BioShock Infinite

Irrational has built a believable, fantastic world rooted in dark pieces of American history

92%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

91% User Score Based on 124,752 reviews

Critic Score 93%Based on 8 reviews

Platforms

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About

BioShock Infinite is a first-person shooter where private investigator Booker DeWitt must rescue a powerful woman, Elizabeth, from the flying city of Columbia to pay off a debt. The Complete Edition includes Burial at Sea episodes 1 & 2, exploring the underwater city of Rapture before its fall, Clash in the Clouds with new combat environments and challenges, and bonus packs with in-game items and upgrades. This edition provides a full and enhanced BioShock Infinite experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+13

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 124,760 reviews

story36.8k positive mentions

grinding604 negative mentions

Bioshock Infinite is praised for its stunning visuals and artistic design, with a vibrant color palette and detailed environments that enhance the immersive experience.
The game features a complex and thought-provoking narrative, exploring deep themes and character development, particularly the relationship between Booker and Elizabeth, which resonates emotionally with players.
The gameplay mechanics, including the innovative skyhook and vigors, provide engaging combat and traversal, making for a fun and dynamic experience.

Many players report significant performance issues, including stuttering and glitches, particularly on certain hardware, which detracts from the overall experience.
The game's linear structure and simplified gameplay mechanics have led to criticisms of reduced exploration and strategic elements compared to earlier entries in the series.
The introduction of a mandatory launcher and microtransactions has been labeled a 'cash grab' by players, overshadowing the game's improvements and negatively impacting the overall experience.

