The titles of the Bioshock series are among the favorite games of MeinMMO author Christoph Waldboth. Although the next game from creator Ken Levine is called something entirely different and is being developed by a new studio, the trailers already strongly resemble Bioshock. And that’s a good thing.
Admittedly, I’m a coward. At least when it comes to exposing myself in video games to dark places filled with creepy sounds, screaming enemies, and an eerie atmosphere.
I played the first Bioshock from 2007 only a few years after its release. The fact that I was much too young for the age-18 game at the time was less of a reason than the fact that Bioshock can be very scary, especially in the first third.
Nevertheless, I eventually forced myself to play it. Why? The unusual setting of the underwater city of Rapture, the combat system with its combination of firearms and spells (called Plasmids in the game), and what I perceive as an original way of telling the story. It was a really good single-player game. We discussed (or at least tried to) in a separate podcast whether single-player or multiplayer titles are better.
I came to love Bioshock. First part 1, then its sequel (2010), which is generally not as well liked. And finally, I was very taken with Bioshock Infinite (2013). Since then, I have been waiting for a fourth part. It is being developed under publisher 2K Games at Cloud Chambers, but seems to have been stuck in development hell for quite some time (via Gamestar). However, the former creative mind behind Bioshock, Ken Levine, is not involved in this project.
Instead, he is working with his studio Ghost Story Games, which evolved from Irrational Games, on Judas. A game that reminds me of Bioshock in the best way in the trailer.
But see for yourself:
Judas sends you back to a dystopian city
After the underwater city of Rapture and the city of Columbia soaring high above the clouds, it looks like we’re making a detour into space with Judas. More precisely, to Mayflower, a city that flies through space like a space station. It could become as claustrophobic as Rapture – after all, one was surrounded by water then, now by empty space. The trailer clearly shows that not all windows remain intact.
Moreover, it shows that the population is kept in check thanks to computer technology. All thoughts, love, fears, and even hate are implanted in the people. Additionally, they are monitored, and revolt is not tolerated.
We play as a woman named Judas, who is addressed in the trailer by another unnamed woman. We are freed by her and seemingly incited to join the revolution against the system.
For everyone who has played Bioshock and its sequels, this sounds very familiar. In Rapture and Columbia, various interest groups also fought for dominance – and ultimately for the control and manipulation of thoughts. Bioshock 1 weaves one of the coolest twists in video game history from this and simultaneously questions the behavior of us players.
With firearms and Plasmids, we go into battle
The story will likely bring back pleasant memories of Bioshock. But what about the gameplay? Even there, I couldn’t help but smile while watching the trailer. A pistol in one hand, shooting lightning and fire from the other – let’s face it, this is clearly a new, unofficial Bioshock.
The fact that the levels shown, despite the futuristic scenario, come with a distinct retro charm, supports this impression. The mix of steampunk and art deco was already something I loved in Bioshock. The atmosphere in Judas also seems to become similarly dark again.
If the inhabitants of Mayflower are indeed being listened to at all times and their words recorded, as stated in the trailer, that sounds to me like one thing: audio diaries.
They might not appeal to all players because it’s an indirect way of telling a story. First, you have to find the diaries. And then you have to be able to categorize what you heard. The overarching story of Bioshock developed more in my mind than actually on the screen. I love this environmental storytelling, and I hope my suspicion is confirmed in this regard.
Are you looking for single-player shooters? We have some recommendations for you on MeinMMO.
Judas is expected to be released in 2025 (via ign.com) for PC (Steam, Epic Games), PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. There is currently no released material for Bioshock 4.
Judas will definitely shorten the wait for me. The game seems to carry on the basic concept of Bioshock. Critics might say it’s just more of the same. Yes, that may be. But if the same is great, I have no problem with that. Fans of Bioshock should also keep an eye on one other title.
