When Bioshock made its debut, it truly shocked the world in the best possible ways. It marked a groundbreaking moment with phenomenal graphics, incredible gameplay, and a gripping story that could captivate and hold players in its world.

But, as time has passed, other titles surpassed this once great giant, and it’s been a couple of years since the last new Bioshock game was released. So, to sweeten the waiting time for the possible fourth game in the series, we’ve compiled a list of games that are somewhat similar to the great Bioshock franchise. We have survival horror games here, immersive sim experiences, and games whose game mechanics are too identical to Bioshock to be overlooked. We would gladly add some titles like System Shock and whatnot, but those are just too dusty for the taste of modern gamers, so we will stick to the newer titles. So, without further ado, let’s dive in!

• Release Date: 2007-2013

• Developer: Irrational Games, 2K Australia, 2K Marin

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, OS X, iOS, Linux, Shield Portable, Shield Tablet, Shield Android TV, Nintendo Switch

• Meta Score: Bioshock – 96; Bioshock 2 – 88, Bioshock Infinite – 94

Starting with – Bioshock. Well, not really, but it’s good practice to explain the game and maybe convince some of you that it’s an exciting series to explore.

Bioshock games are not that similar to each other, as every installment adds something to the concept while also being a part of a series. Those titles are great action games with RPG elements that most gamers will enjoy. Especially as they have immersive storytelling, tight gameplay, and, well, just an excellent set of mechanics that will influence the gaming world far into the future, let’s see what the three games in the series are.

• Bioshock (2007): The first and original game is Bioshock. Here, you are exploring an underwater city – Rapture, that used to be a utopian society based on the works of Ayn Rand, but now, well, let’s just say that they did not pass the test. You are Jack, who found themselves in this weird place and tried to make sense of it all, with questions of objectivism and morality being the key elements of his journey. This title was made into the gaming history books and will be remembered for years.

• Bioshock 2 (2010) – the second game in the series also takes us to the Rapture, a few decades after the first one. As Subject Delta, a prototype Big Daddy introduced in the first game, your goal is to piece together the puzzles and unravel the mysteries surrounding what occurred in Rapture. People appreciated this game, and it got a lot of awards, but in the end – it was not as revolutionary as the first one and did not reinvent the genre.

• Bioshock Infinite (2013) – finally, we have the Bioshock Infinity. Here, we are not covering Rapture anymore but, instead, the floating city called Columbia, which is also a utopia like in the previous games, but this time everything is in the sky. You are Booker DeWitt, navigating through this maze, fighting not only with enemies but also exciting concepts such as quantum physics, not-so-quantum racism, and American exceptionalism. You travel with the fan-favorite Elizabeth, who is, well, that’s for you to discover.

• Release Date: February 2023

• Developer: Mundfish

• Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Cloud Gaming

• Meta Score: 70/100

So, to get into the alternate version of Bioshock – here we have the Atomic Heart! It's a long-awaited title, and when it comes to similar games to Bioshock, this one takes the cake. Here, you live in an alternative universe in the 50s Soviet Union.

As a KGB officer, you are investigating a facility being run over by futuristic robots (for the time being). During that time, you get to experience everything that the crazy Soviet Union scientists created to protect their motherland, like robot-nurses for example, while also – killing everyone in the process.

Like Bioshock, the game combines retro aesthetics with horror elements and dozens of weapons. Another similarity is that the game revolves around a compelling story that propels the entire experience, unlike certain cases where the story might take a backseat to gameplay (as seen in Elden Ring, for example). 

Atomic Heart created an exciting world where you can experience the best of all genres – horror, survival, action, FPS, and RPG.

• Release Date: January 2023

• Developer: Motive Studio

• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows

• Meta Score: 89/100

Dead Space remake is kind of a cheat, kind of not. It is, indeed, a game that came out a long time ago, but – the remake completely changed the outlook of the game. So, we thought that it would be a great fit to it all.

As the original game was released in 2008, it was a sensational survival horror. Similar to the experience in Bioshock, you find yourself on a space station teeming with monsters, with the primary objective to survive and safely find your way back home. The only thing was that – you’re not a warrior! You’re Issac Clarke, an engineer fighting against some faceless Necromorphs murdering everything in their sight.

As a survival horror game – this works amazingly. It’s one of those great games you will play repeatedly and constantly find yourself terrified by monsters crawling up your back. The big thing about this great game is the hopelessness factor of it all. 

You don't feel like you could blast through these monsters individually, let alone confront a single one. However, you're compelled to fight them off to keep yourself alive and save others. 

It’s a great experience and a game worth recommending to all the fans of the original and Bioshock alike.

• Release Date: August 2011

• Developer: Eidos-Montréal

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Mac OS X, Wii U

• Meta Score: 89/100

Next, we have the Deus Ex: Human Revolution game. It’s an action role-playing title that allows you to do many things, as you can alter your body to become superhuman! Why is that? Well, it’s a prequel to the Deus Ex game from 2011, and it shows you the ways that Adam Jensen, the protagonist of the series, was put in such a puzzle.

It’s cyberpunk, it’s full of body modifications, and there’s a global conspiracy entirely of evil corporations and government. Like the Bioshock games, this title is entirely narrative-driven and incorporates superpowers obtained through augmentation technology available in the game. Bioshock fans will not be disappointed. 

Here, every choice you make has consequences. Whatever you do, however you approach the world and characters in it – will change the outcome of your game. If you kill a person rather than save them – it will influence your storyline. 

The game is heavily based on the mods you can add to your character. You can change your looks, stealth abilities, fighting, and really – anything you’d like. The game has a lot of augmentation possibilities, and, as a half-human, half-cyborg, you can implement a lot into your system, like additional strength, better jumping, and even grenade stacking.

