Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

 PC
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1377 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,049 out of 1377
  2. Mixed: 197 out of 1377
  3. Negative: 131 out of 1377

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  1. logic
    Dec 1, 2017
    10
    Game of the year. Super enjoyable couple of hours. Engaging characters and deep storyline. Loved the Celtic lore. Combat on the keyboard is a little klunky. Amazing audio in this gem - wear headphones.
  2. T-Opel
    May 23, 2019
    10
    An absolute masterpiece! Never before have I ever felt this much connection to a character.
  3. kraenk
    Aug 10, 2017
    10
    One of the best gaming experiences I've had I've had in years. Very mature and deep game which excells in all areas from the impressive graphics (looks incredible in native 4K!), unique art style, great fighting mechanics and puzzles and especially the haunting sound design. Best played with headphones as some of the sound is binaural (3D). This might not be for everyone or the simple/weakOne of the best gaming experiences I've had I've had in years. Very mature and deep game which excells in all areas from the impressive graphics (looks incredible in native 4K!), unique art style, great fighting mechanics and puzzles and especially the haunting sound design. Best played with headphones as some of the sound is binaural (3D). This might not be for everyone or the simple/weak minded as the theme of schizophrenia and psychosis is no kiddy approach, but I applaud NT for daring to try this and succeeding! Great price as well and well worth it, especially since it's a self published game.… Expand
  4. Joe_Friday
    Aug 25, 2017
    10
    WOW, I loved this game! I'm usually a run & gun type player, and don't go for hack & slash button mashers, but the photo realistic graphics pulled me into the story. And this is a pretty gripping story. Once I started playing I put all my other games aside until I finished this one, which is rare for me. The depiction of Senua's psychosis was intense, especially when you're wearingWOW, I loved this game! I'm usually a run & gun type player, and don't go for hack & slash button mashers, but the photo realistic graphics pulled me into the story. And this is a pretty gripping story. Once I started playing I put all my other games aside until I finished this one, which is rare for me. The depiction of Senua's psychosis was intense, especially when you're wearing headphones and those voices in her head sound like they're in YOUR head. I urge you to get this game and support these developers. I can't wait to see more games from them.… Expand
  5. thekylekurtz
    Aug 14, 2017
    10
    The creators had a clear vision in making this game, and brought it to life in a spectacular fashion. I cannot remember ever feeling so on edge while playing a game, but still finding myself enjoying the experience. The developer's handling of the sensitive subject that is mental illness and the actress who portrayed Senua as such a powerful yet deeply fragile character deserve the utmost praise.
  6. Vio
    Aug 14, 2017
    10
    This game is different from most other games. The closest thing to it would be the Stanley parable crossed with a horror psycho viking madness experiment. It is intense, stressful, immersive, and looks beautiful.
  7. Bulldozer
    Aug 15, 2017
    10
    Aside the fact that the game has few minor bugs, which are being revised and will be fixed hopefully pretty soon, we're in front of a masterpiece of game design, not in the meaning that's overly complex, but in the one that's masterfully crafted and every aspect of the game is astonishingly well blended in the mix.
    Fans of heavily intense action or fans of loot are advised that this game    Aside the fact that the game has few minor bugs, which are being revised and will be fixed hopefully pretty soon, we're in front of a masterpiece of game design, not in the meaning that's overly complex, but in the one that's masterfully crafted and every aspect of the game is astonishingly well blended in the mix.
    Fans of heavily intense action or fans of loot are advised that this game "could" not be for them.
    This is NOT an RPG in which you have to find tons of equipment scavenging through huge maps to explore, this is NOT a pure hack 'n slash game, is an "adventure game" in which you journey along Senua, the main character, guiding her trip which is composed of environmental puzzles to solve in order to progress in your journey, enemies to fight, with an (for me) intuitive, immediate, intense, balanced, responsive, visceral and very satisfying combat system, flavored with truly amazing animations.

    Aside from a single pattern in the puzzles the game presents, which is recurring often, and maybe another one you can face in few instances, the game always presents you different approaches you need to take in every situation, this means that in one part you could need to find your path in one way, in the following one you'll need to look for something else, puzzles involves mazes, even if not overly complex ones, to some extent there is a bit of stealth, there's a bit of time travel, there are intriguing boss fights,, it's a good mix of various intriguing game mechanics.

    As Senua, the main character is a female Celtic warrior suffering of psychosis, you'll not have a HUD guiding your journey, instead is present a mix of visual/acoustic hints in the form mainly of voices in her head, which sometimes can tell you the truth, some other those will plainly lie at you, or hallucinations which can usually prove themselves very helpful in guiding your insight, the game often tries to trick your mind in every way possible, that's a fascinating way to replace a nowaday outdated HUD system, which is possible due to its perfect integration with the main character mental status
    .
    From a graphical and acoustic standpoint the game is simply astonishing, it's highly advisable in this case to follow the game hint to play it with a pair of headphones for the best experience.

