Hellblade 2 Review – Xbox’s God of War… with Glaring Flaws

Just as in the first game, Hellblade 2 blows you away with the visuals and soundtrack, with the typical schizophrenic voices to welcome you quickly back into Hellblade's universe. This is Xbox's God of War to Sony, in terms of both visuals and cinematic storytelling, although Hellblade takes the cake in that regard.

A Stunning Return to the Mind of Senua

Just like the first game, Hellblade 2 immediately grabs you with its haunting audio design and jaw-dropping visuals. The schizophrenic voices return to plunge you right back into Senua’s fragile psyche, pulling you into a deeply unsettling yet captivating world. Visually, this is Xbox's God of War — and in terms of cinematic storytelling, it might even surpass it.

A Familiar Formula with Linear Fights

Combat, however, remains pretty linear and straightforward. There’s no deep progression system or move variety, just tightly animated, grounded encounters that serve the story more than they challenge your skills. That said, the animations and immersive presentation still make each battle feel impactful. Combat is not the star of the show, and that’s okay. You’re here for the story, not just the action. Now if that story was actually better, that would help.

Hellblade 2 Is A Visual And Audio Powerhouse

The performance capture and facial animations are nothing short of phenomenal, some of the most photorealistic in any game to date. Combine that with an atmospheric soundtrack and a complete lack of loading screens, and it feels like you’re inside a seamless, continuous cinematic experience, think 1917, but interactive.

Forced Filters Hurt the Experience

Sadly, Hellblade 2 shoots itself in the foot with forced cinematic bars, chromatic aberration, and film grain that often detract from the stunning visuals. Thankfully, editing the engine file allows you to disable them and doing so makes the game look 10x better. It's a shame this isn't an official option.

A Less Focused Narrative Direction

The story is compelling, but it lacks the tight focus of the original. The first game had a clear emotional anchor, saving Dillian, while the sequel feels a bit more meandering. The ending is... serviceable, but doesn’t hit with the same emotional weight of the first game.

Conclusion: Beautiful, Flawed Masterpiece

Hellblade 2 is a audiophile and technical triumph. It delivers an experience that combines cinematic storytelling, haunting audio, and breathtaking visuals into something special. While its forced visual filters and less-focused narrative hold it back from perfection, it’s still a standout title, and arguably one of the most artistic games Xbox has ever published. If you can get it on sale for 50% off, I'd recommend it only for gamers that enjoy beautiful looking movie-games.

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Main Story	Main + Sides	Completionist	All Styles
5 Hours	5 Hours	5 Hours	5 Hours

Music: 7.5/10

Game Design: 9/10

Story 6.5/10

Graphics: 9/10

Enjoyment: 8/10

Overall: 7.5/10