Play Order (Release = Chronological)Recommended
0 / 8 playedThe order the games came out, and the recommended play order. Release matches chronology closely enough that one list covers both.
Rapture saga
- 1 BioShock Start here. The Collection (2016) is the modern version to buy.
- 2 BioShock 2
- 3 BioShock 2: Minerva's Den Story DLC for BioShock 2. Play right after it.
Columbia saga
- 4 BioShock Infinite New city, new cast. Some suggest it as an entry point, but release order preserves the Rapture payoff.
- 5 BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Episode One Story DLC for Infinite, set in Rapture. Play directly after the base game.
- 6 BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Episode Two Second half of Burial at Sea. Closes out the series story so far.
Modern versions
- 7 BioShock: The Collection Remaster bundle of BioShock, BioShock 2 and Infinite with all story DLC. Play these versions on modern platforms.
Upcoming
- 8 Untitled BioShock sequel Announced December 2019. In development at Cloud Chamber, no title or date.
About BioShock
BioShock is a first-person shooter series about failed utopias. The first two games explore Rapture, an underwater city built on unchecked ambition, while Infinite moves to Columbia, a floating city with its own dark creed. Newcomers should start with the first game, ideally via BioShock: The Collection (2016), which bundles the trilogy with its story DLC on modern platforms.
Release order is the recommended play order. Infinite looks standalone, and some fans suggest starting there, but its Burial at Sea episodes return to Rapture and land harder when the first two games are fresh. Minerva's Den slots right after BioShock 2, and both Burial at Sea episodes belong directly after Infinite.
Good to know
Infinite-first is the main placement debate. It works as an entry point because Columbia is self-contained, but Burial at Sea Episode Two closes loops from the whole series, so release order wins for a first run. A fourth game was announced in December 2019 and is in development at Cloud Chamber. 2K replaced the studio leadership in August 2025, with Rod Fergusson taking charge, and press reports describe a story rework with no release date. Treat any date rumors as unconfirmed.
