Hellblade: Senua's Psychosis

Senua, a Celtic warrior, embarks on a vision quest into Viking Hell to retrieve the soul of her dead lover. Battling through a brutal, stylized underworld, she must confront her own psychosis, manifested as voices and hallucinations, as well as a host of mythical creatures. The journey is as much an internal struggle against her mental illness as it is an external fight for survival.

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice was widely acclaimed for its groundbreaking portrayal of psychosis, its atmospheric world-building, and its intense combat. Critics lauded the game's emotional depth and its respectful, albeit harrowing, exploration of mental health struggles. It was particularly praised for its use of binaural audio to simulate auditory hallucinations, immersing players in Senua's subjective experience.

• Praised for its innovative and sensitive depiction of mental illness.

• Lauded for its stunning visuals and immersive audio design.

• Commended for its challenging combat and compelling narrative.

Google audience: Google users overwhelmingly praised Hellblade for its powerful storytelling, its immersive atmosphere, and its respectful handling of mental health themes. Many highlighted the emotional impact of Senua's journey and the effectiveness of the game's unique audio design in conveying her psychological state.

Won multiple awards including 'Best Audio Design', 'Best Performance', and 'Game Beyond Entertainment' at The Game Awards 2017, and 'Best Game', 'Best Storytelling', and 'Best Actress' at the BAFTA Games Awards 2018.

The role of Senua was performed by Melina Juergens, who was originally a video editor at Ninja Theory and had no prior acting experience. Her raw, emotional performance was largely improvised and derived from her own personal experiences and research into mental health.