While the company that made it, Irrational Games is no more, BioShock is widely considered to be one of the finest games of this century. Presenting a setting dripping with dense atmosphere, a truly unique and innovative combat system, and a stellar story that is told in a rather unorthodox way, the game has stood the test of time wonderfully. Rapture is simply unforgettable, as it's a city that has fallen far from grace in little time, and protagonist Jack's place in the tale is still shocking even 15 years after the game's Xbox and PC release.
Because of its quality, it's not surprising that other developers have drawn inspiration, both subtle and overt, from the project. The environmental storytelling of BioShock was nothing new in 2007, but taking the format and implementing it into a setting that had so much narrative potential just in the way it looked was a stroke of genius. It's a philosophy that works well today, and though few have reached the lofty heights Irrational Games' did all those years ago, it's not for lack of trying.
Prey
Perhaps the most obvious title to be influenced by BioShock, Prey released in 2017, a year that was packed with excellent indie and AAA releases. It was developed by Arkane and is set on a space station, Talon I, making it a significantly different location to BioShock's underwater city or BioShock Infinite's 'utopia' in the sky. It's a science fiction game in both setting and aesthetics, but the atmosphere is eerily similar to Irrational Games' masterpiece since protagonist Morgan Yu is truly out of his element, much like Jack in Rapture.
Prey is the closest thing to a spiritual successor to System Shock 2, a game that BioShock is influenced by with its overall game design. However, it's not without its criticisms as many believe its story to pale in comparison to the game it's so obviously taking cues from and the enemy AI left much to be desired. In truth, Prey is a victim of its release window, and would have fared far better if it arrived in a year that didn't include the release of Persona 5, Horizon Zero Dawn, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Assassin's Creed Origins.
We Happy Few
Prey was a relative success even though it wasn't as good as the game that inspired it, but sadly We Happy Few didn't live up to the same expectations. Developed by Compulsion Games, We Happy Few was announced in early 2015 and immediately felt like a mix of a few different influences including A Clockwork Orange, V For Vendetta, and of course, BioShock.
This sounds like the stuff of dreams, but poor performance kept it from being something truly memorable. This is a shame since the story was gripping and the setting of Wellington Wells was equal parts unique and inspired by the real world. We Happy Few has improved over time, but first impressions matter, and the BioShock influences were felt but never truly taken advantage of.
Close to the Sun
Close to the Sun is a first-person horror game that takes place in an alternate reality version of 1897. In its world, all of Serbian-American futurist Nikola Tesla's abstract ideas come true, and as such it feels like an eerie, yet implausible experience. It almost entirely takes place on a ship named The Helios, a vessel that houses passengers that emphasize the importance of personal potential.
The late-19th century aesthetics make Close to the Sun a visual marvel, and the narrative being centered around the stalwart beliefs of an often-controversial philosopher ensures comparisons to BioShock are never far away. Close to the Sun is perhaps the closest parallel to BioShock, which is undoubtedly the source of most of its charm.
Dishonored
Dishonored is surely the most revered game to take license from Irrational Games' masterpiece, amassing a sizable following that provoked a sequel in 2016. It's a title that takes place in the fictional city of Dunwall that mimics Victorian and Edwardian London in many ways. Never afraid to lean into the supernatural, Dishonored allows the player to summon rats to attack enemies with Devoured Swarm, much like BioShock's Insect Swarm plasmid that uses bees instead.
Where Dishonored provokes feelings of BioShock most, though, is the world-building and first-person gameplay. Dunwall's close relationship to the past is very similar to the 1960 time period of Rapture, and exploring all its corners makes up most of the game's fun. Arkane's Redfall looks to be very different, but Dishonored was the company's first runaway success.