    There are collectibles in the game under the form of lorestones which will tell you pieces of Norse mythology, useless to say that collecting all of them "may" grant you some kind of a reward.

    All in all I found it to be an extremely balanced adventure game with the ability to awe you AND give you the chills in many situations.

    For what it is, in my opinion it well deserves a 10 out of 10.    … Expand
  8. Atyne
    Nov 3, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One of those special games you will remember for a long time after finishing it. I don't think any other game ever did what this game did. The portrayal of mental illness shown at its best. Norse stories to spice up the atmosphere and binaural audio with excellent voice-overs will make you feel like listening to ASMR.
    On the other side, the gameplay is a bit repetitive and boring. The story doesn't go for the plot but more for the realization and understanding of what already happened.    … Expand
  9. Dancuka
    Aug 11, 2017
    10
    A wonderful journey, even if not for everybody. I must commend Ninja Theory for the approach they take with this release going against the AAA industry with quality content and half the price. Well done. We need more of these.
  10. Malefic
    Aug 26, 2017
    10
    This game is absolutely incredible. Every detail of it fits so perfectly to tell a truly mesmerizing and terrifying story. To try to compare it to any other game out there would be a disservice to it.

    I am in awe of the actor playing Senua and the incredible work that was done by this small team to make a game that looks and feel multitudes above any AAA game out there.

    A true masterpiece
  11. Rothron
    Sep 20, 2018
    10
    This game is a work of art. It's the best gaming experience I've had for years. The head-voices that are part psychosis and part game play mechanic work extremely well. Graphics is superb. Wonderful and moving performance from the lead actor. Some clever and varied mechanics. HUD-free interface deepens immersion. It kept me up in the wee hours.
  12. ADHGO
    Aug 11, 2017
    10
    it is a real art game, real graphics that gives real world feeling , animation, sounds & voices effects,
    you can start linking the world with simple shapes, solve puzzles, although the game is linear
    but the new psycho experience and game play push you to a new world
  13. SlimPlay
    Jun 25, 2021
    10
    Very new approach and simple gameplay! Endearing Story and very nice representation of mental disorders. Graphically stunning Character Models and awesome effects.
  14. Kusaha
    Aug 8, 2017
    10
    Ninja Theory gives exactly what they promised! Epic story, beautiful visuals, triple a quality. Great experience especially for this price! I really recommend checking out the dev diaries on youtube before jumping into the game, so you could appreciate the game even more.
  15. Gibbonici
    Dec 15, 2017
    10
    Don't come to this expecting Dark Souls. Don't come to it expecting the Witcher. Come to it as a thing all of its own and you'll come away from it with one of the most powerful gaming experiences you'll ever have.

    The story is wonderful, told mostly through the voices in Senua's head and past trauma relived as parts of her quest to rescue her lover's soul from the gods of the Norsemen.    Don't come to this expecting Dark Souls. Don't come to it expecting the Witcher. Come to it as a thing all of its own and you'll come away from it with one of the most powerful gaming experiences you'll ever have.

    The story is wonderful, told mostly through the voices in Senua's head and past trauma relived as parts of her quest to rescue her lover's soul from the gods of the Norsemen. The graphics and environments are incredibly immersive - you can practically smell the wet, rotting wood, feel the sleet and rain on bitter winds, and in the rare moments of sunshine, you can share the relief and joy that Senua feels.

    If you let the story and the character take you with them, the puzzles make sense. Finding patterns in the environment, walking between different versions of Senua's reality and finding your way through dark areas by sense alone, all feel like a visceral part of Senua's experience.

    The combat isn't massively difficult, but it is fluid and responsive. There are relatively few enemy types, each with their own tactics to beat, and the challenge comes when you get them in waves of different combinations, switching tactics and targets on the fly.

    But really it's Senua herself that's the main feature. Perfectly rendered, perfectly acted and perfectly animated every step of the way, you come to genuinely care about this damaged, vulnerable slip of a girl as she advances through her hallucinatory, metaphorical quest against odds that she cannot possibly beat. By turns she goes from determined to frightened to fierce to doubtful to angry, despondent and implacable, and as her moods change so does the world, all of it narrated by the voices in her head which become the voices in your own head.

    It's an incredible experience that is far greater than the sum of its parts. It is intelligent, respectful of its subject matter and doesn't treat the player as an idiot. It's a game that will stay with you for a long time after you've finished it, and it'll make you think about a lot more than solving its puzzles and working out its tactics. It's a heart-wrenching and heart-breaking experience.

