The BioShock series has always had a hardcore following, with many excited for the upcoming new game from Cloud Chamber. Although BioShock 4 is not expected to be finished any time soon, there are plenty of games that live in a similar vein and are more than capable of scratching the itch that fans of BioShock feel.
Of course, everyone should play BioShock, BioShock 2, and BioShock Infinite beforehand, either as a replay or a first time, to get the general vibe. BioShock 4 will likely be its own story that will involve the lore of previous titles, but each BioShock installment is worthy of multiple visits. After playing through them, gamers have a long list of excitingly similar games to sink their teeth into.
Prey
Prey had fans of BioShock raving when Arkane Studios released it in 2017, as it felt like it could be the next installment in the franchise. Topping UK game sales, Prey is usually described as "BioShock in space," and it's easy to see why.
The style, interface, and even puzzles required to unlock doors feel and look like BioShock. However, it does stand alone as its own game and never really crosses the line in terms of feeling like it’s copying BioShock. Prey’s immersive story and brilliant environments coupled with tremendous RPG elements culminate into an experience that can be considered one of the best shooter games of 2017.
Dishonored
Dishonored is an action-adventure game developed by Arkane Studios in 2012, and it follows the story of a bodyguard to the Empress of the Isles named Corvo Attano. Set in the plagued fictional city of Dunwall, Attano is framed for the Empress’ murder and forced to become an assassin to enact his revenge on the people who conspired against him. Players will experience a range of fun weapons and magical abilities, as well as satisfying confrontations with the iconic tallboys. Dishonored's hidden details, Easter eggs, and explorable world make it an endlessly replayable title.
Dishonored was released shortly before BioShock Infinite, and both games have about an equal number of commonalities and differences. Both games have steampunk-influenced settings, stylized Unreal Engine art direction, environmental storytelling, supernatural elements mixed with gory violence, mechanical enemies, and similar battle mechanics. However, there are subtle nuanced differences the titles can proudly stand alone in any gamer’s collection. Plus, Dishonored features Carrie Fisher in a cameo that is cause enough to give this game a look.
Metro
In each of its three games (Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light, and Metro Exodus), the action is set in the fictional post-apocalyptic Moscow of Glukhovsky’s original novel. Players are taken through a wide variety of areas in each game, often meeting other survivors of the nuclear fallout forced to live in metro tunnels. Although this game franchise is only really like BioShock, Metro is an exciting adventure that allows players to get mixed up in riots between Nazis and Communists, only to discover supernatural secrets that can potentially wreak havoc in an already war-torn country.
A film adaptation of Metro 2033 is currently in production.
Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2 is regularly hailed as one of the greatest games of all time by fans. Players have been dying for a third installment of Half-Life, and part of that is due to prior successes. Developed by Valve in 2004, Half-Life 2 improves many familiar aspects from its predecessor including shooting, puzzles, and storytelling, and adds new features such as vehicles and physics-based gameplay. Players enter the mysterious setting of City 17 as Gordon Freeman with a mission to fight the alien Combine alongside a cast of allies, all while wielding the iconic object-manipulating gravity gun.
The beginning of Half-Life 2 is very similar to BioShock, and fans will notice echoes of Half-Life’s influence on the genre throughout each installment of BioShock. The world of Half-Life 2 has descended into a brutal police state and, like BioShock, begins by throwing players into extreme danger with an incredibly cinematic opening sequence. Hopefully, someday fans will at least get to see what could come from a third episode of Half-Life 2, whether in that form or in another.
Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4 is one of the highest-rated installments of the Resident Evil franchise, and it regularly holds the number one spot in ranking lists. The franchise's newest installment Resident Evil Village is very similar to Resident Evil 4, and it seems the franchise is reclaiming its spot in the horror genre. Resident Evil 4 allowed players to run around the dark woods of Spain while searching for the president’s daughter in a gameplay experience that has hooked thousands of fans and served as an entry point for most players into the franchise.
One of the greatest reasons BioShock fans might be interested in Resident Evil 4 is the fact that the creative director of BioShock Infinite, Ken Levine, revealed that Resident Evil 4 served as an influence on the battle mechanics of his game. The way that Resident Evil 4 incorporates environment into the battle scenes by sending players through windows, climbing up ladders, knocking ladders over, climbing on top of roofs, and using traps gave the BioShock Infinite development team a wealth of ideas for new gameplay mechanics for which every BioShock fan should be grateful.
BioShock 4 is currently in development.