Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II Game Review – A Lived Experience

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For the most part, games are a form of entertainment. However, many modern games tell stories, create experiences, and immerse the viewer into worlds beyond what they’d experience daily. At first, I was at a loss for words to eloquently describe game developer Ninja Theory’s latest title,  Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. It goes beyond a straightforward playthrough, not just telling the story of Senua but almost living it in real-time.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II follows from Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. Having experienced a traumatic upbringing at the hands of her father and losing her lover, Dillion, which prompts her to set out on a journey to rescue his soul from the goddess Hela.

Having come to terms with the loss in the previous game, the next chapter of Senua’s journey is seeking revenge on the Viking raiders who destroyed her homeland, Orkney, including the killing of Dillion.

Senua gets kidnapped by these raiders as she aims to journey to their lands for vengeance. However, upon arrival, things don’t go according to plan. Instead, she encounters horrors that plague the land, the basis of which the raiders seek to kidnap and sacrifice their prisoners. Using her gifts and learning new perspectives, she seeks to help the people she encounters there.

The game is set in 10^th-century Iceland, which includes many beliefs, landscapes and, in some form, their gods. The landscape is beautifully crafted, almost as if it were recreated from each pebble and stone that graces the surroundings.

The backdrop was recreated from real-world locations, adding to the realism achieved. Using Unreal Engine 5, the meticulously crafted detailing is one of the best I’ve encountered in a game. It is utterly breathtaking, adding significant value to the immersive experience within it.

While it may not be an open-world title, allowing you to explore a vast map, the journey still feels as accurate as ever. From the first moment you find yourself captured on the boat, watching the ebb and flow of