What are the pros of BioShock™?

Exceptional storytelling and world-building that remains impactful years after release.. Memorable and well-developed characters, particularly the antagonist Andrew Ryan.. Immersive atmosphere and unique underwater setting of Rapture.. Engaging combat mechanics that hold up well over time..

What are the cons of BioShock™?

Poor optimization for modern hardware, leading to frequent crashes and graphical glitches.. Persistent issues with settings resetting, specifically aspect ratio and graphics configurations.. Technical bugs involving mouse input and sound compatibility.. General consensus that the original version is difficult to run without community patches..

BioShock™

BioShock is a shooter unlike any you've ever played, loaded with weapons and tactics never seen. You'll have a complete arsenal at your disposal from simple revolvers to grenade launchers and chemical throwers, but you'll also be forced to genetically modify your DNA to create an even more deadly weapon: you.

94%

Very Positive

Developers2K Australia, 2K Boston

Publisher2K

Release DateAug 21, 2007

-75%

$19.99$4.99

Peak Players2.6K

Metacritic96

PlatformsWindows

Action

RPG

AI Review Summary

BioShock is widely celebrated as a narrative masterpiece, featuring exceptional world-building and one of gaming's most iconic villains. However, the original 2007 version is plagued by technical instability on modern hardware, including frequent crashes and settings that fail to save.

Pros

Exceptional storytelling and world-building that remains impactful years after release.95%
Memorable and well-developed characters, particularly the antagonist Andrew Ryan.90%
Immersive atmosphere and unique underwater setting of Rapture.85%
Engaging combat mechanics that hold up well over time.75%

Cons

Poor optimization for modern hardware, leading to frequent crashes and graphical glitches.90%
Persistent issues with settings resetting, specifically aspect ratio and graphics configurations.80%
Technical bugs involving mouse input and sound compatibility.70%
General consensus that the original version is difficult to run without community patches.85%

Notable Mentions

Many reviewers explicitly recommend playing the Remastered version over this original release due to technical issues.
The game is noted for its philosophical depth and cultural impact on the FPS genre.

Confidence: 65%

Based on the 85 most relevant reviewsGenerated on Aug 23, 2026

Game Vitals

Live snapshot

Player Activity

Current peak

Peak · last 90 days

140

All-time peak

2.6K

Price

Current price

$19.99$4.99-75%

Lowest tracked

$4.99since Nov 27, 2025

Review Sentiment

Launch week

—

Last 30 days

87%

All-time positive

94%

Review Statistics

Total Reviews32.2K

Positive: 30.2K (94%)Negative: 1.9K (6%)

Reviews from Steam Deck

Dev Response Rate

12h

Avg Playtime at Review

75%

Credible Reviews

BioShock™