Gamers have been enamored by the BioShock sequence from the second they escaped a crashed plane, entered a mysterious lighthouse, and launched into their undersea voyage to the crumbling metropolis of Rapture. Usually referenced and paid tribute to, many take into account Irrational Video games’ immersive action-horror basic a masterpiece, and within the years following its debut, it blossomed right into a long-running franchise.
However in basic BioShock trend, its sequels have been the furthest factor from conventional. As anticipated for a sequence that hinges on otherworldly scientific discoveries and reality-tearing experiments, BioShock’s story steadily switches between alternate universes, leaving its video games out of chronological order.
With information of a Bioshock film on the best way, you could be eager to attempt our or revisit the sequence that began all of it. So, for these searching for a linear approach to play via BioShock’s full narrative, right here’s a fast runthrough of the BioShock sequence in chronological order.
Soar to:
- Tips on how to play in chronological order
- Tips on how to play by launch date
How Many BioShock Video games Are There?
In complete, there are 4 BioShock Video games (three launched on house console and PC and one launched solely on PC through net browser) and three expansions.
This checklist received’t embody remasters or ports, together with the BioShock Assortment, which bundled remasters of the total trilogy and its expansions. It additionally received’t include problem map packs, reminiscent of Conflict within the Clouds or BioShock’s Problem Rooms DLC, as these are purely gameplay-focused and thus thought of non-canon.
Which BioShock Recreation Ought to You Play First?
It is best to start the place the franchise did with the unique BioShock. The primary sport laid the inspiration for the franchise from a gameplay and narrative perspective, exploring massive socio-political concepts inside a confined, thoughtfully crafted house. It’s a necessity to play via the unique to totally perceive and recognize the must-play BioShock Infinite, particularly its Burial at Sea DLC. And regardless of debuting 17 years in the past, BioShock is completely playable in the present day, due to a 2016 remaster and a stylized aesthetic that has aged significantly effectively.
Each BioShock Recreation in Chronological Order
These blurbs include delicate spoilers for every sport, together with characters, settings, and story beats.
1. BioShock Infinite: Industrial Revolution
Launching as a pre-order bonus for BioShock Infinite, BioShock Infinite: Industrial Revolution was a browser-based flash sport that acted as a prequel to Infinite’s story. Casting gamers as a employee finishing cog-based puzzles, Industrial Revolution allowed pre-ordering clients to unlock particular objects and upgrades that transferred to BioShock Infinite.
As gamers accomplished challenges, they realized extra in regards to the conflicts operating via Infinite’s world, together with the battle between the Vox Populi and the Founders. They may even select which of the 2 teams to help, unlocking completely different rewards in consequence.
Be aware: The sport was shut down a decade in the past and is now not accessible to play on-line.
2. BioShock Infinite
The third mainline BioShock sport, BioShock Infinite follows a Pinkerton detective named Booker Dewitt. Drowning in debt, Dewitt is tasked with a easy mission to wipe away what he owes: enterprise to town of Columbia and find a mysterious lady named Elizabeth.
Nonetheless, when Dewitt arrives in Columbia, issues are removed from easy. Columbia is a metropolis floating above the clouds and its residents have branded Booker a “False Shepherd”, rallying collectively to execute him. Issues get even stranger when Booker lastly locates and rescues Elizabeth, who reveals she will open tears in actuality, permitting her to achieve into different universes.
Teaming with Elizabeth to flee Columbia, gamers are taken on an journey via the flying metropolis, dealing with off towards the locals, their towering mechanical safety bots, and Elizabeth’s relentless bodyguard, Songbird. Alongside the best way, they’ll open rifts to different dimensions utilizing Elizabeth’s distinctive powers, using her items to scrounge up sources or enterprise into new realities altogether.
Learn our evaluate of Bioshock Infinite.
3. BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea – Half 1
Set in the identical universe as BioShock and BioShock 2, BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea – Half 1 is the primary of two expansions for BioShock Infinite. The DLC follows an alternate-universe Booker Dewitt who acts as a personal detective within the metropolis of Rapture. Set earlier than Rapture’s downfall, the sport begins with Dewitt assembly Elizabeth, who duties him with aiding her in rescuing a lacking lady named Sally.
Burial at Sea’s first half permits gamers to discover a completely operational Rapture set earlier than the occasions of the primary sport. Alongside attending to see town because it as soon as was, the DLC consists of a number of returning faces from earlier Rapture adventures, together with Sander Cohen and Yi Suchong.
Learn our evaluate of Burial at Sea Episode 1.
4. BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea – Half 2
Happening instantly after the occasions of Burial at Sea – Half 1, Burial at Sea – Half 2 switches management from Booker to Elizabeth. Waking up after the dramatic conclusion of the earlier growth, Elizabeth meets Atlas, who strikes a take care of her: He’ll let her and Sally reside if she will help him escape Fontaine’s Division Retailer and return to Rapture.
