ragnarok is available now for PS4 and PS5.

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