| Senua's Saga: Hellblade II | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | Pre-Order & DLC | Review |
| Release Date | |
|---|---|
| Senua's Saga: Hellblade II More Details |
|
| Genre | |
| May 21, 2024 | |
| Platforms | Price (MSRP) |
  |
$49.99 |
| Developer | Publisher |
| Ninja Theory | Xbox Game Studios |
| Number of Players | Age Rating |
| 1 | Mature 18+ PEGI 18 |
| Time to Finish | Cross Platform Play |
| 8 Hours | No |
| Official Website | Official Website for Senua's Saga: Hellblade II |
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II Latest News
⚫︎ Senua's Saga: Hellblade II showcases Real-Time Facial Animation Using Unreal Engine In GDC23 (Game8)
⚫︎ “We Have Another Story to Tell” – Why Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is A Revolutionary Sequel (Xbox Wire)
⚫︎ Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2's Combat Looks Beautiful And Feels Badass (GameSpot)
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II Overview
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is an action-adventure RPG developed by Ninja Theory, released on May 21, 2024, for PC (via Steam) and Xbox Series X|S.
As the direct sequel to 2017's Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice and the second main installment in the Hellblade series, the game follows Senua on a dark fantasy journey through the frozen, perilous wilds of Iceland.
Built on Unreal Engine 5, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II features stunning visuals, an enhanced combat system, and a continuation of Senua's story, delving deeper into the themes introduced in her previous descent into Hel.
| Steam |
Xbox |
||||
| Price | $49.99 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II Gameplay
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is a third-person action-adventure game that places players in control of Senua as she journeys through a visually breathtaking yet brutally violent portrayal of tribal Iceland and its cultures.
The gameplay focuses on puzzle-solving, exploration, visceral combat, and cinematic sequences that deliver the story with exceptional visual fidelity. The progression is entirely linear, tied to how far players advance through the game’s predefined map. Along the way, players encounter puzzles requiring tasks such as lighting sconces in specific patterns or triggering Senua’s memories to reveal hidden pathways or sequences.
Combat is minimalist and highly immersive, centering on one-on-one duels with no health bars or flashy special moves. Players must rely on reaction timing and strategic thinking to land decisive strikes. Basic power-ups are available on cooldowns to add occasional advantages during battles.
A significant portion of the game unfolds through cinematic storytelling, with interactive elements including quick-time events reminiscent of God of War, allowing players to engage directly with pivotal moments in the narrative.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II Reviews
More Cinematics Than Gameplay
The release of Senua's Saga: Hellblade II was met with widespread praise for its stunning visual fidelity and exceptional audio design. Critics almost unanimously agreed that the game significantly improved on the already impressive presentation of its predecessor. However, concerns regarding its gameplay depth began to emerge alongside the accolades.
Aaron Bacabac from Game8 awarded the game a stellar score of 90, highlighting its top-tier visuals, audio, and storytelling. He commended its portrayal of mental health issues and the immersive representation of an underexplored culture, while noting the minimalistic gameplay as a minor drawback.
Similarly, Tristan Ogilvie of IGN praised the game as a spellbinding adventure
full of cinematic spectacle. Though he pointed out the simplicity of its puzzle and combat mechanics, he ultimately gave the game high marks for its execution and immersive design.
On Metacritic, the game earned a critic score of 81, indicating generally favorable reviews, while user scores averaged slightly lower at 7.4. Many users appreciated the game’s visual and auditory excellence but expressed disappointment with other aspects, calling it less inspired and, in some cases, a step back from Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice.
Player reviews on platforms like Steam and Reddit reflected a similar consensus. While the game’s advancements in presentation were widely applauded, some felt it regressed in storytelling and gameplay design. Even among negative reviews, the quality of the visuals was universally acknowledged, though many argued that strong aesthetics alone are not enough to make a game exceptional without equally compelling mechanics.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II Announcement Trailer
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II Announcement Trailer
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II Trivia
⚫︎ Most of the stunning locations in Senua's Saga: Hellblade II are based on real Icelandic landscapes! The Ninja Theory team traveled to Iceland to scan these sites directly, keeping them almost identical to their real-world counterparts with only minor tweaks for the game.
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