BioShock

 PC
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6069 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5,075 out of 6069
  2. Mixed: 678 out of 6069
  3. Negative: 316 out of 6069
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  1. l12345h
    Jan 22, 2016
    10
    Where to start with Bioshock. The beautiful world of Rapture as you descend into it, only to discover what really lies in it about 5 minutes later, the creative plasmids, difficult enemy AI, hearing splicers screaming from several rooms away, accidentally activating an El Ammo Bandito and becoming terrified all the splicers will run after you, accidentally walking into the path of aWhere to start with Bioshock. The beautiful world of Rapture as you descend into it, only to discover what really lies in it about 5 minutes later, the creative plasmids, difficult enemy AI, hearing splicers screaming from several rooms away, accidentally activating an El Ammo Bandito and becoming terrified all the splicers will run after you, accidentally walking into the path of a machine gun turret. Overall Bioshock is one of e most unique fps games I've ever played and I highly recommend it.… Expand
  2. 4y4
    Feb 15, 2020
    9
    This game was awesome back in 2007. It's now a little bit outdated but still playable.
  3. mitsosgk22
    May 4, 2017
    10
    For me, this game is the best game of all time. Despite some technical issues, that most of the games that released in 2007 were facing, this is a special experience that reached perfection in almost any aspect. Interesting and unique plot, fantastic environmental story telling, challenging gameplay with plenty choices on combat, crafting and upgrading items and abilities, and amazingFor me, this game is the best game of all time. Despite some technical issues, that most of the games that released in 2007 were facing, this is a special experience that reached perfection in almost any aspect. Interesting and unique plot, fantastic environmental story telling, challenging gameplay with plenty choices on combat, crafting and upgrading items and abilities, and amazing atmosphere and art direction. It has aged well and I recommend this version over the remaster, except if you buy it on the next gen consoles.… Expand
  4. nestinallbani
    Sep 7, 2019
    8
    Bioshock is an incredible experience and a competent FPS, oozing with style and atmosphere. That being said, it does have its flaws that draw it back. But, first, I'm going to list the positives.
    It truly has one of the most intriguing stories out there, with unpredictable twists and turns, and the acting is excellent. The characters are great and memorable, and their backstories are    Bioshock is an incredible experience and a competent FPS, oozing with style and atmosphere. That being said, it does have its flaws that draw it back. But, first, I'm going to list the positives.
    It truly has one of the most intriguing stories out there, with unpredictable twists and turns, and the acting is excellent. The characters are great and memorable, and their backstories are extremely interesting and in-depth. The story is by no means perfect, but it's nonetheless beautifully executed. The game's best aspect is Rapture, the underwater city that never fails to look stunning, both graphically and aesthetically. Exploring the city is always engaging and rewarding, since there's a lot of things to discover, whether it is interesting audio logs that enrich the overall story, or resources of great value etc.; all these elements make exploration worthwhile and the experience unforgettable. And the design of the city is outstanding and every chapter of the game has its own unique flare when it comes to the level design.
    Now, let me point out some mixed aspects. The combat, while it is satisfying, it just becomes repetitive after a while. I do appreciate the range of weapons and plasmids, and how they can be upgraded, but even with that, it tends to feel samey somehow. The hacking especially gets tedious and annoying, since it also breaks the immersion. This repetitiveness is especially apparent after the plot twist, and those particular levels are not as engaging anymore. Also, that ending is underwhelming to say at least. So, all in all, this game is what I would consider as a flawed masterpiece. It has many amazing and impressive elements, like the creative level design, gritty atmosphere and clever writing, and it has its drawbacks being the gameplay, which is not bad (and it does have some great things for sure), but it gets sort of tedious. Its slight tediousness has nothing to do with the game's age, though, so keep that in mind, because this game has aged very well and it is definitely worth buying.    … Expand
  5. TwistedCritic
    Mar 13, 2016
    10
    Bioshock is one of my all-time favorite games. It's atmosphere is as damp as the city of Rapture itself, and it's literally underwater! It's gameplay is captivating, having you scavenge for supplies and make use of the city's genetic experiments to combat the obstacles around you and use your environment to your advantage. It's world is quite unpleasant, but there's no place I'd rather be, really.
  6. CriticNamedZack
    Sep 7, 2019
    8
    Story: 7.5/10
    Gameplay: 9/10
    Sound: 8/10
    Music: 9/10
    Performance: 8.5/10
    Graphics: 9/10
    Bioshock: 8.9/10
  7. iglive95
    Mar 21, 2016
    10
    One of the best games, if not THE best game, I've ever played. The atmosphere is great, the plot is great, the gameplay is great, everything about Bioshock is great. Rapture will pull you in with its deep background, and will never leave you, even years after you've beaten the game. Deep story with a lot of philosophy behind it. The disappointing last act is Bioshock's only weakness, andOne of the best games, if not THE best game, I've ever played. The atmosphere is great, the plot is great, the gameplay is great, everything about Bioshock is great. Rapture will pull you in with its deep background, and will never leave you, even years after you've beaten the game. Deep story with a lot of philosophy behind it. The disappointing last act is Bioshock's only weakness, and even so I couldn't recommend a game highly. Play it.… Expand
  8. tonz003
    Apr 10, 2016
    10
    One of the best game ever (for me, all Bioshock episodes). Art direction harmony is unbelievable and the feeling of the whole game is awesome. It is a cult game! Is somebody did not play with it, it is a must. All the Bioshock episodes have some unique feeling which games still can compete with now days games!!!
    Thank you for giving us this interactive story!
  9. Vicente_ao
    Apr 13, 2016
    9
    2014 y es primera vez que lo juego. Un juego de lujo que engancha demasiado:

