Parents' Guide to

BioShock

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Superb but gory gameplay in first-person shooter.

Game Xbox 360, Windows 2007
BioShock Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 50 parent reviews

Tailsthefox2348
Tailsthefox2348 Adult
April 26, 2021
age 11+

wow this game is amazing for 07

this game is amazing i have beat it before and holy crap it is cool [and hard]why did i put 11+ well its dosent have that much bad words I mean sure there are some here and there but it has a great story and its great plot makes it a great time killer!

This title has:

Easy to play/use
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
1 person found this helpful.
IlikeKidsAndVideoGames ..
IlikeKidsAndVideoGames .. Adult
January 22, 2021
age 9+

Good Game Awesome For Mature Kids

This game can sometimes be scary but it's ok if your kid is mature

This title has:

Easy to play/use
1 person found this helpful.
See all 50 parent reviews

What’s It About?

2K Games' BIOSHOCK from 2K Games begins with you as a survivor of a plane crash in the North Atlantic. After swimming to shore through flaming debris, you find a lighthouse with an elevator that takes you on a one-way ride down into Rapture, a hidden underwater city that has been torn apart by civil war. Not only must you find a way out alive in this non-linear underwater world dominated by biologically mutated citizens, robotic enforcers, and little girls who steal life-giving fluid from the dead, but you have to solve the mystery of what happened here. You can biologically modify your body to create superhuman weapons, and dozens of unique plasmids and gene tonics (often found in vending machines throughout this world) must be consumed to enhance your abilities.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (50):
Kids say (93):

BioShock is an exhilarating adventure that breaks new ground in interactive storytelling and digital art design. More so than any other game in recent memory, it is dripping with atmosphere and intrigue, and it's one of those rare titles where story, dialogue, and character development are just as important as the action sequences. Xbox 360 players who are 17 or older will not want to miss out on this extraordinary interactive adventure.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the game introduces very mature themes. Could the game makers have delivered the same kind of visceral experience without pushing the mature envelope? And how about the moral decision to kill or save the "Little Sisters"? Do you become heartless when choosing to kill them or is this acceptable within a game setting, especially given its creepy sci-fi context?

Game Details

  • Platforms: Xbox 360, Windows
  • Available online?: Not available online
  • Publisher: 2K Games
  • Release date: August 20, 2007
  • Genre: First-Person Shooter
  • ESRB rating: M for blood and gore, drug reference, intense violence, sexual themes, strong language
  • Last updated: November 4, 2015

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