5 Must-Play Alternatives to Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

The world of video games is breathtaking and sheerly infinite in its possibilities. With the wide spectrum of different game genres, styles, and narrative techniques, every player surely can find something of her/his liking. One of these precious gems is "Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice". Admired for its compelling storyline, intense action, striking visuals, and heartfelt portrayal of mental health issues, it has left an indelible mark on the gaming community. Still, even the most magnificent game could seem tiring and monotonous after you’ve been spending a considerable amount of time playing it. So why not plunge into something new and exciting nestled in the same realm? Here, we've rounded up the best five alternatives to Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, providing you with all the gripping narratives, thrilling action, and thought-provoking themes you've come to appreciate.

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Gameplay, Story, and Setting

Recipient of numerous "Game of the Year" awards, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is heralded for its expansive open-world, rich narrative, and complex character development. You'll take on the role of Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster hunter tasked with finding a child from an ancient prophecy in a vast world teeming with strife, wars, and dangerous mythical beasts. The gameplay is action-packed, combining real-time combat with RPG elements in a third-person perspective. The moral choices you make will mold the storyline, allowing for multiple endings and a highly immersive role-playing experience. Set in a morally ambiguous, dark fantasy world, where the line between good and evil is often blurred, The Witcher 3 will leave you contemplating the consequences of your actions and questioning what it really means to be a hero.

2. Dark Souls III

Gameplay, Story, and Setting

Another third-person action game, Dark Souls III offers an incredibly rewarding challenge for those willing to brave its Gothic world. This legendary game is notorious for its punishing difficulty, with intricate levels filled with deadly enemies and intimidating bosses ready to test your skills and resilience. While the cryptic storyline folds out as you explore the world, it's deeply ingrained in the environment and gameplay. You will play as the Ashen One, a character revived to save a world on the brink of destruction. The setting is a gloomy, decaying kingdom filled with eerie cathedrals, murky dungeons, and besieged castles that ooze with a sense of impending doom.

3. God of War (2018)

Gameplay, Story, and Setting

In this new God of War game, you will accompany the iconic character Kratos on a deeply personal journey of growth, reflection, and change – a stark contrast to his former image of blind rage and vengeance. Kratos now finds himself in the lands of Norse mythology and is a father trying to pass on his knowledge to Atreus, his young son, while battling his inner demons and the gods that threaten their world. The gameplay offers Spartan-like melee combat that feels intentionally heavy and impactful, with brutal finishing moves and an upgradeable skill tree system that adds depth and variety. The bond between Kratos and Atreus is central to the story, offering emotional depth and a richness in dialogues unheard of in the franchise before. The setting beautifully captures the majesty of Norse mythology, delivering stunning vistas and ancient mythological locations.

4. Horizon Zero Dawn

Gameplay, Story, and Setting

Horizon Zero Dawn presents an unusual blend of post-apocalyptic future and primeval past. We follow the story of Aloy, a brave and curious young woman venturing through a world overrun by mechanized creatures, unveiling secrets of the ancient civilizations and her own past. Gameplay blends stealth, dynamic combat, and exploration with RPG elements. Aloy’s main weapon, a versatile bow, allows you to exploit and target enemy weaknesses. The story is deeply immersive and powerfully told, while the setting showcases lush forests, barren deserts, and the remains of towering ancient structures, making exploration a core player’s delight.

5. Assassin's Creed: Odyssey

Gameplay, Story, and Setting

Assassin's Creed: Odyssey takes us back to Ancient Greece, letting you explore the crowning times of Athens' golden age and the brutal world of the Peloponnesian War. Choose your path as Alexios or Kassandra, mercenaries outcast from their family, making alliances, confronting gods, and shaping the destiny of an entire civilization. The gameplay offers engaging combat, naval battles, and the freedom to approach missions in various ways. With moral choices influencing the storyline and romantic relationships possible to pursue, this game feels truly like an epic Greek odyssey. The setting is a joy to explore, with a diverse, vivid, and vast open-world full of cities, islands, battlegrounds, and hidden treasures.

Each of these games offers gripping narratives, engaging combat, and awe-inspiring worlds to explore, making them worthy alternatives to Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. Immerse yourself in their realms, and brace yourself for thrilling and intellectually rewarding gaming experiences.