Can you play Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II without having played the first one?

After years of waiting, Ninja Theory is finally set to release Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II on May 21, 2024. But as this has been clearly labeled as a direct sequel to Senua’s Sacrifice, the first game in the series, the question of whether you can jump into the new title without playing the first one has started to surface online.

As the name implies, Hellblade II is being set as a direct sequel to the first game, but as it’s a new story with a much higher budget than the first, is it really mandatory to play the first one before Hellblade 2?

Can you play Hellblade II without having played Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice?

In short, as the series is heavily focused on the main character, Senua, and her internal journey in dealing with grief, mental illness, and her own metaphorical/maybe-real demons, we highly recommend that you go through the first game before jumping into the newest title in the series.

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice works pretty well as a standalone story, but it deals with the warrior’s journey through a hellish underworld. In it, she must contend with both supernatural and psychological, as she’s hellbent on rescuing the soul of her dead lover while being haunted by “the furies”, who are a representation of her own mental illness. It is a fantastic experience that doesn’t take more than 8-10 hours to complete.

Additionally, it appears as though the sequel will begin shortly after the end of the first game, so while the events on Hellblade II may not be directly related to Senua’s journey to save a soul, it will depend heavily on her internal growth from that adventure.

What kind of illness does Senua have?

Senua’s mental state was one of the standout features of the first game, and it is being continued with the sequel. In “Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice,” the protagonist Senua experiences symptoms consistent with psychosis, a mental health condition characterized by a disconnection from reality. Senua’s psychosis manifests in several ways, including auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations, and delusions. Throughout the game, players hear a chorus of voices, known as “Furies,” which constantly comment on Senua’s actions, often in contradictory and confusing ways.

These voices are a central aspect of her experience, illustrating the invasive and persistent nature of auditory hallucinations. Additionally, Senua sees disturbing and fantastical visions that blend the boundaries between reality and her mind’s projections. These visual hallucinations are deeply intertwined with the game’s narrative and environment, contributing to the eerie and immersive atmosphere.

Ninja Theory worked closely with neuroscientists, mental health specialists, and individuals with lived experience of psychosis to create an accurate and respectful representation. This collaboration ensured that Senua’s experiences were depicted with sensitivity and depth. The game’s developers aimed to reduce stigma and promote awareness by presenting Senua’s struggles in a relatable and humanizing manner

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II promises to delve deeper into the warrior’s journey and her battle with mental illness, and it’s releasing on May 21, 2024, on Xbox Series X|S and PC.