I didn’t get to play many new games in 2013; I kept returning to old favorites like FTL and Planescape. But I did manage to play Bioshock Infinite and it left me amazed. While it follows many of the standard first-person shooter conventions, the setting and story make the game a truly unique experience. The floating city of Columbia is both fantastical and fully realized, providing a brightly lit backdrop for a narrative that grows increasingly dark. I finally finished it yesterday and I’m still thinking about that incredible ending that has so much to say about science, fate, and even how we play games. Bioshock Infinite is ushering in a new era of games that mesh artistry and adrenaline and I can’t wait to see where the industry goes next.