    Pros: - Excelente Historia. -Jugabilidad Increible: Varias armas, varios tipos de munición, los divertidos y geniales plásmidos, los tónicos que te ayudarán a combatir, sobrevivir y piratear mejor. - La música es genial a lo largo del juego, disfrutable. - Personajes bien desarrollados, con carisma y    2014 y es primera vez que lo juego. Un juego de lujo que engancha demasiado:

    Pros:
    - Excelente Historia.
    -Jugabilidad Increible: Varias armas, varios tipos de munición, los divertidos y geniales plásmidos, los tónicos que te ayudarán a combatir, sobrevivir y piratear mejor.
    - La música es genial a lo largo del juego, disfrutable.
    - Personajes bien desarrollados, con carisma y profundos.
    - Dificultad: te hace sentir vulnerable, escasa munición, escaso dinero, enemigos fuertes, Big Daddys muy fuertes, tendrás que ingeniertelas para sobrevivir y salir airoso de las batallas.
    - Muy buenos gráficos, incluso para lo viejo que es, se sienten muy bien aún.

    Contras:
    -Solo en mi caso particular, encontré que estiraron mucho la trama para que no acabara tan pronto.

    9.5/10    … Expand
  10. JustSomeGamer
    Apr 5, 2017
    8
    Amazing game set in a dystopian underwater city. It's 9 years old by now, but the gameplay still holds up great. Interesting story and lore that drives the game forward. Cool level design with a very haunting atmosphere.
  11. villaverd
    May 31, 2016
    10
    Mi juego preferito de la séptima generación sin duda. Es cierto que mirando ahora la jugabilidad no es lo más puntero del mundo, pero cumple más que bien, pero donde más reside el encanto de este juego es en la historia, y qué historia! La manera en la que te la cuentan y como te das cuenta de todo es brillante, tanto como la ambientación de este juego. Un juego que se debe jugar sí o sí.
  12. DeyvsonCaliman
    Jul 25, 2016
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Bioshock is a singular shooter. At the beginning it looks a little as a horror survival, the dark ambience and the fact that you can store health rations and “eve” syringes. Eve is like mana, that your character spend to use skills similar to magic, but that are in fact genetic improvements. Soon after the beginning you can see why this is a shooter, although an uncommon one.

    This game happens in a submerged city that you found seemly by accident after your plane crashes in the middle of the sea. The society in this city is some kind of libertarian utopia that went bad, resulting in its destruction. There we can find many places collapsing to the ocean around, and its inhabitants, the splicers, which are the result of genetic modifications by a substance called ADAM, designed to improve humankind with supernatural powers, but that in the end made its users lose their minds. The splicers are aggressive and attack you on sight.

    As you progress, you find the little sisters; little girls with super regenerative powers that you can kill to either get ADAM or take ADAM from their bodies in small quantities letting them alive. Depending of your decision about them the end game changes. These girls suck ADAM from dead bodies with syringes, while being protected by the bid daddies, a big mutant holding mechanical weapons. As you progress through the game, you learn that they both are educated and genetically designed to behave as they do.

