The beginning of the journey
Once you reach the riverbank after the introductory scene, take note of the massive boulder directly in front of you. This is a stone of knowledge—one of many such items scattered throughout the game. Focus on it to learn more about Scandinavian legends and your upcoming journey to Helheim.
After interacting with the stone of knowledge, move through the swampy terrain. Here you will encounter the “Darkness” for the first time — one of the manifestations of Senua’s psychosis. Don’t worry: this state will pass quickly. When the fog clears and the road to Hel opens up, you will learn the heroine’s true goal — to return the soul of her beloved Dillion, stolen by the goddess Hel, who dwells in the depths of Helheim.
Searching for the way to the bridge
When you reach the beach, you will see a majestic structure at the end of a raised bridge hanging over waters strewn with sharp spikes. This is the gateway to Helheim, but to reach the bridge, you must find a secret path — the voices in Senua’s head will guide you.
Follow the shoreline under the bridge until you reach the opposite side. Here, by a small waterfall, another stone of knowledge awaits you. Listen to its story, then turn right—there you will find a wooden staircase leading to an elevated platform.
Continuing on your way, you will be forced to jump into a tunnel running through the mountain. There is no turning back — the way back is closed.
The mystery of the runes
As you proceed down the passageway, you will encounter a peculiar door adorned with a large red rune. Glowing symbols swirl around it. As you approach, a voice from a ghostly memory will speak to you—it is Drut, who will teach you how to decipher the mysteries of the Scandinavian runes.
Focus on the main rune, which resembles the letter “M.” Drut will explain that in order to unlock the gate, you must find something in the room that resembles this symbol.
Solution to the puzzle: Step away from the door and retrace your steps. Examine the left wall where the beam of light falls on the surface. The shadows from the roots above form the outline of the desired symbol. Move closer and focus on the wall—the path will open up.
Ascent to the Gates
Climb the stairs and cross the narrow footbridges amid the rumblings of thunder. At one point, you will have to cross a very narrow beam to get to the other side of the rocks. Before descending the stairs to the small passage leading to the Gate, be sure to listen to the stone of knowledge in this location.
The Gates of the Gjöll Bridge: The First Battle
Upon reaching the Gates of the Gjöll Bridge, you will find that the door cannot be opened. But Senua is not alone—as the Darkness consumes her mind, three nightmarish northerners appear. They attack one by one.
The combat system is quite simple:
| Action | Result |
|---|---|
| Evasion | Allows you to avoid an attack |
| Block at the right moment | Creates an opening for a counterattack |
| Quick strikes | Swift but weak attacks |
| Strong strikes | Powerful but slow attacks |
Parry your opponents’ attacks and finish them off one by one. After defeating three enemies, ghosts will appear that cannot be killed. Defeat is inevitable here—and it teaches an important lesson.
The Mechanics of Decay
From this point on, every time you fall in battle, there will be consequences: the rot from the Darkness will spread through Senua’s body. If it reaches her head (i.e., if you suffer too many defeats), the game will end, and you will have to start over from the beginning.
Choosing a path
After awakening, Drut’s voice will inform you that the gates to Helheim will only open after defeating the guardian gods. There are two doors behind you:
- Left — leads to the domain of Valravn, god of illusions
- Right — leads to the domains of Surtr, god of fire
Both gods must be defeated before you can proceed.
Before making your choice, don’t forget to listen to the stone of knowledge near the gate.
Important: the order in which you complete the quests is up to you, but keep in mind that enemies will become stronger and more varied on the second path you choose.