Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Superb but gory gameplay in first-person shooter.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 49 parent reviews
Based on 86 kid reviews
Kids say that this game features intense and disturbing themes, including graphic violence, strong language, substance use, and moral dilemmas, which makes it more suitable for older teens rather than younger players. While praised for its engaging story and gameplay mechanics, the violent content and horror elements create a tension that may not be appropriate for all children, even if some feel capable of handling it from a young age.
- mature themes
- graphic violence
- moral dilemmas
- strong language
- suitable for teens
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
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?
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
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : 2K Games
- Release date : August 20, 2007
- Genre : First-Person Shooter
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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