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Ninja Theory has pulled the wraps off its next game, and it's not what many expected. Revealed at the Xbox Games Showcase, Senua is a new entry in the Hellblade series, but the studio is keen to stress that this is a very different beast from the award-winning Senua's Saga: Hellblade II.
Where Hellblade II was a tightly controlled cinematic experience, which was both its strength and weakness, Senua is described by studio head Dom Matthews as an out-and-out action-adventure game, built around a fairly even split between combat, traversal and puzzle-solving. The intent is to keep the intimate storytelling, atmosphere and high production values the series is known for, while giving players considerably more agency and gameplay. And that't exactly what the fans were asking for after Hellblade II so this is the studio's answer to that feedback.
Combat built around tactical choice
Ninja Theory are adamant that the combat is the centrepiece, and the guiding phrase is "tactical choice". Senua now takes on multiple enemies at once, with verticality and environmental elements to exploit, and crucially, the option to decide how, or whether, to engage at all. The trailer shows her stealthily picking off enemies as readily as charging in.
The weapon set has expanded well beyond her signature sword. There's a long axe, short axe, dual-wielding, and the ability to throw weapons or grab them from enemies and the environment mid-fight, including, as Matthews enthuses, swiping a flaming torch and battering enemies with it. On top of that sit Focus Abilities tied to Senua's beliefs, including a reality-shattering power that doubles as crowd control in combat. The studio is also promising fantastical boss fights, something the Hellblade games have largely lacked.
The world has grown too, roughly twice the size of Hellblade II's, built as a single interconnected map. Matthews is careful to clarify this isn't an open world: it's still a linear story, but one that opens out and lets you revisit familiar locations and spend time exploring spaces that reward perceptiveness.
One striking detail is the turnaround. Hellblade II launched in May 2024, and Senua is due in 2027, a short gap by modern standards. Matthews insists this isn't about rushing, but about a studio that now has the technology, pipelines and a clear vision in place, with the entire team, around 85 people, working on a single project for the first time in over 12 years. That focus came at a cost: the previously announced horror title Project Mara has been cancelled to pour all the studio's talent into Senua.
Senua arrives in 2027 on Xbox Series X/S, PC, cloud and PS5, included with Game Pass and supporting Xbox Play Anywhere. It's also coming to Steam.
