Best Games Like BioShock

BioShock is one of those one-of-a-kind games that comes out of nowhere. 

It flips old gaming tropes upside down and introduces various new innovative game mechanics and design choices that help it stand out as a unique release that will be played and replayed for years to come.

We could sing BioShock’s accolades for hours, but we’re going to save that for another article.

In this one, we’re going to be listing some of the prime games that are reminiscent to BioShock that have been released so far – without including the rest of the BioShock series.

So, without further ado, let’s begin!

When it came out, BioShock was lauded as the spiritual successor to System Shock 2. 

Since System Shock 2 had Ken Levine as the top designer, it’s no surprise that the two games are quite alike in various ways.

System Shock 2 is characterized by a bleak cyberpunk aesthetic and features action RPG and survival horror elements, much like BioShock.

However, System Shock 2 has much more comprehensive RPG mechanics, making it feel closer to an authentic RPG rather than an FPS with RPG elements sprinkled on top.

System Shock 2 is available on Windows so that you can play it anytime, but it was recently announced that an Enhanced Edition is in development. 

It should help make the game work properly with new hardware, it will deliver improved multiplayer functionality, and it should also iron out some defects with the original release.

Moreover, it’s worth mentioning that the original System Shock from 1994 will be getting a thorough remake soon, which is fantastic news. 

Naturally, the original is still worth playing, but it might be a bit too antiquated for younger generations of gamers, so the remake should do a splendid job of breathing new life into a classic game.

The 2017 reimagining of Prey is probably the most BioShock game since BioShock, at least from a gameplay perspective, seeing as it features many of the design elements and mechanics that made BioShock remarkable.

Prey is set on a typical-looking space station, which doesn’t leave as enduring of an impression as Rapture does.

However, it does an adequate enough job of providing a comparable atmosphere, and the story is also quite analogous in tone.

The adversaries are not as memorable as the Splicers, and there is, sadly, a similar lack of variety on this front. Still, the gameplay mechanics ultimately help the game from growing monotonous.

Prey doesn’t feature many traditional weapons, and most of the complexity is provided by Neuromods, which are essentially Prey’s version of plasmids.

Neuromod abilities are more diverse, and they can drastically change the player’s playstyle.

It’s possible to focus on stealth to avoid or ambush enemies, manipulate tech equipment, wield various offensive and defensive psychic abilities, and more.

All in all, with its expansive level design and a multitude of approaches that the player can take depending on which Neuromods they choose, the game has a lot of replay value.

And in that regard, Prey is even better than BioShock. But as mentioned above, the visual design and story presentation don’t “stand out” as much as BioShock’s do.

Dishonored is primarily a stealth game, but even though it might not feature as much gunplay as BioShock does, the game’s protagonist is equipped with an array of abilities that feel a lot like plasmids.

On top of that, Dishonored also takes place in a similarly gloomy world, and it’s steampunk aesthetic is quite effective at helping it stand out.

Overall, when you combine the capabilities above with the game’s numerous semi-open stages, there’s a lot of replayability value.

The combat is a mix of melee and ranged weapons/abilities. Therefore, while there isn’t as much gunplay as there is in BioShock, the combat of Dishonored is executed quite adeptly.

In addition to the original game, there are also Dishonored 2 and Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, which primarily do what sequels typically do: they add fresh content and improve upon the foundation set by the original in numerous ways, so they are worth playing, too.

SOMA was developed by Frictional Games, the studio behind the classic Amnesia: The Dark Descent.

That said, SOMA is a frightening game that doesn’t have a combat system and focuses primarily on story and exploration.

The game occurs on an abandoned underwater research station, so you can understand why it has BioShock-like vibes.

The subject matter the story deals with has some related themes, though the stifling atmosphere is what makes the game so analogous to BioShock.

If you’re not into this type of horror games and don’t like stealth or having to run away from invincible monsters, the developers have included an easy mode which makes the enemies harmless, so you can play through the game as if it were your typical walking sim.

Of course, we don’t recommend this, as the enemy encounters are extremely significant to building tension and atmosphere, but as we’ve already said, you can skip them if they’re just not your cup of tea.

Dead Space was released not long after BioShock, and although it has a third-person perspective and different gameplay, it can still create a BioShock-like feel through its atmosphere and exploration.

Now, Dead Space is a much more gory and horror-oriented experience than BioShock.

It is set on a dilapidated space ship and features a cast of diversely hideous Necromorph enemies, which are an absolute joy to slaughter and dismember.

However, no matter how satisfying the action and gore might be, Dead Space is a survival horror game, so the player needs to count their shots and pick suitable weapons for dealing with different kinds of enemies.

Ultimately, this is scarcely the most BioShock-like game out there. Still, if you liked the oppressive atmosphere and survival horror elements in BioShock, you’ll probably appreciate Dead Space – and if you’re a fan of the Resident Evil series, you’ll enjoy it even more.

We Happy Few is akin to BioShock in terms of themes and look.

It takes place in a dystopian society that is in the process of collapsing due to the rampant abuse of a drug that changes people’s perception of the world. All the while, the events of the game take place in the 1960s.

However, unlike BioShock, the game features three distinct playable characters who have different playstyles, with a heavier accent on survival horror elements, which also includes a more significant focus on stealth. Moreover, some of the game’s environments are procedurally generated, which can make some of the environments feel a bit repetitive.

All things considered, while the game is not an adrenaline-fueled shooter like BioShock and has received generally mixed reviews from critics and fans alike, it’s still worth trying out if you’re after more BioShock-esque content.

Granted, it’s nowhere near BioShock’s level, but if you’re into this kind of game and like BioShock’s aesthetic, then you just might enjoy it.

Conclusion

These are our choices for the best BioShock-like games that you can try out!

We’ll be adding more games to this list from time to time as new games are released, so be sure to check back now and then.