    A genuine work of art, both visually and as a piece of literature. I know how that sounds, but if you take Senua's Sacrifice for what it is you'll know exactly what I mean. There really is nothing else like it.    … Expand
  16. Chaotic-Entropy
    Oct 13, 2017
    10
    Great game, great subject matter, great business model and at a great pricing point. This is a must have for anyone that enjoys third-person action games.

    On two personal notes, the subject matter of the game truly speak to me and I find it very engrossing and the game itself deserves to be successful if we want anything resembling a decent development business model to survive the next    Great game, great subject matter, great business model and at a great pricing point. This is a must have for anyone that enjoys third-person action games.

    On two personal notes, the subject matter of the game truly speak to me and I find it very engrossing and the game itself deserves to be successful if we want anything resembling a decent development business model to survive the next few years.    … Expand
  17. CriasSK
    Aug 25, 2017
    10
    The kind of game you'll either love or hate, depending on what you want from a game. Luckily it should be easy to figure out which before you buy.

    Are you the type to turn out the lights, put on some headphones with max-volume, and do your best to fully immerse yourself in the world and the character? If so, Hellblade is an absolutely outstanding choice. If you're the type who's just    The kind of game you'll either love or hate, depending on what you want from a game. Luckily it should be easy to figure out which before you buy.

    Are you the type to turn out the lights, put on some headphones with max-volume, and do your best to fully immerse yourself in the world and the character? If so, Hellblade is an absolutely outstanding choice.

    If you're the type who's just in it for the combat, pass. Combat is crisp and responsive, but overall it really doesn't feel like combat is the central focus of the game.

    What shocked me most is watching the featurette after playing. They described how sufferers of psychosis can often feel paranoid, disoriented, and at times even nauseous. I thought back to playing the game, and recalled the longer I played in a session the more I felt these feelings creeping up on me. I recalled times arguing in my own head with the voices, insisting they're wrong to convince myself to do the right thing and progress forward. I recall trying to piece together what parts of the story were "real" and which weren't, but how can you really be sure? The studio put a lot of work into ensuring the experience was as authentic and genuine as possible, and it really does show.    … Expand
  18. Pitonas
    Jun 10, 2018
    10
    Jesus Christ it's good, character graphics are impeccable, story truly touching, and surroundings are terrifying, I have played it only 2018 but when I think back in 2017 it probably would have been the best game I have played. Loved every second of it.
  19. RexSol
    Aug 11, 2017
    10
    Probably the most immersive game i ever played. I would give it a honest 8.5/10 but I'm giving it a 10 to balance out the zeroes people are giving. This game is a slap in the face of the giant greedy publishers, for the sake of the game industry i hope this game is a success.
  20. Steitaliano
    Aug 10, 2017
    10
    The game is a gem in all aspects but it might not be for everybody I wouldn't recommend spoiling yourself with videos, try it and you will know if its worth your time or not before hitting the 2 hours mark on Steam to be able to ask for a refund.

    If you like games with deep story, amazing graphics, interesting puzzles and having the opportunity to play something different than Call Of    The game is a gem in all aspects but it might not be for everybody I wouldn't recommend spoiling yourself with videos, try it and you will know if its worth your time or not before hitting the 2 hours mark on Steam to be able to ask for a refund.

    If you like games with deep story, amazing graphics, interesting puzzles and having the opportunity to play something different than Call Of Duty, Assassin's Creed or FarCry then give it a try. It's not a hardcore game, you will beat it easy but as I said it's not about the fights or the smashing buttons is about the story and the settings they put in front of you.

