10 Video Games That Totally Floored You

8. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice

Hellblade was the indie darling of 2017, and while that ridiculous praise might have set expectations for new players too high (especially those unprepared for just how much of a slog the gameplay is in the later hours), Senua's journey through Helheim is as intimate as it is grand, ambitious and surreal.

Ostensibly about the heroine's literal descent into hell in order to save the soul of her dead lover, the narrative doubles for a metaphorical exploration of mental illness and psychosis, with Senua's nightmarish internal conflicts brought to life by haunting whispers constantly chastising her, made even more impactful by the immersive 3D audio.

The way this intimate struggle is externalised is where the game's power truly comes from though. The backdrop of this hellish Norse mythology setting perfectly reflects Senua's inner turmoil, while visually striking, surreal scenes of disjointed chaos bring the journey to an intense crescendo in the closing hour.

It doesn't always gel, but when it does Hellblade delivers a sensory assault that's unlike anything else.