story
73,602 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
46%
4%
The story of "Bioshock Infinite" is widely regarded as a complex and thought-provoking narrative that explores themes of nationalism, racism, and the nature of reality through the journey of protagonist Booker DeWitt and his companion, Elizabeth. While many players praise its intricate plot twists and emotional depth, some criticize it for being convoluted and difficult to follow, particularly in the latter parts of the game. Overall, the storytelling, character development, and world-building are highlighted as standout features, making it a memorable experience despite its polarizing reception.
- “The story follows Booker DeWitt, a former Pinkerton agent with a troubled past, tasked with rescuing a mysterious woman named Elizabeth.”
- “What an amazing storyline with beautiful character development that made me feel hope, loss, fear, and joy.”
- “The story unfolds with deep themes of American exceptionalism, quantum physics, and social class struggle, all woven into an immersive narrative that keeps players hooked until the very end.”
- “However, the biggest reason this game ranks the lowest for me is its story.”
- “While the beginning was strong—introducing Booker’s objective and setting up Columbia well—the plot started to feel messy halfway through.”
- “The story is a disjointed mess and doesn't want to commit to any particular idea.”
gameplay
28,404 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
47%
6%
The gameplay of "Bioshock Infinite" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its innovative mechanics like the skyhook and vigors, which add depth to combat and traversal. However, some players feel that the gameplay is overly simplified compared to its predecessors, with a two-weapon limit and a more linear structure that detracts from the exploration and strategic elements that defined earlier entries in the series. Overall, while the gameplay is engaging and fun, it may not meet the expectations set by the original "Bioshock" and "Bioshock 2."
- “Bioshock Infinite is a triumph in both storytelling and gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is smooth and satisfying, offering diverse weapons, special abilities, and dynamic combat that keeps every encounter exciting.”
- “With its deep story, fantastic characters, and exhilarating gameplay, Bioshock Infinite is a must-play.”
- “Gameplay and mechanics are worse than both the previous entries; it's a mixed bag.”
- “The shooting becomes tedious in the last 2-3 hours of gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is a huge improvement from the first games, but the gameplay is still very fun.”
graphics
17,125 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
32%
1%
The graphics of "Bioshock Infinite" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and artistic design, which continue to impress even years after its release in 2013. Players appreciate the vibrant color palette and detailed environments of the floating city of Columbia, often describing the graphics as breathtaking and a significant improvement over its predecessors. While some critiques mention minor graphical issues, the overall aesthetic and immersive atmosphere contribute to a memorable gaming experience that many consider a masterpiece.
- “Absolutely incredible gameplay and visuals, complemented by its fascinating lore.”
- “The visuals of the city are unmatched.”
- “The graphics still hold up really well despite being an extremely late 7th gen game.”
- “The only thing that reveals it being from 2013 are the outdated graphics, but even then, considering the time and place where the game is situated in, as well as overall vibe, it only adds to the experience.”
- “As stated before, graphics are outdated, but they somehow manage to perfectly fit the overall style of the game.”
- “The graphics are dated at this point, but the story and gameplay are excellent.”
music
4,348 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
45%
1%
The music in *Bioshock Infinite* has been widely praised for its exceptional quality and emotional depth, with a soundtrack that features haunting orchestral arrangements and clever anachronistic covers of modern songs in vintage styles. Composed by Garry Schyman, the music enhances the game's atmosphere and storytelling, immersing players in the richly detailed world of Columbia. While some players noted that the combat music can become repetitive, the overall sound design and integration of music into gameplay received high marks, contributing significantly to the game's emotional impact and immersive experience.
- “The soundtrack, composed by Garry Schyman, features haunting and emotive orchestral arrangements, while the inclusion of period-specific songs performed in a haunting, modernized style further enhances the atmosphere.”
- “The world-building is on another level, with every corner of Columbia telling a story, supported by a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that enhances every moment.”
- “The music, composed by Garry Schyman, complements the period setting while enhancing the emotional impact of key moments.”
- “The game has solid voice acting, an OST with mostly forgettable songs but a few rare gems that really stand out, and a story where choices feel like they matter.”
- “The soundtrack is not that interesting, has its moments during peak story moments but other than that, I doubt you'll notice it very much.”
- “The dynamic soundtrack is also worth highlighting, although I wish there were a few more tracks for more variety.”
atmosphere
4,220 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
42%
2%
The atmosphere in "Bioshock Infinite" is widely praised for its vibrant and immersive design, set in the stunning floating city of Columbia, which contrasts sharply with the darker tones of its predecessors. Players appreciate the game's rich visual storytelling, detailed environments, and the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that enhances the emotional experience. However, some fans of the original games express disappointment over the lack of the eerie, oppressive atmosphere that characterized Rapture, noting that while Infinite offers a unique and captivating atmosphere, it diverges significantly from the horror elements of the earlier titles.
- “The soundtrack, composed by Garry Schyman, features haunting and emotive orchestral arrangements, while the inclusion of period-specific songs performed in a haunting, modernized style further enhances the atmosphere.”