    You are constantly receiving direction from both a woman that takes care of the girls and thank or reprimand you according to your actions towards them, and a man, which appears to be in distress and wants you to kill the man who idealized this city, Andrew Ryan. As you learn about the city it is very interesting the political views expressed by Ryan, he is some kind of a social Darwinist, which sees the modern government as the means to rob the best from their work to sustain the parasites.

    As your approach him is harder and harder to see him as an evil villain, he is more of a idealist. He built this city under the water because he knew the governments from the rest of the world would never let a free society exist like that. The great plot twist you learn is that you are an assassin specially trained to kill Ryan for his ideas, even though his failure already condemned the city. Our character is trained in such a way that is impossible for him to act in any other way, hence Ryan famous phrase “a man chooses, a slave obeys”.

    It’s a very interesting game, specially the way the plot develops, murking the validity of our efforts. The only negative point is about the character death in the game. There is no real consequence, we are just spawn back into the fight, this takes away a lot of the challenge the game could pose. In this case they should have had a more traditional approach, with death meaning the necessity to try again since the beginning.    … Expand
  13. alexaltair
    Mar 28, 2018
    10
    Beautiful world, unique. Graphics, music, all are the best what a good dev can make. A new classic.
  14. TheChosenOne7
    Jan 6, 2017
    9
    Fantastic. Engrossing, unique, and interesting world. Plays wonderfully. It's own artistic style is great. Plot captures you from start to finish. Only gripe is it could have done with a more in depth character development system.
  15. Ash98
    Oct 26, 2016
    9
    One of the best games i have ever played, also my second favourite of all time!

    Damn good first person shooter Horror action, from start to end this game IS going to have you hooked. Forget even some of the most AAA titles that are out, this is the awesomeness, that every gamer should expect from there game. Not only are the visuals insanely good for its days, but the controls are so    One of the best games i have ever played, also my second favourite of all time!

    Damn good first person shooter Horror action, from start to end this game IS going to have you hooked. Forget even some of the most AAA titles that are out, this is the awesomeness, that every gamer should expect from there game. Not only are the visuals insanely good for its days, but the controls are so perfectly suited for the game. My favourite part of the game is fighting the Big Daddy. So action packed, you will get intensely immersed the second you start playing this. You will think that most triple AAA titles out there are boring after you finish this game.

    E to the EPIC!    … Expand
  16. Jernas
    Jun 25, 2017
    9
    So I finally got my hands on Bioshock. I've been tracking this game for years and just recently finished it. Although I never played System Shock, my favourite game is Deus Ex. So now you're going to see, how this game stands up against other fps games. But this time around, we are visiting an underwater city called Rapture.

    To start with the story, it is quite deep and it gets better    So I finally got my hands on Bioshock. I've been tracking this game for years and just recently finished it. Although I never played System Shock, my favourite game is Deus Ex. So now you're going to see, how this game stands up against other fps games. But this time around, we are visiting an underwater city called Rapture.

    To start with the story, it is quite deep and it gets better and better towards the end. At the beginning, some things may seem a bit unconnected, but later on, you'll remember the early stories and connect them to people and objects you find then. But it's of course not just the story worth mentioning. It's the combat system that makes this game exciting. Mostly because AI is damn good. Graphics are very good also, Rapture is very detailed and watter here is extremely realistic. But nothing can outperform the sounds of Rapture. There are also a lot of small things that make this game very attractive, like the use of plasmids and tonics which enhance your abilities in combat.

    But there are also some problems with the game. You are constantly fighting the same enemies throughout the whole game and that makes Bioshock a bit repetitive. Menus are also not that well designed and you are easily lost trying to find a very important message. Also the game is very psychotic with lots of blood everywhere, but I can not decide for you if that is a bad or a good thing. The game is also too short, when you finally get used and start mastering all the plasmids, tonics and other tools, the game is over.

    Don't think now that I was disappointed. Bioshock is a great game overall,maybe a bit repetitive, but a great game. You won't miss anything by getting it, you'll miss a lot by missing it! And that's the whole point. So is a new Deus Ex in the house? No, it's Bioshock!    … Expand
  17. GriefSeed
    Dec 2, 2016
    9
    Excellent setting, narrative, aesthetic, mood, themes, and tone. Some of those might have been redundant, but this game deserves redundant praise. The combat is good enough to not detract from the game, but isn't too special. Plasmids seem like an interesting concept, but end up playing very similar to each other.
  18. willl2021
    Feb 13, 2017
    9
    If you want a game that will both scare you and leave you awake late at night pondering life then this game is for you. Bioshock is a first-person horror and shooter heavily that takes a lot of its ideas from a book by Ayn Rand called Atlas Shrugged. Bioshock is set in a underwater dystopian city called Rapture and yes, you heard me right it’s underwater. And you also get superpowers byIf you want a game that will both scare you and leave you awake late at night pondering life then this game is for you. Bioshock is a first-person horror and shooter heavily that takes a lot of its ideas from a book by Ayn Rand called Atlas Shrugged. Bioshock is set in a underwater dystopian city called Rapture and yes, you heard me right it’s underwater. And you also get superpowers by injecting yourself with juice found from underwater slugs called ADAM. Yeah it gets even crazier from there.

