Abuse and Trauma. Psychosis and Stigma. Grief and Acceptance. Love and Loss. Redemption and New Birth. Somehow, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice masterfully presents these themes in the single piece of interactive media that I believe transcended the simple experience of a video game. Every piece of Senua’s journey is carefully chosen and crafted to present her story through every aspect of gameplay and every cut-scene. Throughout the entire experience, I felt more identified with Senua than with any other video game protagonist whose body I have inhabited.

The thing that elevates Hellblade to the status of masterpiece is that it is quite possibly THE most important story ever told in video games... The empathy the game creates for Senua is unmatched within the medium, and significant because it allowed me (a white, American male without disability) to feel the pain of an ancient woman dealing with trauma and mental illness in a culture that did not understand and only deepened her sense of responsibility for her pain. My heart broke like nothing else has ever caused.

I must acknowledge that the game’s combat is fairly problematic, with bad camera angles and an awkward always-locked-on mechanic that led to many frustrating deaths and extended battle scenes, but even so, it feels untrue to this game to give it anything less than a perfect score. You cannot miss this game.

(Platinum Trophy #16 on 1/25/2020)