BioShock
BioShock is a 2007 first-person shooter developed by 2K Boston, often credited as a spiritual successor to System Shock and set in the crumbling underwater city of Rapture. Players explore this failed 1960s utopia, uncovering its story of unchecked objectivist ambition through environmental detail and scattered audio-log diaries.
The game blended shooting with genetic superpowers called plasmids, which let players hurl fire, lightning, or swarms of bees, and a rich, philosophically charged narrative built around a now-famous mid-game twist that questioned player agency and the nature of choice in games. Its atmospheric art-deco world, memorable adversaries like the hulking Big Daddies, and moral choices about whether to save or harvest the child-like Little Sisters elevated it into a landmark of video game storytelling and worldbuilding.
BioShock is frequently cited among the greatest games ever made and helped prove games could tackle serious philosophical themes. It was later remastered and bundled with its sequels, keeping Rapture accessible on modern platforms.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to BioShock, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioShock: The Collection | € 49,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Prey (2017) | € 29,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
| Mouthwashing Indie | € 12,79 | Steam Deck Verified | PC |
BioShock: The Collection
€ 49,99Remastered versions of all three BioShock games.
BioShock: The Collection runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
Prey (2017)
€ 29,99An immersive-sim shooter with powers and a haunting station setting.
Prey (2017) runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Switch.
Mouthwashing Indie
€ 12,79An indie narrative horror game with a strong sense of place and dread.
Mouthwashing runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
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