    In Bioshock you play as Jack a man who is flying on a plane to Britain to visit some family members when, suddenly the plane crashes. He survives the plane crash and swims through the debris to find a mysterious lighthouse he goes inside and enters this kind of mini submarine and then finds the city of Rapture. But, he quickly finds that Rapture has fallen to ruin and its inhabitants have been deformed into these monsters called splicers who have been morphed by overdosing on ADAM. Jack is guided by a friendly irish man named Atlas because he makes Jack promise to help him find his wife and son.

    Bioshock is a game that relies on it’s atmosphere to convey its story. At the beginning of a level you will see a cracked window that is leaking water and is slowly flooding the room and later on in that same level you will be able to overhear a enemy talking about how he was the guy who cracked the window. There is also a great quote later in the game that kinda makes you think about life and who you are. The game’s levels are very well designed too and they are all structured well like this you enter the new location, you meet the villain of said level, you do some things that lead you to a new weapon, then you use that weapon to defeat the bad guy. But there is one major thing wrong with this game. The final level I won’t spoil anything but the ending is extremely sloppy. And the graphics although for the most part might be good but other times it is very bad.

    Bioshock is a very creative and for the most part a good game but with a few faults. The story is creative the idea of a underwater city is really cool. The voice acting is also very good and immersive. But the ending is kinda a let down and might leave you wanting more. My final rating for bioshock is a 8/10.

    Pros
    Very creative story
    Cool setting
    Good voice acting
    Great level design
    Cons
    Ending is pretty bad
    Graphics are sometimes bad    … Expand
  19. aythamipt
    Dec 13, 2018
    8
    Simplemente escribo esto para que me conste como un análisis y que la nota del juego me salga en mi apartado de votaciones y tener un historial. Saludos
  20. DinoGeek65
    Apr 10, 2017
    10
    Bioshock has some of the best narrative and visual storytelling I have ever seen in a video game. It is a journey unlike anything I have played before, and shows that video games can be an art form!
  21. dogha
    May 29, 2022
    3
    Поиграл в сознательном возрасте. Все твердили - это шедевр и поиграть должен каждый.
    Прошёл и перданул с подливой. Начало: какой красивый вид; стрельба какая-та не очень, но привыкнуть можно; магия есть, но использовать часто не приходиться. Конец: где этот рычаг; патрон постоянно нет; маны не хватает. Финал: и нахуя я этим всех занимался и концовка, как в evangelion (спасибо *clap*    Поиграл в сознательном возрасте. Все твердили - это шедевр и поиграть должен каждый.
    Прошёл и перданул с подливой. Начало: какой красивый вид; стрельба какая-та не очень, но привыкнуть можно; магия есть, но использовать часто не приходиться. Конец: где этот рычаг; патрон постоянно нет; маны не хватает. Финал: и нахуя я этим всех занимался и концовка, как в evangelion (спасибо *clap* спасибо *clap*).    … Expand
  22. ashketchum
    Mar 10, 2018
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Bioshock is a good game. However, it starts off with a lot more potential than it ends up with. You can see that there is an interesting setting in this underwater city, but you can only go to select places, which leads to it feeling restrictive at times. Some of these locations, like Fort Frolic, are memorable in design, while others, like Arcadia, feel bland. There is a good range of Plasmids to choose from, though, which allows for different ways to attack enemies. The penultimate escort section of the game, however, feels tedious and forced in to lengthen time, and the final boss is a bit of a letdown, compared to how much the game hypes it up. The game is great at setting atmosphere, though, with it's use of sounds, and the stylistic posters and pictures of some locations also help to increase tension, such as with Sander Cohen. A good game, with some missed potential.… Expand
  23. gautamkumar633
    Dec 9, 2022
    10
    One of my all-time favorite games. A great morality-based system, full of plot twists and political dimensions, brilliant gameplay, great characters as well as memorable villains. Andrew Ryan will go down in gaming history as one of the greatest villains. The graphics and depiction of Rapture is just a thing of pure beauty which is complemented by a suspenseful soundtrack that is eerilyOne of my all-time favorite games. A great morality-based system, full of plot twists and political dimensions, brilliant gameplay, great characters as well as memorable villains. Andrew Ryan will go down in gaming history as one of the greatest villains. The graphics and depiction of Rapture is just a thing of pure beauty which is complemented by a suspenseful soundtrack that is eerily haunting. A must play.… Expand
  24. EvilGame52
    Jun 28, 2017
    9
    Muy buen juego. Muy entretenido a la par que te cuentan una historia intensa sin saltarse lo mas importante, la jugabilidad. Una banda sonora de la lecha, q le añade aun mas intensidad al juego. Aunque la variedad de enemigos se ha quedado corta para mi gusto. Lo bueno, y es un punto muy a favor, es que no te dan el paron con cinematicas estupidas cada dos por tres, es que ni hay. Y algoMuy buen juego. Muy entretenido a la par que te cuentan una historia intensa sin saltarse lo mas importante, la jugabilidad. Una banda sonora de la lecha, q le añade aun mas intensidad al juego. Aunque la variedad de enemigos se ha quedado corta para mi gusto. Lo bueno, y es un punto muy a favor, es que no te dan el paron con cinematicas estupidas cada dos por tres, es que ni hay. Y algo que hay que reconocer a 2K es que nos han sabido contar una historia muy buena sin cinematicas y no saltandose la jugabilidad.… Expand
  25. Dragonfly44
    Jan 27, 2019
    9
    Combat is a bit dated and there isn’t a whole lot of variety but it’s very fun and at times truly horrifying.

