Recognition That’s Well-Deserved, Honestly
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice was an incredible game, one that was buried under a mountain of other stellar titles in 2017. Games like Mario Odyssey, Breath of the Wild and Horizon Zero Dawn tended to sweep up most of the awards when it came time to hand them out. Among others I know I’ve neglected to mention. It was a terrific year for games, is what I’m saying. Thankfully, the British Academy Game Awards know a gem when they see it.
Ninja Theory’s critically-acclaimed title took home five awards this year. Hellblade won for Artistic Achievement, Audio Achievement, British Game, Games Beyond Entertainment and Best Performance. Of particular note is the Games Beyond Entertainment award, which celebrates games with a political or social message. Hellblade is the first ever winner of this new category, a victory that’s well-deserved.
More than just a rock-solid adventure, Senua’s Sacrifice takes a hard look at mental illness and its effects on people everywhere. Ninja Theory was committed enough to this cause that they hired specialists and experts to ensure a certain level of authenticity. They’ve even donated a percentage of the game’s earnings to a mental health charity in the UK. With games like this one making such a critical and commercial mark on the industry, we’re sure to see even more titles that have a more meaningful story to tell in the future.