Ninja Theory’s Hellblade aims to accurately represent mental health issues

Ninja Theory's seeks to accurately and sensitively portray mental illness in it's upcoming game, Hellblade.

Hellblade is an independently published action-adventure game by Ninja Theory.

Recommended Videos

The developer has explicitly stated that through this game they hope to discuss the very stigmatized topic of mental illness.

Hellblade Senua

Through the eyes of protagonist, Senua, the player experiences the inner struggle of someone dealing with psychosis.

Senua is a Celtic warrior who is left tortured after a Viking invasion. Though the hell she experiences in the physical world is nothing compared to the hell that manifests in her own mind.

As a result of independent development, Ninja Theory has stated that they have the freedom to explore such a topic and have gone to great lengths to ensure that the finished product is not only sensitive, but accurate as well.

Hellblade Senua

With that in mind, Ninja Theory has been working closely with Paul Fletcher, a professor of health and neuroscience at the University of Cambridge. In a development diary, Fletcher discussed the importance of such a game because a person “under such conditions can become very ostracized, and a consequence of this is that they can become very stigmatized.” 

He also said that working with Ninja Theory has been very gratifying, as developers are tackling these sensitive issues seriously in order to bring an accurate representation of symptoms to the game.

Hellblade

Further research for the project has been made possible through the support of Wellcome Trust, which is a biomedical charity based organization that aims to understand and make improvements to health science.

Wellcome Trust Creative Partnerships Manager, Iain Dodgeon noted that “there are a lot of preconceived ideas about mental health, particularly with schizophrenia and psychosis,” and he hopes that their support allows Ninja Theory to create a game that gives a “fresh perspective on the condition and allows audiences to engage with it in a way that just wouldn’t be possible in any other medium.”

More on how Senua’s struggle is incorporated into Hellblade is discussed on Ninja Theory’s official Youtube channel as well as other key elements to gameplay and design. Hellblade will be released on PC as well as PlayStation 4. E3 should hold more news on the game’s development.


GameSkinny is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more
related content
Read Article Overwatch 2 Introduces Its First Free Hero in Season 10
Venture holding her drill and Baptise, Zarya, Pharah, and Lifeweaver standing behind her
Read Article Horror Becomes Educational by Teaching Morse Code in SOS: Forgotten Planet
A monster behind a door marked M
Read Article Pocketpair Announced the 10 Most Popular Pals in Palworld
Player looks up to Quivern in Palworld
Read Article Elder Scrolls 6 Gets an Update on the Series’ 30th Anniversary
Eleder Scrolls wizard casting green magic
Read Article This Witchy RPG Is Like Howl’s Moving Castle Brought to Life
A young witch looks to a home built on chicken legs in Reka
Related Content
Read Article Overwatch 2 Introduces Its First Free Hero in Season 10
Venture holding her drill and Baptise, Zarya, Pharah, and Lifeweaver standing behind her
Read Article Horror Becomes Educational by Teaching Morse Code in SOS: Forgotten Planet
A monster behind a door marked M
Read Article Pocketpair Announced the 10 Most Popular Pals in Palworld
Player looks up to Quivern in Palworld
Read Article Elder Scrolls 6 Gets an Update on the Series’ 30th Anniversary
Eleder Scrolls wizard casting green magic
Read Article This Witchy RPG Is Like Howl’s Moving Castle Brought to Life
A young witch looks to a home built on chicken legs in Reka
Author
Pip Simon
False