    For me, best game so far this year.    … Expand
  21. Afanasyev
    Jan 25, 2018
    10
    Это великая игра. Только не пытайтесь играть под препаратами, даже алкоголем. Есть небольшие притенении к программистам, но
  22. d_dymon
    Sep 22, 2017
    10
    This game is f**kin nuts!
    I don't know where to start, graphics are absolutely amazing, you can see every pore on Senua's face, the paint on her skin, every hair.
    The story is very immersive, they tied it with mythology, so you can learn some things along.
  23. VTL
    Dec 11, 2019
    10
    Perfecto. No puedo decirlo de otra manera... lo jugue al máximo y con cascos al maximo que podia sin perder la audicion y a oscuras, y la sensacion de agobio de querer morirse que te transmite el juego es demoledora. Sin dar miedo, sin sobresaltos, sin escenas de pura accion... Shenua viaja al interior de su mente en un mundo nordico/apocaliptico que la verdad es que lo unico malo es quePerfecto. No puedo decirlo de otra manera... lo jugue al máximo y con cascos al maximo que podia sin perder la audicion y a oscuras, y la sensacion de agobio de querer morirse que te transmite el juego es demoledora. Sin dar miedo, sin sobresaltos, sin escenas de pura accion... Shenua viaja al interior de su mente en un mundo nordico/apocaliptico que la verdad es que lo unico malo es que acaba... Y si alguien se lo pregunta el game play si es sencillo, pero es el que ha de tener este juego.… Expand
  24. a999666s
    Feb 22, 2021
    10
    This is the real hell. This is the real city of death. This is the real horror. Story, music and atmosphere is amazing. I think this is top 1 single adventure game ever!
  25. Chliconcarnag
    Aug 25, 2017
    10
    This game is 9.5/10 I wish so badyly I could play for the first time again................................................alas I will have to the stick with the 2 othe rtimes I beat thisg ame within the span of 4 days. Highly recommend. PLEASE WEAR HEADPHONES IT'S SO MUCH BETTER
  26. mag9us
    Feb 26, 2018
    10
    This game is different, this game is amazing. Combat system is strange, but good on high difficulty. Strong story, soundtrack and main character.
  27. rotwildherzen
    Sep 14, 2017
    10
    In my opinion it's game with great atmosphere, if you know what I mean. All these voices in Senua's and your head.. they could be scaring sometimes.
    The picture is good, animation is good, "game spirit" is good
  28. lu1sy4brudy
    Aug 12, 2017
    10
    Sin dudas una de las experiencias mas inmersivas que he vivido en el mundo de los videojuegos, A pesar de que dura poco, les aseguro que cada segundo vale la pena, esos dislikes que se ven por ahi, solo los dan niños ratas que no entiende ni mierda de una buena trama y narrativa.
  29. AmrKassem
    Aug 18, 2017
    10
    I am very surprised to see all the "1/10"s and the "3/10"s. This game is a true milestone in the gaming industry. The way it was funded and developed is nothing less than a breakthrough. That aside, the game is amazing. This doesn't mean it's perfect, because it's not.

    Graphics: 9.5/10 ======== This game is breathtaking at some points. Especially on PC (I played on GTX 1070). I don't    I am very surprised to see all the "1/10"s and the "3/10"s. This game is a true milestone in the gaming industry. The way it was funded and developed is nothing less than a breakthrough. That aside, the game is amazing. This doesn't mean it's perfect, because it's not.

    Graphics: 9.5/10
    ========
    This game is breathtaking at some points. Especially on PC (I played on GTX 1070). I don't really need to say much, you can see for yourself on Youtube

    Gameplay: 9/10
    ==========

    The fighting is elegant, satisfying, and snappy. It gives the impression that it's too simplistic, but due to the fact that there is no tutorial, you will keep discovering new moves as you go.

    The puzzles are hit and miss, some of them are extremely satisfying, and some are just meh!

    Story: 8.5/10
    =========
    The story is very interesting and at some points will keep you on the edge of your seat. But the ending is not well explained and could take you a bit to understand it.

    Sound and Music: 10/10
    ================

    Simply amazing. Voice acting , music, sound effects, etc... are top notch. Again, you can have a listen for yourself on youtube as well.

    I realize that the aggregate score should not be 10/10, but because this game was made by 16 people and on a limited budget, I think we should all support it, so they could pave the way to more high quality indie titles, like this one.

    I hope you found this review helpful.    … Expand
  30. DaggasPlays
    Aug 8, 2017
    10
    Ninja theory did exactly what everyone expected! Epic Storyline, amazing atmosphere and gorgeous visuals. A great game, especially for it's price! I Recommend playing this to everyone!
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Awards & Rankings

37
#37 Best PC Game of 2017
14
#14 Most Discussed PC Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Jeuxvideo.com
    Jun 3, 2018
    85
    Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice takes us on a long road to hell paved with contemplative yet stressful scenes, and an impressive respect for Norse myths and legends.
    Read full review
  2. CD-Action
    Oct 30, 2017
    90
    Hellblade can disappoint you with repetitive puzzles, linear structure and the fact that it was stripped down to most basic, indispensable mechanics. But Hellblade is not about gameplay. It’s about darkness and fear and despair. The emotional weight of this game is unbearable. Forget about The Last of Us, To the Moon or Telltale’s The Walking Dead. Hellblade is soul-crushing in a way I never thought a game could be. Remember Requiem for a Dream? That’s what Hellblade does to you. I will NEVER forget Ninja Theory’s masterpiece. [10/2017, p.38]
  3. PLAY! Zine
    Oct 12, 2017
    75
    If Heavenly Sword had an opposite, it would without a doubt be Hellblade. A dark, gritty, psychotic, atmospheric hell-ride through the forest of insanity. It looks great but plays like a gloomy record. Not everyone will enjoy this dark adventure. But what it does, it does great. Maybe even too great, if I may say so.
    Read full review
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