Laufey in Norse Mythology vs God of War — Key Differences Explained

One of the most clever aspects of the God of War franchise is how it takes real mythology and reimagines it in ways that are both surprising and internally consistent. Laufey is one of the most dramatic examples of this creative reinterpretation.

The Real Laufey in Norse Mythology

In authentic Norse mythology — primarily as recorded in the 13th-century Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson — Laufey is a very minor figure.

Here’s what the actual myths say about her:

• She is Loki’s mother — the only significant fact about her in the original texts
• Her husband is Fárbauti — a giant associated with lightning strikes
• Her name means “Leafy Island” or “Needle” — scholars debate the exact translation
• She appears in almost no stories directly — she is referenced primarily as a way to identify Loki (who is often called “Loki Laufeyjarson” — Loki, son of Laufey)
• Her nature is ambiguous — some sources suggest she may have been a goddess rather than a mortal, but this is disputed

In the original myths, Laufey is essentially a footnote in Loki’s family tree. She has no adventures, no combat history, and no significant role in any of the major Norse sagas.

What God of War Changed

Santa Monica Studio took this minor figure and built an entire character from scratch around her. The changes are extensive:

1. She is not Loki’s mother — she is Loki’s mother

This is actually preserved! Atreus is revealed to be Loki in God of War (2018). So the fundamental family relationship — Laufey as the mother of Loki — remains intact. The genius is in how it’s executed: Atreus doesn’t know his true name until late in the story.

2. Her parentage is changed

In mythology, Laufey’s parents are unknown or unspecified. In God of War, she is a full-blooded Jötunn (Giant) from Jötunheim — the realm of the Giants. This gives her a specific cultural identity and power set that the myths never provided.

3. Fárbauti is replaced by Kratos

In mythology, Laufey’s husband is Fárbauti, a giant. In God of War, her husband is Kratos — the Greek God of War himself. This substitution is one of the most audacious changes in the franchise, connecting the Greek and Norse mythological threads through a single family.

4. She is a warrior, not a passive figure

The real Laufey has no combat history whatsoever. God of War’s Faye is described as a legendary Jötunn warrior who fought Thor himself in Vanaheim and survived. Her title “Laufey the Just” implies a long history of conflict and justice-keeping.

5. She has prophetic abilities

In the original myths, prophetic ability belongs primarily to the Norns and certain Vanir deities. God of War extends this to the Jötnar as a racial characteristic — and Faye uses it to predict and plan the entire storyline of God of War (2018) years in advance.

What God of War Kept

Despite all the changes, Santa Monica Studio maintained several authentic elements:

• The name itself — using “Laufey” rather than inventing a new name grounds the character in real mythology
• The mother-of-Loki relationship — the most important mythological fact about Laufey is preserved
• Her Giant heritage — while expanded dramatically, this is consistent with Fárbauti’s nature in myth
• The sense of mystery — in the original texts, Laufey is enigmatic; God of War maintains that quality by making her a figure of secrets and hidden depths

Why the Changes Work

The God of War team has always been explicit that their games are inspired by mythology, not bound by it. They treat the myths as a starting point — rich source material to be reimagined rather than a template to be followed.

In Laufey’s case, the reimagination works because:

1. The original character had almost no content — there was room to build something entirely new without contradicting anything significant
2. The core relationship was preserved — keeping her as Loki’s mother maintains the mythological anchor
3. The new version serves the story — making her a warrior, prophet, and planner is essential to explaining how Kratos and Atreus ended up on their journey

The Name “Faye”

An interesting detail: in Old Norse, “Fábeygðr” (related to “Faye”) can mean “pale-eyed” or could be connected to the Old English word “fæge” — meaning fated to die, or one who knows their fate.

This may be intentional. Faye chose a name that, in some interpretations, means the fated one or one who knows their destiny — perfectly consistent with her prophetic nature and her decision to plan her own death as part of a larger scheme.

Laufey vs. Laufey (the Singer)

A quick note for anyone who found this page by searching for a different Laufey: the Icelandic-American singer Laufey (born Laufey Jónsdóttir) shares the name but is an entirely separate person. The singer chose her name in tribute to her Icelandic heritage, which is where both the mythological figure and the God of War character’s name originates.

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Interested in the other mythologies featured in the game? Read our breakdowns of Sekhmet and Begtse.