BioShock 4 Already Has a High Bar to Clear

In 2007, Irrational Games’ BioShock delivered audiences a tightly designed FPS/RPG-lite that had mature thematic elements commenting candidly on capitalism, individualism, morality, and the conventions of games themselves. BioShock‘s philosophical motifs were expanded and explored further in two more titles, each building upon the prior angles and showing further facets of humanity’s drive to build a utopia and the complications that such an endeavor entails. This was chiefly accomplished through the series’ imposing villains, who, instead of being one-dimensional, were well-formed and believably realized with understandable and even relatable goals.