4: Bioshock
Speaking of unique experiences, here’s another one. An odd one. At least on paper. If anyone would have said that a game set in an art-decor underwater utopia that’s thematically riffing off on Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged was to become one of the decades biggest hits, that person would have been declared mad in an instant. Bioshock defied the odds. It was quirky, creative and absolutely stunning to behold. A work of art truly. It was a game that refreshed the formula of System Shock 2 for the modern age, with some additional spices added to the mix. Terrifying, beautiful, brutal and mesmerizing. A game that has a special place in many peoples’ hearts. The Big Daddies, the Little Sisters, the weird superpowers.
Bioshock wasn’t necessarily a game changer, yet it did leave a trail of influences across the board. Some games more or less openly aped it, others took hints from certain art styles and musical selections. Bioshock is a true classic, and one of gaming’s greatest moments. Not just because of summoning bees to fend off your foes.