Gaming Summer Game Fest 2026 Ninja Theory’s Next Game Is Senua, a Full Action-Adventure Built Around What Fans Actually Wanted After Hellblade II: More Gameplay Alessio Palumbo • at EDT Add on Google Senua is Ninja Theory’s next game, a full action-adventure that expands beyond Hellblade II with more gameplay, deeper combat, and broader exploration. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 was the unveiling of Senua, an action/adventure game centered on the protagonist of the Hellblade series. In an Xbox Wire blog post, Ninja Theory says the game follows on from Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, but it is intentionally a different kind of experience and should not be treated as Hellblade III. Unlike the previous two Hellblade titles, this is an out-and-out action/adventure. The studio's goal is to keep the intimate storytelling, high production values, and emotional tone that defined Hellblade, while expanding the scope into a broader action-adventure framework. That means deeper gameplay, greater player agency, and more traditional elements such as combat, traversal, puzzle-solving, and exploration. The objective is to satisfy both Hellblade fans and players who want a fuller action-adventure game. Related Story PRAGMATA Review – A Fun Old-School Action RompStudio Head Dom Matthews claimed that the title Senua reflects that this is “fresh and new and different,” with a different intention from the previous two games. He describes the project as additive: taking what worked in Hellblade and adding the kinds of systems players expect from a premium action-adventure title. The article also makes clear that Ninja Theory spent time reading user reviews and forums, and the team concluded that many players loved the presentation, tone, and atmosphere of Hellblade II but wanted more gameplay and more agency. A major behind-the-scenes change is that Ninja Theory brought the entire studio together on one project for the first time in over 12 years, since the controversial DmC: Devil May Cry. Matthews says the studio had around 85 creatives on this game, which is still relatively small by AAA standards. This was also possible because of the cancellation of Project Mara, which allowed the studio to concentrate its talent on Senua and realize its full potential. Senua's structure is built around a fairly even split between combat, traversal, and puzzle solving. Matthews explicitly says players should not expect a combat-heavy game that is “two-thirds combat,” but rather a more balanced action-adventure experience. The key design goal is to blend these elements so the game feels broad without losing the focus and quality associated with Hellblade. That shift is also reflected in the game’s more open layout and increased player freedom. Enhanced Combat Combat is one of the biggest expansions. Senua will be fighting multiple enemies at once, a major change from the more intimate, usually one-versus-one encounters in previous games. Ninja Theory says the combat is built around tactical choice, meaning players can choose how to engage, whether to sneak in stealthily or to attack directly. The trailer shows Senua using a much broader set of tools, including a long axe, short axe, dual-wielding, and throwing weapons. Weapons are not just cosmetic; they are meant to be picked up and used dynamically. Matthews explains that some weapons can be carried with you while others are temporary tools you use in the moment. He gives an example of a player sneaking around a fight, grabbing a weapon from the environment, using it to take out a high-threat enemy, and then returning to the rest of the battle. Senua can also dual-wield with almost all of these weapons, allowing players to express themselves more freely in combat. The game also introduces Focus Abilities, which are tied to Senua's beliefs and understandings over the course of the journey. One example is her ability to shatter reality, which can open new spaces in the world and also serve as a crowd-control tool in combat. These abilities are used across traversal, puzzle solving, and fighting, so they are not isolated mechanics but a core part of how the player interacts with the world. Greater Exploration The game's map is about twice the size of Hellblade II’s, yet it's still a single map. Matthews emphasizes that this is not an open world game, but a linear story told through interconnected locations. Players will revisit familiar places during the story, but the world is more open than before and designed to reward time spent exploring. This is a key distinction: the game is bigger and freer, but still intentionally guided rather than fully sandbox-like. The studio also added that there will be fantastical boss fights. Exploration is meant to be meaningful, not just scenic. Players will discover secrets if they are perceptive, and some of those secrets are tied to Senua developing new beliefs that alter how she perceives the world. One example is a tree that initially looks insignificant but later gains special meaning and power, allowing access to a new area. Traversal is also significantly expanded. Ninja Theory says movement will feel freer and snappier, with increased speed and more player choice over how to navigate spaces. Players can now vault, climb, and jump more often, and the world includes much more verticality and multi-level spaces than in the Hellblade games. Senua’s ability to focus and perceive reality differently still matters, but now it is combined with a more versatile movement kit. The story takes place after both Hellblade I and Hellblade II and is set in Purgatory, specifically Senua’s vision of her childhood homeland. She is trapped between life and death and is seeking the afterlife in order to reunite with loved ones she has lost. Her belief is that healing the wounds of her life will bring peace and unlock the gate to the afterlife. Returning players will recognize characters, themes, and story elements, but as you'd expect, Senua is also designed to welcome new players without requiring prior knowledge. One of the game's most surprising aspects is the relatively fast turnaround: Hellblade II was released in 2024, and Senua is scheduled for 2027. Matthews says the pace is deliberate, not rushed, because the studio had the tech, the pipeline, the team, and a clear concept, allowing them to move quickly. Development on the new game had already begun by September 2024, shortly after Hellblade II shipped in May. Senua will be available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, cloud, Steam, and PlayStation 5. It will also be included with Game Pass and support Xbox Play Anywhere. About the : With over two decades of experience in gaming journalism, Alessio Palumbo has led the gaming vertical at since August 2015. He started working at a young age for Italian websites like Everyeye.it, Gamestar.it, Nextgame.it, and Multiplayer.it before kickstarting the indie English-language publication Worlds Factory as its founder and in Chief. In the last decade, he has coordinated the overall output of 's gaming section, managed PR relations, assigned reviews, produced daily news coverage, edited gaming content as needed, and delivered game reviews. Arguably, his trademark content is the long series of exclusive developer interviews that have been cited by Wikipedia and by the biggest news media and gaming publications. His passion for technology also makes him knowledgeable when it comes to gaming hardware and tech. His favorite genres include RPGs, MMORPGs, and action/adventure games. Follow on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds. 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