Taking over a brand new stealth-focused playstyle to suit Elizabeth’s ability set, gamers discover Fontaine’s Division Retailer, trying to determine return to Rapture and save Sally. Burial at Sea – Half 2 was Irrational Video games’ and BioShock creator Ken Levine’s ultimate tackle the BioShock universe. It makes an attempt to wrap up among the franchise’s largest mysteries whereas instantly establishing the occasions of the unique sport.
Learn our evaluate of Burial at Sea Episode 2.
5. BioShock
The franchise’s debut entry, BioShock follows Jack, the only real survivor of a devastating aircraft crash. Escaping the wreckage of the accident, he finds refuge in a mysterious lighthouse, the place he discovers a submarine that transports him to the underwater metropolis of Rapture. Though town appears to be like like a technological marvel from afar, Jack shortly realizes it’s hardly the oceanic utopia it seems to be.
Envisioned as a neon-lit metropolis the place society’s best minds are allowed moral and artistic freedom with no governmental intervention, Rapture is a fallen wasteland by the point Jack arrives. The blood-drenched streets are patrolled by monstrous residents slaughtering one another searching for a genetic-splicing drug referred to as Adam, whereas town’s shadowy founder, Andrew Ryan, controls the ruins with an iron fist.
Teaming with a fellow survivor named Atlas, gamers are tasked with venturing via town, trying to flee Rapture and return to the floor. Alongside the best way, they acquire entry to plasmids, highly effective injections that unlock elemental powers. Within the years following its launch, BioShock has turn into a basic, with many relating to it as probably the greatest video games of all time.
Learn our evaluate of Bioshock.
6. BioShock 2
A sequel to BioShock, BioShock 2 was developed by 2K Marin moderately than Irrational. Strapping gamers into the hulking go well with of a Huge Daddy, BioShock 2 has gamers return to the submerged dystopia of Rapture eight years after the occasions of BioShock.
Taking management of a Huge Daddy codenamed Topic Delta, the story follows the towering protagonist looking out via the ruins of Rapture for a Little Sister he used to guard. Alongside the best way, he’s pursued by Sofia Lamb, a scientist who’s stuffed the ability vacuum left by the deaths of Frank Fontaine and Andrew Ryan.
BioShock 2 was largely a continuation of the gameplay and themes of the primary sport, albeit with a hefty arsenal of brutal Huge Daddy weaponry and a brand new mechanic the place gamers defend Little Sisters whereas they scavenge Adam.
Learn our evaluate of Bioshock 2.
7. BioShock 2: Minerva’s Den
An growth for BioShock 2 that happens alongside the occasions of the primary marketing campaign, Minerva’s Den follows a second Huge Daddy codenamed Topic Sigma. Tasked with monitoring down and accessing The Thinker – Rapture’s laptop mainframe – Sigma works alongside the creator of the system, Charles Milton Porter, to retrieve it.
Minerva’s Den supplied a brief marketing campaign that fills in some essential Rapture lore and presents new gear, together with the Ion Laser and Gravity Nicely Plasmid. Minerva’s Den at the moment marks the tip of the BioShock timeline.
Learn our evaluate of Bioshock 2: Minerva’s Den.
Tips on how to Play the BioShock Sequence by Launch Date
- BioShock (2007)
- BioShock: Problem Rooms (2008)*
- BioShock 2 (2010)
- BioShock 2: Minerva’s Den (2010)
- BioShock Infinite: Industrial Revolution (2013)
- BioShock Infinite (2013)
- BioShock Infinite: Conflict within the Clouds (2013)*
- BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea – Half 1 (2013)
- BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea – Half 2 (2014)
*Non-canon
What’s Subsequent for BioShock?
Plans are theoretically underway for a brand new Bioshock sport, however its been a rocky highway. 2K formally introduced the sequence was getting one other entry again in 2019, which we’re tentatively labeling Bioshock 4. Following the closure of Irrational Video games, the sport was handed over to developer Cloud Chamber, after which growth went fairly quiet. This previous summer time, 2K confirmed that lay-offs at Cloud Chamber had impacted the sport’s growth (the unhealthy information), however that they’re nonetheless pushing ahead, now with Rod Fergusson (greatest identified for the Gears of Warfare sequence) on their workforce.
A sequel is not the one long-awaited BioShock product at the moment in manufacturing. Again in 2022, Netflix revealed it had greenlit a film adaptation of the unique BioShock. Netflix later confirmed the movie will likely be directed by I Am Legend and Starvation Video games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes director Francis Lawrence. Producer Roy Lee lately confirmed that the film remains to be in energetic manufacturing and is particularly adapting the primary Bioshock sport.
BioShock creator Ken Levine’s subsequent challenge, Judas, can be deep in growth. From the early glimpse we noticed at The Recreation Awards in 2022, it appears akin to BioShock, from the dual-wielding fight to the high-concept sci-fi setting. If all goes to plan, it appears BioShock followers will likely be feasting on a banquet of twisted sci-fi goodness over the subsequent few years.
Callum Williams is a freelance media author with years of expertise as a sport critic, information reporter, guides author and options author.