And finally – if you like stealth games – this will be a treat for you. You can approach any situation differently, but going stealthy is a lot of fun, and we recommend this route. Additionally, we recommend Deus Ex: Mankind Divided if you want to know more about the world of Deus Ex.

• Release Date: July 2016

• Developer: Compulsion Games

• Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Linux, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S, Mac operating systems

• Meta Score: 62/100

Another exciting title to consider for your Bioshock needs is We Happy Few. It's one of those titles where, upon starting it, you instantly recognize its inspiration. The game seems like a new take on Bioshock Infinite. With so many soul likes, why can’t we have a Bioshock-like?

We Happy Few is set in 1960s England, where the government exercises strict control over citizens' lives. The populace is kept content by a hallucinogenic drug called "Joy," designed to suppress negative emotions and erase unhappy memories.

You are Arthur Hastings, trying to make ends meet in the Wellington Wells. As a “Downer” – a person not using Joy in their everyday life, you become a target of persecution by the authorities. You need to survive in this procedurally generated town while finding out how to stop this madness.

We Happy Few is a survival game at the start, so you must consider elements like hunger, thirst, etc. Additionally, it’s narrative-driven exploration, so keep tabs on what is happening around you and in the storyline. 

When it comes to combat, it’s mostly advised to avoid it altogether, as it’s you against the world. Still, if you decide to engage, there are plenty to choose from, mostly household items and non-lethal ways of getting rid of problems. It’s a bit like Dishonored in that regard. Additionally, stealth is an incredibly important part of the gameplay. If you liked Bioshock and Dishonored, you will probably also enjoy this one.

• Release Date: November 2007, May 2021 (Legendary Edition)

• Developer: BioWare, Edge of Reality, Demiurge Studios.Straight Right

• Platforms: Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, iOS, PlayStation 3, Android, Windows Phone, Wii U, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

• Meta Score: 91/100

Another interesting game to consider for all the Bioshock fans is the recently released Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. It combines all the games from the Mass Effect storyline with new and improved graphics and over 40 DLCs that came out throughout the years. Even more, as all the games are remastered, you will not feel like it’s an oldie but rather an experience released only a few years ago.

Mass Effect is one of the best RPG series ever to be released. Like Bioshock, it’s a narrative-based title with dozens of options for the player to choose the plot's outcome. And there’s always a good reason for players to decide whether to destroy the world or save it from doom.

Additionally, Mass Effect introduced dozens of incredible gaming solutions, from something as simple as shooting from behind the cover to advanced weapons modification – the game was really groundbreaking for its time. In this bundle, you get to experience the best of all the worlds, so it’s absolutely worth your while.

And, as a fan of the Bioshock franchise, you will definitely appreciate how intelligent it is to approach serious topics rather than just glaze over them without thinking twice.

• Release Date: December 2020

• Developer: CD Projekt Red

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Stadia

• Meta Score: 87/100

Another cyberpunk game on our list is Cyberpunk 2077. It’s one of the most popular titles in the world, and with the new expansions and the 2.0 patch, we have to say – it’s getting only better with time. Although it had some problems with the initial release, it overcame these obstacles, and now – it’s better than ever. 

The basic concept is pretty simple: you are V, born in the Night City that never sleeps. People are cyber-enhanced, everyone is going about the cyber-money, and it’s an unpleasant world, to say the least. People will take advantage of you if you’re not paying enough attention, so trust no one and count only on yourself.

There are plenty of similarities between Bioshock games and Cyberpunk. We would not say that it’s inspired by it, but there are bits and pieces of Bioshock in Cyberpunk. From a narrative perspective, through somebody's enhancements, ending up with the philosophical attitude – there is more than meets the eye when it comes to this title. You can become a merchant, a killer, a thief, a good and bad person as well. 

The Night City provides you with dozens of events and opportunities. You can try to escape your destiny or face the enemy and save, maybe not mankind, but at least a few dozen people.

• Release Date: October  2012 

• Developer: Arkane Studios

• Platforms: PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

• Meta Score: 91/100

And for our last game on this list, we have Dishonored. If you've ever wondered what Bioshock would be like if it were set in the Victorian era, here's your answer. This steampunk rendition of your favorite action game is here and thriving better than ever. You are a dishonored (duh!) assassin trying to bring his name back to the light and fight against the evil plot in the palace. 

When it comes to the gameplay itself – it’s really similar to what you have seen in Bioshock. There are magical powers you can utilize to teleport or just take on enemies, and numerous stealth-based situations to go through. What’s more, every passionate gamer will appreciate the ability not to kill a single person the entire game. It’s a challenge, for sure!

Additionally, the game is heavily reliant on the story, which drives everything in the game and makes you wonder – what will happen next? How can we help the crown and clear our name? What’s with Emily? 

This is definitely one of the best games regarding titles similar to Bioshock. It has everything you would expect from a game like that and more! It was originally released back in 2012, but there is a sequel to it as well if you’d like something more recent and interesting. In our opinion, it’s as close as it gets to Bioshock, and the implementation of steampunk is a slam dunk for sure!

So, here we have it – games like Bioshock. Of course, those are just some of the picks; we are positive that you will find something interesting for yourself as well in the vast internet space. We thought that those games, though, represented the quality of gaming in the highest form and were the closest to what you could have expected from games similar to Bioshock..

Thanks for stopping by! If you liked this article, be sure to let us know! And you can browse through the many texts we have created before to find even more inspirations for your future games. That’s it for today; thanks for stopping by, and we will see you in the next one!