If there is an unmissable Xbox experience you need to play, then Hellblade Senua’s Sacrifice is one of them. We’ve been patiently awaiting its sequel, Hellblade 2 Senua’s Saga, but there’s still a little while to go before it arrives. That means there is plenty of time to dip into the Xbox Spring Sale, as you can pick up the first game for less than $5.
The time to stock up on new Xbox games is now, as the Xbox Spring Sale contains some serious deals. Even Baldur’s Gate 3, one of the best RPG games ever, is discounted for the first time on Xbox. But before you add that to your basket, Hellblade Senua’s Sacrifice is only $3/£2.49 and that’s extremely cheap for one of the best Xbox games out there. Developed by Ninja Theory, Hellblade fuses Norse mythology with psychological horror, puzzles, and a rousing narrative that will leave you thinking about it for weeks after you’ve finished it.
Hellblade revolves around Senua’s journey to Helheim, in hopes of rescuing the soul of her deceased lover from the goddess Hela. Enriched by an incredible lead performance from Melina Juergens, Hellblade has received boundless acclaim for its story, integration of horror game elements, and notably its depiction of mental health. The latter is a result of Ninja Theory working exceptionally close with academics, scientists, and people living with psychosis.
Juergens, who initially worked a video editor for the studio, told JumpCut Online in 2019 that she accepted the role because “I was just being myself for most of the parts. We both suffer from mental health issues; we’re both fairly introverted but at the same time driven by a stubborn warrior spirit which motivates us to keep on going.” Prior to that interview, her work secured her a BAFTA win for Best Performance.
It won’t take you long to blast through Hellblade either, as the story clocks in at around the 8-hour mark. The sequel, Hellblade 2 Senua’s Saga, is set to be one of the most promising Xbox exclusives of the year. Early Hellblade 2 previews are already glowing, so you don’t want to less this one fall under your radar.
In other Xbox news, this upcoming Xbox Showcase could give us our first look at the next Call of Duty game, and co-op game hit Content Warning may receive some “porting magic” for a console release.