BioShock Games Ranked: From Rapture to Columbia
Three games, two sunken cities and one floating one, and a whole lot of arguing about which entry actually earned the series its reputation. We're ranking BioShock, BioShock 2 and BioShock Infinite from best to, well, still pretty good.
This list leans on what fans and critics keep saying across reviews and forum threads for years, plus our own take when the consensus splits down the middle. Disagree? That's half the fun of a series this divisive. Rank them yourself and see if you land somewhere different.
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SS Tier: The one that defined the series
BioShock
Rapture is still the best-realized city in gaming, a crumbling Art Deco nightmare where every poster and audio diary tells you how the dream curdled. The twist involving Andrew Ryan is the kind of thing people spoil for each other on purpose just to watch the reaction. Combat with plasmids and a wrench feels a little clunky now, but nobody plays this one for the shooting.
About BioShock
A first-person shooter set in the underwater city of Rapture, where a failed utopian experiment has collapsed into chaos. Developed by Irrational Games and released in 2007, it's credited with bringing narrative ambition to the genre.
- Developer
- Irrational Games
- Setting
- Rapture
- Release
- 2007
AA Tier: Excellent, with real flaws worth arguing about
BioShock Infinite
Columbia is a gorgeous, sun-drenched flip side to Rapture, and Elizabeth might be the best companion character the series has produced. The ending gets people talking (and sometimes arguing) more than anything else in the trilogy, with multiverse logic that rewards a second playthrough. Some fans think the combat leans too hard on generic shooter tropes compared to the moral weight of the first game, and that's a fair complaint.
About BioShock Infinite
A spinoff set in the floating city of Columbia, following Booker DeWitt as he tries to rescue a young woman named Elizabeth. Developed by Irrational Games, it returned the series to its original studio with a new setting and cast.
- Developer
- Irrational Games
- Setting
- Columbia
- Release
- 2013
BioShock 2
Playing as a Big Daddy sounds like fan service until you realize how much it changes the emotional core of the game, especially with Eleanor as your adopted Little Sister. It never shakes the feeling of being a sequel nobody asked for, and the story lacks the gut-punch of Ryan's reveal. Still, the drill, the added plasmids and the Minerva's Den DLC make a strong case that this is underrated next to its siblings.
About BioShock 2
A sequel set years after the first game, putting players in control of a Big Daddy prototype navigating Rapture's further decay. Developed by 2K Marin, it introduced multiplayer to the series and the Minerva's Den DLC.
- Developer
- 2K Marin
- Setting
- Rapture
- Release
- 2010
How we ranked them
We weighed story and setting, how well the gameplay has aged, the strength of the twist or theme, and the overall sense of place. Critical scores mattered, but so did the long tail of fan discussion, the stuff people still argue about on forums a decade later. Where opinion genuinely splits, we picked a side and said so.
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Rank these yourselfFAQ
What is the best BioShock game?
Most fans and critics point to the original BioShock, thanks to Rapture's atmosphere and the Andrew Ryan twist.
Is BioShock 2 worth playing?
Yes. It's often underrated, with the Big Daddy perspective and the Minerva's Den DLC standing out as highlights.
Is BioShock Infinite a direct sequel to BioShock?
Not directly. It's set in a different city, Columbia, with a new cast, though the games are connected thematically and, eventually, narratively.
Do I need to play the games in order?
You can play them in any order since the stories mostly stand alone, but release order (BioShock, then BioShock 2, then Infinite) is how most people experience the escalating scope.
Which BioShock game has the best story twist?
The original is usually credited with the series' most famous twist, though Infinite's ending is the one people debate most.