BioShock is one of those games I tried to start several times over the years, only to end up dropping it halfway through. In its defense, it was never really the game's fault — the truth is that I was the one not giving it the attention it deserved.
A few days ago I decided to give it one more chance and, when the final credits rolled, I found myself thinking: "Would you kindly finish every game from now on?" Because BioShock is simply fantastic, and everything about this universe I finally started exploring properly managed to grip me from beginning to end.
The city of Rapture remains one of the most fascinating settings ever created in video games. The atmosphere is constantly oppressive, unsettling, and unpredictable. There's a permanent sense of danger that accompanies us down every corridor, making exploration simultaneously thrilling and uncomfortable. On higher difficulties that can even generate a few frustrating moments, but the reward more than makes up for the effort.
The standout element is, without a doubt, the narrative. The way the story is gradually built through the environment, the audio logs, and the little clues scattered across the world is brilliant. Few games manage to reveal their mysteries so effectively and so surprisingly. There were several moments when I found myself genuinely stunned, staring at the Switch screen, trying to process what had just happened.
Visually, BioShock retains an incredibly strong identity, and when it comes to sound, the work done is equally excellent. The atmosphere is reinforced by exemplary audio design that helps transform Rapture into a place as fascinating as it is frightening. Even on the Nintendo Switch, the game proved to be an extremely solid port, without compromising anything that makes the experience so special.
In the end, I perfectly understand why BioShock is still considered a classic. Its narrative, the world it builds, and the way it draws the player in continue to stand out even so many years after release. It's easily one of the best games I've ever had the chance to experience, and it left me immediately wanting to move on to BioShock 2 and BioShock Infinite, to keep diving into this extraordinary universe.
out of 10
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Game BioShock Remastered Released 2016 Available on PC · PlayStation 4 · Xbox One · Nintendo Switch Reviewed on Nintendo Switch |  Cover: IGDB |
| PL | Pedro Lopes Writer · Portugal |
A games writer from Portugal running on a highly irresponsible amount of coffee — his blood type is officially "espresso". He has been a content creator at Lisbon Games Week, a jury member at Over & Out ’25 and an attendee of DevGAMM Lisbon 2025 (mostly for the free coffee). He has a Pac-Man tattoo on his finger, which contractually obliges him to chase ghosts forever.