Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is a beautiful, interactive, first-person introspective character study under the visage of a video game. This game is not without it's flaws but it is also the closest thing to perfection I've been able to experience in my lifetime. It's a great example of what this medium is possible of doing. First of all for anyone reading reviews thinking about whether it is worth playing there are a few things to consider.

If you're looking for a complex series of game systems to learn and solve, or countless hours of extremely difficult boss fights to master, this is not the game for you. This games core gameplay mechanics are simple, but satisfying but nothing special or that hasn't been done before.

However, if you're interested in Mental Illness portrayed respectfully in a video game format to tell a great story, or perhaps are into norse mythology, or horror and artistic freedom and the abstract morbidity it can offer, and a quick to learn simple, satisfying game to tell a great emotional story of an ancient warrior suffering from breaks in reality travelling to hell itself carrying the severed head of the only person who believed in her and lover hoping to bring him back to life. Then this game is for you.

Sound design & Voice acting 10/10.
Art Direction & Design 9/10.
Gameplay 7/10. (Mundane but gratifying through animations, and cinematics).
Story 10/10.

I highly recommend this to anyone who personally has ever faced there own demons or darkness, it will resonate with you in some fashion and you will become immersed. That being said, wear headphones and free up a day to do so in one play session.

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is a beautiful, interactive, first-person introspective character study under the visage of a video game. This game is not without it's flaws but it is also the closest thing to perfection I've been able to experience in my lifetime. It's a great example of what this medium is possible of doing. First of all for anyone reading reviews thinking about whether it is worth playing there are a few things to consider. If you're looking for a complex series of game systems to learn and solve, or countless hours of extremely difficult boss fights to master, this is not the game for you. This games core gameplay mechanics are simple, but satisfying but nothing special or that hasn't been done before. However, if you're interested in Mental Illness portrayed respectfully in a video game format to tell a great story, or perhaps are into norse mythology, or horror and artistic freedom and the abstract morbidity it can offer, and a quick to learn simple, satisfying game to tell a great emotional story of an ancient warrior suffering from breaks in reality travelling to hell itself carrying the severed head of the only person who believed in her and lover hoping to bring him back to life. Then this game is for you. Sound design & Voice acting 10/10. Art Direction & Design 9/10. Gameplay 7/10. (Mundane but gratifying through animations, and cinematics). Story 10/10. I highly recommend this to anyone who personally has ever faced there own demons or darkness, it will resonate with you in some fashion and you will become immersed. That being said, wear headphones and free up a day to do so in one play session.