46. BioShock (2007)
What it’s about: Initially considered a freak accident, Jack’s flight crashes into the ocean. Thought safe after swimming to a nearby lighthouse, he quickly discovers a dark secret beneath its innocent facade.
Why we like it: Besides earning huge props for its incredible Art Deco aesthetics, Ken Levine and 2K’s spiritual successor to System Shock (from a gameplay perspective, at least) did the unthinkable in the mid-noughties.
Making the player reflect on their unquestioning nature and eagerness to follow the rules laid out by a game remains one of the most memorable narrative subversions in the medium.
Outside of its iconic plot twist, BioShock was always asking questions. Were you a monster for killing Little Sisters? Was Andrew Ryan really the bad guy? Was it your place to decide Rapture’s fate? BioShock is the thinking person’s FPS, a rare breed indeed.