- “Whether you’re exploring Columbia’s sunlit streets or unraveling its darker secrets, Bioshock Infinite is a masterclass in atmosphere.”
- “The attention to detail in the world of Columbia is remarkable, from its vibrant streets to its dark underbelly, creating an atmosphere that is both enchanting and unsettling.”
- “The previous games had quite an ominous atmosphere I find mainly lacking here.”
- “Bioshock Infinite moves away from the creepy atmosphere of Bioshock 1 and 2, removing the horror aspect almost completely.”
- “Due to the absence of Rapture and just the way that the bright city of Columbia is presented, there is absolutely none of the atmosphere that made Bioshock so special in my opinion.”
emotional
2,210 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
Bioshock Infinite is widely praised for its emotionally charged narrative, exploring themes of American history, racism, and personal redemption through the complex relationship between the characters Booker and Elizabeth. Players report a profound emotional impact, with many expressing that the game's story and character development left them feeling hope, loss, and deep attachment, often resulting in tears during key moments, particularly the ending. The game's ability to evoke such strong emotional responses, combined with its stunning visuals and engaging gameplay, solidifies its status as a landmark title in gaming history.
- “Elizabeth, the companion AI, is one of the most well-developed characters in gaming, and her evolving relationship with Booker creates a dynamic that feels personal and emotionally powerful.”
- “What an amazing storyline with beautiful character development that made me feel hope, loss, fear, and joy.”
- “The relationship between Booker and Elizabeth generates more emotional moments than I have experienced in any recent shooter.”
- “With such an expertly crafted setting and many compelling characters, the game wastes itself on a nonsensical and frankly boring story.”
- “Linear, easy, uninteresting, boring story atmosphere and characters, unlike Bioshock 1 and 2.”
- “> Cliché and boring story filled with plot holes, meaningless choices, a message about racism that goes literally nowhere with an ending so bad that creates a time paradox.”
replayability
1,194 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
55%
16%
Bioshock Infinite's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting its linear structure and lack of significant choices as limiting factors. While some appreciate the opportunity to explore different difficulty modes and uncover hidden collectibles, others feel that the game offers little incentive for multiple playthroughs due to its straightforward narrative and single ending. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some praising its replay value for story exploration, while others find it lacking compared to its predecessors.
- “Oh god, this game was amazing! The replay value is through the roof; the story is amazing even after completing it for a third time. There is always some new detail popping up that was missed in the previous playthrough.”
- “Bioshock Infinite offers decent replay value for those who wish to revisit its breathtaking world. The gameplay is extremely satisfying, while sometimes repetitive, the combinations of weapons and vigors give the game a lot of replayability.”
- “The game’s multiple endings give it great replay value, and the game’s DLC is some of the best in the industry.”
- “The open-ended maps are gone, the arsenal is hefty but you're limited to two guns. This game's version of plasmids and tonics have been heavily simplified and the replayability factor suffers because of it, which seems to be the recurring story for almost every aspect of the gameplay.”
- “Anyway, long story short, while I understood the ending and why the game is called Infinite, I don't like that this game has lesser replayability in my opinion than the first two games; it has only one ending every time.”
- “The gameplay is atrociously bad, plot holes abound, graphics are poor for its generation, and there is zero replayability.”
optimization
956 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
34%
12%
The optimization of "Bioshock Infinite" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its ability to run smoothly on older hardware and achieve high frame rates, often exceeding 60fps. However, several users reported persistent stuttering and performance issues, particularly when transitioning between areas or using certain graphics settings, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game is generally considered well-optimized for its time, especially compared to its predecessors, though the presence of the 2K launcher has been noted as a significant factor in performance degradation for some players.
- “Great game, it's optimized; a very optimized game so it runs smoothly on old PCs.”
- “This game is far more optimized than the Bioshock 2 remaster, so that is already a plus.”
- “While the graphics options may not be the most extensive, the game's impeccable performance, even without v-sync, consistently delivers frame rates exceeding 60fps, often reaching an impressive 90fps with all settings maxed out.”
- “The problem with this game was the performance; sometimes each area of cutscene just stuttered, making the game unbearable or unplayable.”
- “Even with my 4060 ti and optimized settings, the game is incredibly glitchy in some parts. I'm right at the end, and that problem has sadly stopped me from completing it.”
- “So poorly optimized it's unplayable.”
grinding
738 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
17%
82%
The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing the gameplay as tedious and repetitive, particularly in the later stages. Combat scenarios often feel like a chore, with players expressing frustration over the lack of variety and the excessive backtracking required to complete objectives. While some found enjoyment in the story and world-building, the overall consensus is that the grinding elements detract significantly from the experience, leading to a desire for a more streamlined and engaging gameplay loop.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Collectables in the form of audio tapes that provide lore as to the rise and morphing of Columbia from a US state into the cult-run dystopia of Comstock are challenging; however, not tedious to find and are voice acted, an especially pleasing touch as going out of your way to learn the game's deeper messages are rewarded with quality content creation and attention to detail.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “I gotta say, I have literally never played anything more annoying, chaotic, and tedious in my life.”
