15 Best Video Game Acting Performances Of The Decade
9. Melina Juergen - Senua (Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice)
Ninja Theory broke the mould of what a mid-tiered indie title could be, with its triple-A level graphics, disturbing use of sound design, and a captivating central performance in Hellblade. Very much the centre piece is Senua herself, played emphatically by Melina Juergen, on her quest to save the soul of her deceased partner from the terrifying lands of Helheim.
Senua isn’t your typical video game protagonist however, suffering from psychosis in what is the game’s groundbreaking coverage of mental illness. The Pict warrior will hear voices, witness hallucinations and Juergen delivers an unhinged performance as Senua is rife with paranoia, as she navigates her way through the hellish landscapes – with her dead lovers’ severed head in tow.
The nightmarish enemies and anxiety-inducing presentation of Hellblade, work as extensions to the torn and fragmented mind of Senua, and Juergen’s quivering breath and teary eyes sold the uncomfortable atmosphere the game was trying to create.