Hellblade 2 review: The most immersive nightmare of 2023

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, developed by Ninja Theory and published by Microsoft, is a highly anticipated action-adventure game that picks up shortly after the events of its predecessor, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. The game continues to follow Senua, a warrior battling psychoses, as she ventures into new brutal and haunting environments. This time, her journey takes her to a Viking-dominated Iceland, where she aims to dismantle the clan responsible for the destruction of her homeland. The game's immersive, binaural sound design and intensely emotional narrative are anticipated to set new standards in 2024. Senua's relationship with her voices, or Furien, continues to play a central role, making the use of high-quality headphones essential for the optimal experience.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is scheduled to be released on May 21, 2024.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 follows Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, which was heralded for its deep exploration of mental health issues, particularly psychosis. The original game stood out for its extraordinary audio design and its commitment to authentically portraying the protagonist's psychological struggles. Ninja Theory, since becoming part of Xbox Game Studios in 2018, has been dedicated to pushing the boundaries of immersive storytelling, a trend that is expected to continue in this sequel. The setting in Viking-era Iceland and the inclusion of more companions mark new elements that build on the original's compelling foundation.