Developer Ninja Theory might not be one of the biggest studios under the Xbox Game Studios umbrella, but is certainly one of the most interesting of the bunch. The studio has a mostly consistent track record, but its latest single-player adventure Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is one of the developer's biggest triumphs.
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice was a bold statement that there's still value and a place to be had for single-player middle-market experiences, which was especially important since the industry seemed to be moving steadily towards creating multiplayer and live-service titles. In addition to this, Ninja Theory's first self-published title also took the opportunity to touch on issues rarely discussed by games - mental health.
The Anxieties Within Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
2017's Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice might not have been the best of the best, but it definitely took bold steps in accurately representing Senua's mental illnesses which included psychosis accompanied by anxiety, depression, and self-doubts. Furthermore, these problems were masterfully juxtaposed against a Norse mythology setting where everyone regards these ailments as a curse from the gods which adds to Senua's anxiety and self-doubts as she ventures deep into Helheim to recover a soul of a lost loved one.
Seeing the world through an entirely different lens forms the basis of the game's puzzles, which helps convey Senua's problems in a grounded fashion. Ninja Theory is able to induce a palpable sense of tension and anxiety in the player with its rot system, which threatens to wipe all progress if a player dies too many times. Of course, that's also just a hoax and no such mechanic is actually present in the game.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 and Project Insight
The studio is currently hard at work on developing a sequel, titled Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, which is a continuation of Senua's journey and will most likely be touching on the same themes as its predecessor. There's still a lot of silence regarding the game which has left fans clamoring for details, but it seems unfair to expect any concrete details soon in light of recent developments. Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is most likely in early development as Ninja Theory recently confirmed that it would be using the still-unreleased Unreal Engine 5.
To better convey mental illness in a more believable and realistic fashion in this medium, Ninja Theory initiated The Insight Project in 2019 shortly after a year of being acquired by Microsoft. The project is defined as a combination of art, game design, and cutting-edge neuroscience technology which is supposed to help players come to terms with their illness through new forms of therapy. While the project itself is far from completion, there's a high likelihood that Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 would be the first title to make use of findings from the project.
The Insight Project is another bold step in taking mental illnesses more seriously, and the medium of games is certainly ripe for exploration in this department as many games such as Dark Souls and Celeste among many others have been reported to be therapeutic in coping up with such ailments.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2Â is currently in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S.