A guide to playing Subject Delta well: weapons and plasmid combos, gene tonic builds, the Little Sister adopt/gather/harvest/rescue loop, Big Sisters, hacking and research, a level-by-level outline, the choices that shape the ending, Minerva's Den, and the Protector Trials.
Researched September 2026 — current as of the Remastered PC release (15 September 2016, part of BioShock: The Collection). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.
What "Remastered" includes: The 2016 remaster adds higher-resolution textures, models, and interface art, 4K support, the Minerva's Den story DLC, and the Protector Trials challenge DLC. The original's multiplayer is not included. The game receives no new content; recent Steam posts are sales (for example the 2K Summer Sale that ran to 9 July 2026).
| Weapon | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drill | Melee dash and grind | Uses fuel; strong against Splicers |
| Rivet Gun | Precise, trap rivets | Great early; trap rivets for gather defense |
| Machine Gun | Sustained fire | All-round |
| Shotgun | Close burst | Crowds |
| Hack Tool | Remote hacking darts, mini-turrets | Utility; hack from safety |
| Spear Gun | Long-range, pins enemies | Strong headshots, trap spears |
| Launcher | Explosives, proximity mines | Big Daddies and Big Sisters |
Every weapon has upgrades at Power to the People stations. Each weapon has several upgrades, with a stronger final upgrade once the earlier ones are installed.
| Plasmid | Use |
|---|---|
| Electro Bolt | Stun; combine with water for crowd damage |
| Incinerate! | Fire damage; burns oil |
| Telekinesis | Throw objects; catch grenades |
| Winter Blast | Freeze enemies |
| Cyclone Trap | Trap that launches enemies |
| Security Command | Summon security bots, direct cameras |
| Insect Swarm | Distract and damage |
| Hypnotize | Turn enemies against each other |
| Scout | Leave your body to scout |
There are 11 basic Plasmid types in all ("All Plasmids" asks you to find or buy every one); the table covers the ones most builds rely on. Buy extra Plasmid and Tonic slots at Gatherer's Gardens as ADAM allows.
Plasmid upgrades add a charged attack with the higher tiers. Combos: Electro Bolt into drill/shotgun, Winter Blast into melee shatter, and Hypnotize a Big Daddy so it fights for you.
Tonics are passive abilities. Build around your preferred weapon and playstyle.
| Build | Example tonics | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Drill brawler | Drill Vampire, Armored Shell | Melee with lifesteal and damage reduction |
| Electric | Electric Flesh | Shock damage and resistance |
| Researcher | Damage Research | Research bonuses |
| Survival | Booze Hound | Alcohol restores EVE |
| Type | Weapon | How to beat it |
|---|---|---|
| Bouncer | Drill, charges | Freeze or stun it, then unload; dodge the charge |
| Rosie | Rivet gun, proximity mines | Keep distance, watch for mines, use armor-piercing ammo |
| Rumbler | Rockets, deploys turrets | Hack or destroy its turrets; use cover |
General rules: stun with Electro Bolt (it opens a damage window), use armor-piercing or heavy ammo, and let hacked turrets or a Hypnotized Splicer soak damage. Hypnotizing a Big Daddy at higher plasmid levels makes it fight on your side, which is the easiest way to clear a gather.
Hacking is real-time: a needle sweeps across a gauge and you stop it in the green or blue zones. The Hack Tool fires darts to hack at range. Hack turrets and security bots to fight for you.
The Research Camera records video. Creatively damaging enemies while filming yields research points and bonuses, unlocking damage bonuses and tonics per enemy type.
| Level | Notes |
|---|---|
| Adonis Luxury Resort | Introduction |
| Atlantic Express Depot | First Little Sister loops |
| Ryan Amusements | Themed amusement park |
| Pauper's Drop | Poor district; the Grace Holloway choice |
| Siren Alley | Flooded red-light district |
| Dionysus Park | The Stanley Poole choice |
| Fontaine Futuristics | Late game; the Gilbert Alexander choice |
| Outer Persephone | Endgame prison |
| Inner Persephone | Finale |
The ending is shaped by two things:
Eleanor learns from Delta's actions. Rescue all Little Sisters and spare key characters for the "good" ending; harvesting and killing leads toward darker endings; mixed choices give in-between results.
A separate story campaign featuring Subject Sigma in Rapture's central computer facility (The Thinker). It adds new weapons and plasmids and is widely considered one of the best BioShock stories. Play it after the main game.
Challenge maps where you escort a Little Sister to ADAM-rich corpses and defend her. Each trial has three loadouts plus a bonus loadout unlocked after completing the others.
BioShock 2 Remastered has 53 Steam achievements covering the main game, Minerva's Den, and the Protector Trials. The ones that need a plan:
| Achievement | Requirement | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Against All Odds | Finish on the hardest difficulty | Combine with the no-Vita-Chamber run if you are confident |
| Big Brass Balls | Finish without using Vita-Chambers | Turn Vita-Chambers off in options and save manually often |
| Dealt with Every Little Sister | Deal with every Little Sister | Rescue or harvest every one; don't leave a level with a Sister unresolved |
| Rapture Historian | Find 100 audio diaries | Sweep side rooms on each level before moving on |
| All Weapon Upgrades | Find every Power to the People upgrade | Stations are often in side areas; explore fully |
| All Plasmids | Find or buy all 11 basic Plasmids | Check every Gatherer's Garden |
| Research Master / One Research Track | Complete all research / max one track | Film every new enemy type, and vary your attacks while filming |
| Master Protector | A gather with no damage and nobody reaching the Sister | Pick a dead-end corpse and trap every approach |
| Trap Master | Kill 30 enemies using only traps | Trap rivets, Cyclone Traps, and mines during gathers |
| Grand Daddy | Defeat 3 Big Daddies without dying during a fight | Stun, then unload with your best ammo |
| Lancer Killer / Garbage Collection / ADAM Addict | Minerva's Den: kill a Lancer, destroy all 10 Vacuum Bots, resolve all Little Sisters | Minerva's Den has its own collectibles; explore thoroughly |
| Litmus / Acid Test / Trial by Fire, Enemy of the Family | 6, 18, and 36 stars; an A rank in every Protector Trial | Replay trials with each loadout; traps first, then fight |
The Remastered PC release had stability and performance complaints at launch in 2016; later patches improved it. If you have issues:
Does BioShock 2 Remastered include multiplayer? No.
Is Minerva's Den included? Yes.
How long is it? Roughly 10-15 hours for the main story; Minerva's Den adds a few more.
Should I rescue or harvest? Rescue for the good ending and gifts; harvest for more ADAM now.
Is it worth playing after BioShock 1? Yes. Gameplay is refined, and Minerva's Den is a highlight.
Is there a BioShock 4? A new BioShock has been in development at 2K; check official channels for news.