Just a few days ago, a new title from Ninja Theory studio, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, was released on PC and Xbox X/S.
This is the second instalment and continuation of the excellent action-adventure game, where we take on the role of the titular Senua.
She is a Pict warrior struggling with what she believes is a curse but is actually a mental illness that causes her to experience various visions and hallucinations. Interestingly, these serve as guides and replace the traditional visual HUD.
The game’s story takes us to 10th century Iceland. Senua voluntarily allows herself to be captured by Norse slavers, with a plan to find her people and save them from captivity. However, before she can do so, she faces a series of challenges, including battles with mythical monsters, gods, and even… herself!
The game combines elements typical of adventure and action games, with quick-time events, puzzles, and even psychological survival horror motifs.
Just a few days after its release, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II received very high ratings on gaming sites (mostly 8/10 and 9/10). The game impresses with its engaging storyline, excellent musical score, interesting gameplay mechanics, and stunning graphics.
Speaking of graphics… you’re probably wondering if this game will run on your PC. Today, we present the system requirements and performance optimization for Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II!
System Requirements
As previously mentioned, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II offers fantastic, almost photorealistic graphics. This is thanks to the Unreal Engine 5 used in its production, supported by performance capture technology (for detailed character animation) and photogrammetry (for reconstructing real places). This all translates to a stunning, almost cinematic visual experience!
| Component | Minimum Requirements | Recommended Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10/11 64 Bit | Windows 10/11 64 Bit |
| Processor | Intel i5-8400 | AMD Ryzen 5 2600 | Intel i7-10700K | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Nvidia GTX 1070 | AMD RX 5700 | Intel Arc A580 | Nvidia RTX 3080 | AMD RX 6800 XT | Intel Arc A770 |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 70 GB available space | 70 GB available space |
| Additional Notes: | SSD Required | SSD Required |
Additional Information & Performance Tips
The requirements mentioned above, both minimum and recommended, will allow you to enjoy smooth gameplay and fully utilize the features that Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II has prepared for players. However, if you want to experience the full visual effects and push the graphics to the limit, here is some extra information for you!
Senua’s Saga supports HDR (high dynamic range) on both NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards, but as you may already know, you should have a decent display screen (TV or monitor) that supports this technology and, of course, make sure to enable those settings on it. The same goes for 4K resolution, which Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II can also provide. On PC, you can achieve 40-50 FPS (frame rate) with high settings, with some fluctuations during intense sequences.
You can also adjust some graphic settings in the game. The best combination for optimized graphic settings for Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II looks like this:
| Graphical Option | Recommended Setting |
|---|---|
| Display Mode | Fullscreen |
| Resolution | Native |
| Custom Upscaler | NVIDIA DLSS/ FSR for non-Nvidia GPUs |
| Frame Generation | On |
| Super Resolution | Quality |
| Automatic Sharpness | On |
| Dynamic Resolution | On if an upscaler is not selected |
| Vertical Sync | On |
| Gamma | Personal Choice |
| Nvidia Reflex | Off |
| Variable Rate Shading | On |
FAQ
What resolutions are supported by the game?
The game supports high resolutions: 1080p, 1440p as well as 4K.
Can I run the game on a laptop?
Yes, as far as your laptop meets the aforementioned requirements.
Can I run the game on an integrated graphics?
Yes, for more info check the before mentioned requirements. Although for a better gaming experience a better, a dedicated card may be required.
What should I do if I encounter performance issues?
Firstly, you should check if your PC meets the requirements. Second, you should make sure that your graphic card drivers are up-to-date. Most performance issues are a result of low specs and outdated drivers. To make sure the game runs on your PC/laptop, you may also check dedicated websites such as CanIRunIt. If any problems still occur, you should contact the game support (Xbox Support Centre)