GameTimeline

Release & story order

Hellblade games in order

Follow Hellblade games in order—Ninja Theory’s Senua saga from Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (August 8, 2017) to Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (May 21, 2024). Release and Story match: play Sacrifice first, then Hellblade II—there is no hidden prequel film moving the sequel earlier. This page covers psychosis-informed presentation, Game Pass availability, photo mode, and whether you need the first game. Cinematic-action neighbors: God of War, Control, and Alan Wake.

Updated September 2026

Pick your path:

Full Senua path Sacrifice only Hellblade II focus Full release list Story order

Where to start

Pick Full Senua path for both games in order, Sacrifice only if you want the 2017 Helheim story alone, or Hellblade II focus only when you accept weaker setup and still prefer to start with the sequel.

  • Best experience → Full Senua path
  • Short on time → Sacrifice only, then decide on II
  • II-first is possible but not the recommended emotional order

Release order

When Ninja Theory shipped each Senua chapter—Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (August 8, 2017) then Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (May 21, 2024). Release is also the play path: finish or at least understand Sacrifice before Hellblade II for the strongest emotional continuity. Enhanced updates and ports (including later PlayStation versions) retell the same two campaigns—they are not third and fourth story titles on this list.

  • Newcomers 2026 → Senua’s Sacrifice → Hellblade II
  • Game Pass / Xbox → both often available—confirm current catalog
  • PS5 → Hellblade II Enhanced era includes modern ports—check bundles
  • Photo mode → optional creative tools, not a story chapter
Story order tips

Senua’s path matches ship order: Helheim quest in Senua’s Sacrifice → Icelandic continuation in Hellblade II. There is no midquel film that jumps II earlier. Voices, combat focus, and trauma themes continue; II assumes you know who Senua is even if plot summaries try to onboard newcomers.

  • Core path: Sacrifice (2017) → Hellblade II (2024)
  • Hellblade II is a sequel—play Sacrifice first when you can
  • Content warning → mental illness themes; see psychosis FAQ
  • On Story order, later entries may be hidden—reveal when ready or use Show all spoilers

Timeline

0/2 played

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

    Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

    PCPS4Xbox OneNintendo SwitchPS5ActionMainlineNinja Theory

    Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (August 8, 2017) follows Senua into a Norse-myth Helheim shaped by trauma and psychosis—binaural voices, intimate combat, and a short, focused campaign that defines the series’ tone before Hellblade II.

    Overview
    Independent-scale cinematic action that treats mental illness as lived perception—3D audio voices, permadeath-adjacent tension in the original design, and puzzle spaces that feel like mindscapes rather than open-world checklists.
    In-game setting
    Series opener. Story continues in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. Later ports and Enhanced bundles retell this campaign—they are not separate fiction chapters.
    Should you play it?
    Required start for the full Senua path. Short enough to finish before II. Tone neighbors: Control and Alan Wake.
    Release date
    US August 8, 2017 on PC and PlayStation 4; later Xbox, Switch, and PlayStation 5 optimized editions. Confirm the SKU for your platform.
  2. Senua's Saga: Hellblade II

    Senua's Saga: Hellblade II

    Xbox Series X|SPCPS5ActionMainlineSequel

    Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (May 21, 2024) continues Senua’s journey into Viking-age Iceland with Unreal Engine-era presentation, fewer but heavier encounters, and the same voice-driven immersion—sequel, not a reboot.

    Overview
    Sequel showcase for performance capture, environmental storytelling, and refined photo tools. Combat is sparer and more cinematic than a traditional action checklist; Enhanced updates later deepen graphics and capture features.
    In-game setting
    Direct sequel after Senua’s Sacrifice. End of the mainline path as of September 2026—no Hellblade III on this list yet.
    Should you play it?
    Play after Sacrifice for the best setup. Playable alone with weaker emotional context. Neighbors: God of War and Death Stranding.
    Release date
    May 21, 2024 on Xbox Series X|S and PC; PlayStation 5 arrives with the Enhanced window (August 12, 2025 era). Day-one Game Pass presence on Xbox/PC—confirm current subscription catalog.

FAQ

Release vs story (they match), do you need Hellblade 1 for 2, psychosis portrayal, Game Pass, photo mode, and Ninja Theory context.

Release order

Recommended: Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice → Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. Use current Enhanced / patched builds on your platform. Game Pass can make both easy to try on Xbox and PC—confirm they are still in the catalog when you subscribe.

Story & Senua

Strongly yes for the best experience. Hellblade II is a sequel about Senua continuing her journey. You can boot II first and follow the plot at a surface level, but Sacrifice teaches who she is, how the voices work, and why the tone hits harder. Essentials includes an II-focus path only as a compromise, not the default.

Ninja Theory worked with mental-health advisors and people with lived experience to depict psychosis-informed perception—especially the overlapping voices and reality filters around Senua. It is art, not a clinical manual. Expect intense themes of trauma, grief, and mental illness; take breaks if needed. The games are not “horror jump-scare factories,” but they can be emotionally heavy.

Platforms & extras

Hellblade II launched with Xbox Game Pass / PC Game Pass availability, and Senua’s Sacrifice has also appeared in the service at various times. Catalogs change—check the live Game Pass list on your account before assuming both are included today. Owning them outside Game Pass is always fine.

Optional & related

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.