The latest instalment of a popular video game franchise has been banned in Australia, with censors citing a scene in which a female monster sexually assaults the player's character during a "ritualistic" sex scene.

The horror game Outlast II has been refused classification by the Classification Board, meaning it cannot be legally sold in Australia.

The sequel to a popular 2013 bestseller, the game – which is due for worldwide release next month – revolves around a husband and wife investigative journalism duo who get caught up with a doomsday cult.

The board has refused the game on the basis that it depicts sexual violence.

In its decision, the board describes a first-person cut-scene in which a "female creature" prepares the protagonist – Blake Langermann – for some kind of ritual.

"Humanoid creatures, their skin grey, spattered with blood and scarred, implicitly have sex as others pray, or chant, or gesticulate," the board says.

The board said while much of the following scene "is obscured", the "ritualistic orgy" scene implies an assault "which is sexual in nature".

"The board is of the opinion that this, combined with Blake's objections and distress, constitutes a depiction of implied sexual violence."

The board says the described scene does "not represent an exhaustive list of the content that caused the computer game to be refused".

The original Outlast game, in which players explored a mental asylum overrun by homicidal monsters, was rated R18 due to "high impact horror, blood and gore".

The Classification Board says Outlast II will likely be given the same rating if the scenes of sexual violence are removed. A playable demo for the new game last year was also given a R18 rating.

The game's developer, Red Barrels, has not yet commented on the board's decision.

Australia introduced an R18 classification for video games in 2013 after a string of high-profile games were banned or censored.

However since the new rating was introduced a number of games have still fallen foul of the board, including Saints Row IV, State of Decay and Hotline Miami 2.