Riding high on the success ofHellblade’sfirst entry,Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2is a highly anticipated game from developer Ninja Theory. First announced back in 2019, and later showing gameplay footage at The Game Awards 2021,Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2is already promising a great deal above its predecessor - being built on Unreal Engine 5 with a soundtrack from experimental folk band Heilung to hammer in its Norse and Celtic foundations.
While players await further news and announcements, some are questioning why the games' titles have swapped places. The first entry of theHellbladeseries was titledHellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice,while the upcoming sequel isSenua’s Saga: Hellblade 2.Though it’s not unheard of for series to undergo name changes so they can modernize and refine their franchises, the pivot from debut to sequel withHellbladehas some wondering whether there is going to be a shift in focus forSenua’s overall story.
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The Story of Senua
WhenHellblade: Senua’s Sacrificewas first released, it was met with a considerable acclaim from fans and critics, but chief among this attention was thepraise forHellblade’s focus on mental health. Lensed through Senua’s cultural understanding that the voices in her head are “Furies” who are part of her “curse,” the game’s narrative focuses on themes of grief and trauma as she aims to save her lover’s soul after death. Many elements of the game build toward this interpretation of psychosis, from the dark rot that consumes Senua each time she dies to the voices that go so far as to break the fourth wall. In the conclusion ofSenua’s Sacrifice,Senua must come to terms with her curse and make peace with her lover’s death.
A sequel then will have to chart a different course, as that chapter of grief has seemingly been closed for Senua’s life. It’s clear that Ninja Theory has an expansive dark fantasy universe it wishes to explore within theHellbladecanon, with gameplay trailers giving players just a glimpse of whatSenua’s Sagamight entail. Some theories suspect that Senua, in the wake of realizing she’s unable to bring back Dillion, will turn to anger, makingSenua’s Sagaa pursuit of revengeagainst those who have hurt her.
More Focus on Senua
With the titles swapping places, it brings Senua to the forefront of the series' identity, which could indicate that Ninja Theory is planning to place more emphasis on her overarching story.Hellbladeis providing a rich, complex experience contained within this character study of Senua. At this point,Hellblademight refer to the canonical universewith settings, lore, and characters that Ninja Theory has constructed, whileSenua’s Sagaimplies players should now expect Senua’s story to be a saga across several entries as she undergoes the trials of life. Not only could this open up the potential for a greater exploration of Senua, it could open doors for new characters to be introduced in theHellbladeuniverse.
While there is still much yet to know about whatSenua’s Sage: Hellblade 2might bring, the title shifting might be a reflection of Ninja Theory acknowledging that its best-selling point for the series was notHellbladeas a franchise, but Senua herself. Players demonstrated a keen interest in her struggles, and the gaming industry responded positively to the depiction of her mental health challenges. Making Senua the focus of the series moving forward could just be indicative of this changed marketing focus.
This shouldn’t downplay the good thatHellbladeis generating, as its success has led toNinja Theory’s The Insight Project, which helps research therapeutic gaming. Regardless, there could be much more to tell from Senua’s story once the sequel has been launched, and fans might only be at the beginning of a much grander narrative.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2is in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
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