BioShock 2: Minerva's Den

 PC
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 115 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 91 out of 115
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 115
  3. Negative: 3 out of 115

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  1. JimCorbett
    Feb 19, 2014
    7
    Same gameplay with less weapons (although there is a new one) and less plasmids. Story is hard to follow and relatively uninteresting until you get to the twist ending which was a nice touch, too bad it took so long to get there. The DLC will last you probably 3-4 hours max.
  2. UserScore
    Mar 30, 2014
    6
    BioShock 2: Minerva's Den spoiler-free review:
    A really short and uninteresting tale with little to offer.
    After BioShock 2 stablishing the player as Big Daddy, an unstopable force, Minerva's Den gives the players less weapons and things (like food that gives you health or coffee that gives you eve) to find, it was really hard to adapt myself to a more strategic and thoughtful position    BioShock 2: Minerva's Den spoiler-free review:
    A really short and uninteresting tale with little to offer.
    After BioShock 2 stablishing the player as Big Daddy, an unstopable force, Minerva's Den gives the players less weapons and things (like food that gives you health or coffee that gives you eve) to find, it was really hard to adapt myself to a more strategic and thoughtful position in battle. The story is uninteresting and I always kept going for the level design. The only new weapon added is okay, but never changed how I played the game. The music, sound and graphics are still as good as in the main game.
    In the end, I enjoyed Minerva's Den, though I'm not sure if it's worth the price. It changed a few things and most were unsuccessful.
    Average Score: 6.5    … Expand
  3. frederik1478
    Mar 24, 2022
    7
    A nice little story and a good Apollo to the BioShock 2 experience it has all The Heights of the main story with almost none of it's false. I would recommend it very short because sadly it looks like almost nobody has played it.
  4. Skizzzo63
    Apr 4, 2020
    5
    I know I'm in the minority, but I didn't like much this expansion. And it's not because I don't like BioShock: I played (and enjoyed) both BS 1 and 2 multiple times.
    Honestly, I don't get why Minerva's Den is so celebrated. I found it boring, repetitive and uninspiring (compared to the full games, of course). I couldn't wait for it to end, so I could go to my next game (Bioshock Infinite,    I know I'm in the minority, but I didn't like much this expansion. And it's not because I don't like BioShock: I played (and enjoyed) both BS 1 and 2 multiple times.
    Honestly, I don't get why Minerva's Den is so celebrated. I found it boring, repetitive and uninspiring (compared to the full games, of course). I couldn't wait for it to end, so I could go to my next game (Bioshock Infinite, if you wanna know).
    Let's put aside, for a moment, the fact that it crashes every now and then (at the beginning, at least). If you quick-save often, this is just a minor hassle.
    The real problem is, you have to do the very same stuff over and over again, and in environments that all looks the same: brownish-gray, smallish and cramped. Gone are the vast places that you could explore at your leisure, find always something new, and use to set up elaborate strategies against your enemies.
    Here you just have to: kill splicers, kill Big Daddy, use Little Sister to get Adam, kill more splicers, acquire new powers - rinse and repeat. Oh, and the story is nothing to write home about, IMHO.
    Besides, the course of action is almost always pre-set; I mean, you don't have much freedom about what to do next. You have to go to A, but you lack power B, so you need to go to C, find that power, and then go back to A.
    All in all, it's not bad. It just feels mediocre, repetitive and boring - especially when you already have enjoyed the vastly superior experience of BS 1 and 2. Since most people seem to love Minerva's Den, though, YMMV. But be warned, because you might not :-)    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
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No score yet - based on 2 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. PC Gamer UK
    Jul 9, 2011
    81
    A satisfying self-contained chapter, driven by an engrossing story, with exploration encouraged. Plus flying laser robots.
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  2. GamerNode
    Jul 9, 2011
    60
    Some refreshing of the game's major mechanics or pacing could have spliced this DLC to the next level, but unfortunately its repetitive nature holds it back. If you are a sucker for Rapture lore, then Minerva's Den may yet be worth the $10.
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