    Ratng - 91%
  26. kourtin
    Sep 17, 2017
    10
    Masterpiece of all times. Although its PC version is pretty buggy the story, environments, characters and all about Rapture makes this game one must play at all cost. I totally recommend it if you are into gloomy atmospheres, bizarre situations and you are into stuff like George Orwell's 1984
  27. aditya1101
    Sep 24, 2018
    9
    I'm generally not a big fan of FPS games, but I really liked Bioshock Infinite so I had to give this game a try. While I didn't like it quite as much as I liked Infinite, it was still a really solid game. I enjoyed the FPS aspects, but what's really special about this game is it's environment and storytelling.
  28. RagingPoet
    Jan 31, 2018
    8
    8.5 out of 10.
    Bioshock is great story-driven FPS with few RPG elements. Visuals, sounds and plot - everything comes together to create one of best atmospheres in action games. Gameplay itself is not as good but it's fine.
  29. frappocino
    Nov 22, 2017
    8
    I watched the trailer for this game over and over again and it gave me goose bumps. The game did not disappoint. Dark atmospheric environment. Compelling story and engaging gameplay. This is a masterpiece.
  30. madamateur
    Nov 24, 2017
    10
    This game has been among my favourites for a decade, it's wonderful and original. The ideas, the concept and the execution have but few minor flaws. overrall it is an incredible experience.
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best PC Game of 2007
3
#3 Most Discussed PC Game of 2007
2
#2 Most Shared PC Game of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
96

Universal acclaim - based on 44 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 44
  3. Negative: 0 out of 44
  1. PC Gamer UK
    95
    A dark and astonishing masterpiece...I spend my career, and my gaming life, waiting for a moment when a game just astonishes me, when I can't believe what I'm seeing, what I'm doing. BioShock has five. [Sept 2007, p.66]
    Read full review
  2. Eurogamer
    100
    The hours spent playing this masterpiece were the perfect encapsulation of why videogaming is such a favourite waste of time for so many of us. Thrilling, terrifying, moving, confusing, amusing, compelling, and very very dark. BioShock isn't simply the sign of gaming realising its true cinematic potential, but one where a game straddles so many entertainment art forms so expertly that it's the best demonstration yet how flexible this medium can be. It's no longer just another shooter wrapped up in a pretty game engine, but a story that exists and unfolds inside the most convincing and elaborate and artistic game world ever conceived.
    Read full review
  3. IGN
    97
    There is art here, despite what many would say isn't possible with games, from Roger Ebert to game designers like Hideo Kojima... BioShock stands as a monolithic example of the convergence of entertaining gameplay and an irresistibly sinister, engrossing storyline that encompasses a host of multifaceted characters. This is an essential gaming experience.
    Read full review
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