- “The only thing that's truly 'infinite' about this game is the level of tediousness and overall chaos.”
- “Repetitive combat scenarios and a lack of meaningful choices make the whole experience feel like a tedious exercise in shooting wave after wave of enemies.”
character development
718 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
42%
4%
Character development in "Bioshock Infinite" is widely praised, particularly for the depth and complexity of the relationship between the main characters, Booker and Elizabeth. Many reviewers highlight Elizabeth's character as a standout, noting her compelling design, voice acting, and emotional growth throughout the game. While some critiques mention inconsistencies and a lack of development for secondary characters, the overall consensus is that the game excels in creating a rich narrative experience that deeply engages players with its characters and their journeys.
- “The character development is exceptional, and the emotional depth with which Booker is portrayed adds a layer of complexity to the overall narrative.”
- “The character development of Booker and Elizabeth is exceptional, creating a genuine connection between the player and the game's world.”
- “The character development left me speechless, and at the end of the game, I sat there for about 10 minutes, just thinking about what just happened.”
- “There's almost no character development aside from Elizabeth.”
- “There is basically zero character development so it is hard to care about them, not much story either, just running from objective to objective, on rails.”
- “Character development is forced, and badly timed, with idiotic symbolism, that just feels out of place.”
stability
524 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
3%
79%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly on PC and Linux platforms. While some users found the game to run smoothly on consoles and the Steam Deck, others experienced frequent crashes, freezing issues, and frustrating gameplay interruptions due to AI and environmental glitches. Overall, while the game is enjoyable for many, its stability issues have led to a frustrating experience for a considerable number of players.
- “It runs great, looks beautiful, the gameplay is fun, the story is engaging, the atmosphere and setting add so much, and the acting is amazing.”
- “Also, this game is very well optimized, (unlike other AAA games) no glitches and the fun of fast pace comes with its smoothness.”
- “Overall, the game almost completely lacks glitches, the visuals are gorgeous (if not utterly breathtaking), the action is good, fast-paced, and usually challenging, and the story is amazing.”
- “Game locks up and freezes my whole computer pretty much.”
- “While playing 13 hours, I fell out of the map 3 times, 2 times stuck with a white screen during cutscenes (restart from checkpoint helped) and restarted the game a lot, because the 2D overlay (item icons) freezes and stays permanently on the screen.”
- “Unacceptably buggy in its current state, I was at the 85% mark of the game before it became unplayable.”
humor
468 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
1%
1%
The humor in the game is a mix of dark, subtle, and situational comedy, often highlighted through character interactions, particularly with Elizabeth and the Lutece twins, who provide memorable and witty dialogue. Players appreciate the blend of humor with serious themes, though some find the humor can be hit or miss, with certain jokes feeling repetitive or overly reliant on dark undertones. Overall, the game is noted for its ability to evoke laughter amidst its dramatic narrative, making it a unique experience in the action-adventure genre.
- “The lutece twins are hilarious, the story is a little confusing but good regardless, and the enemy design could have probably been a bit cooler.”
- “Their interactions are beautifully crafted, blending humor, vulnerability, and depth, making you genuinely invested in their journey.”
- “The game is hilarious if you've a dark sense of humor.”
- “Not funny at all.”
- “This game crashes so much it's not funny.”
- “It has a ton of game-breaking glitches on the Mac; it's not funny.”
monetization
192 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
18%
80%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it a "cash grab" due to the introduction of a mandatory launcher filled with ads and microtransactions. Reviewers express frustration over the forced integration of these elements into a legacy title, which they feel detracts from the overall experience and accessibility, particularly for users on platforms like Linux. Despite improvements in gameplay mechanics and graphics, the monetization practices have overshadowed these advancements, leading to a negative reception among the community.
- “In the age of microtransactions and games as piecemeals, ehm... services, this game was refreshing beyond my expectations.”
- “The game is still a strong take on the single player FPS story-rich game without any microtransactions, underperforming graphics, and allows you to explore enough to capture the city's atmosphere.”
- “It took me roughly 8-9 hours to complete the whole story, but after that, the game somewhat lacks replayability as the story mode is the only way to play aside from microtransactions and DLC.”
- “A lazy cash grab by people who don't know why the original game was popular in the first place.”
- “Great game but the publisher/developers 2K has decided to ruin it even more by introducing a useless launcher that provides no benefits whatsoever to the end user and encourages poor monetization practices.”
- “A recent 'quality of life' update has added a superfluous 2K launcher as a prelude to them adding microtransactions and other nonsense to a decade-old game.”

93%Critics’ scoreBased on 8 critic reviews

Buy BioShock Infinite

11h Median play time

23h Average play time

8-15h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 442 analyzed playthroughs

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