Hellblade is an action-adventure video game franchise created and developed by Ninja Theory. The series follows the journey of Senua, a Pict warrior who experiences psychosis, as she confronts personal trauma, grief, and mythological forces inspired by Norse and Celtic mythology. The franchise is noted for its depiction of mental illness, cinematic presentation, and use of binaural audio.
The series began with Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice in 2017 and was followed by Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II in 2024 and Senua in 2027.
Games
| 2017 | Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice |
|---|---|
| 2018–2023 | |
| 2024 | Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II |
| 2025–2026 | |
| 2027 | Senua |
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (2017)
Senua’s Sacrifice was released on 8 August 2017 for Windows and PlayStation 4.[1] The game follows Senua as she travels through a vision of Helheim in an attempt to rescue the soul of her deceased lover Dillion.[2]
The title received critical acclaim for its narrative, visual presentation, audio design, and portrayal of psychosis.[3]
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (2024)
Released in May 2024 for Windows and Xbox Series X/S, Hellblade II continues Senua’s story as she journeys through 10th-century Iceland.[4] The game expanded upon the cinematic presentation of its predecessor and received praise for its graphics, sound design, and performances.[5]
Senua (2027)
Senua is scheduled for release in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. Set after the events of Hellblade II, the game follows Senua as she becomes trapped in a vision of purgatory based on her childhood homeland. Unlike previous entries, the title was designed as a larger-scale action-adventure game featuring expanded exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat systems.[6]
Common elements
Setting and mythology
The series draws inspiration from historical settings and mythology. Senua’s Sacrifice primarily incorporates Norse mythology, while later entries introduce elements of Celtic mythology and folklore. The games blend historical and mythological themes with psychological storytelling.[3]
Senua and psychosis
A central element of the series is its portrayal of psychosis through the perspective of its protagonist, Senua. Ninja Theory collaborated with neuroscientists, psychiatrists, and individuals with lived experience of psychosis during development. The series uses binaural audio and visual effects to represent Senua’s perceptions and internal experiences.[2]
Gameplay
The Hellblade games are action-adventure titles played from a third-person perspective. Gameplay combines exploration, environmental puzzles, narrative sequences, and melee combat.[7] Later entries introduced larger environments, expanded combat mechanics, and greater player choice.[6]
Development
The series was created by Ninja Theory as an independently developed project. The first game was developed by a small team and marketed as an “independent AAA game” production.[8] Following the commercial and critical success of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Ninja Theory was acquired by Microsoft in 2018.[9]
Subsequent installments were published by Xbox Game Studios. The series became known for its emphasis on performance capture, cinematic storytelling, realistic character animation, and mental health representation.[10]
Reception
The Hellblade series has received critical acclaim. Reviewers have particularly praised its narrative design, portrayal of psychosis, performances, sound design, and visual presentation. The franchise has received numerous industry awards and nominations, including recognition from the British Academy Games Awards and The Game Awards.[11][12]
See also
References
- ^ Matthews, Dominic (August 12, 2014). “Hellblade Revealed for PS4, Developed by Ninja Theory”. PlayStation. Archived from the original on August 13, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
- ^ a b Lloyd, James (October 10, 2017). “How Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice deals with psychosis”. Science Focus. Archived from the original on August 13, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
- ^ a b Hellblade: Senua’s Psychosis (in-game documentary). Ninja Theory. Ninja Theory. 2017.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ LeBlanc, Wesley (21 May 2024). “Ninja Theory Co-Founder, Hellblade Director Tameem Antoniades No Longer At Studio”. Game Informer. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2024.
- ^ Chiodini, Johnny (21 May 2024). “Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 review – a triumphant return to a challenging story”. Eurogamer. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ a b Skrebels, Joe (7 June 2026). “Senua: Answering the Big Questions About Ninja Theory’s Unexpected New Action-Adventure”. Xbox Wire. Retrieved 8 June 2026.
- ^ Bell, Alice (August 10, 2017). “Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice review”. VideoGamer.com. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
- ^ McFerran, Damien. “Why Hellblade is the world’s biggest indie game”. Red Bull Games. Archived from the original on October 15, 2017.
- ^ “Microsoft Game Studios just added five new studios including Ninja Theory”. 10 June 2018. Archived from the original on 10 June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ West, Josh (4 April 2024). “6 years after its acquisition, Ninja Theory is ready to set a new standard for Xbox Series X exclusives with Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2”. GamesRadar+. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ Saunders, Toby (10 December 2024). “BAFTA Games Awards 2025: Longlist and when to watch”. Radio Times. Archived from the original on 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Moore, Bo (12 December 2024). “The Game Awards 2024 Winners: The Full List”. IGN. Archived from the original on 13 December 2024.