We review progress in the development of photonic platforms for detecting gases. Unlike sensors based on conventional refractive and diffractive optics, photonic sensors detect analytes using light–matter interactions of periodic nanostructures, plasmonic interactions, or combinations of the two. This summary focuses on the work done in the last two decades, and earlier reports are summarized in several authoritative reviews. Specifically, we focus on the research of bio-inspired photonic and plasmonic material fabrication, experimental studies, and theoretical studies for gas detection applications. In areas where reports are scarce, challenges are identified, and reports are included that may not directly relate to bio-inspired gas detection applications but nonetheless offer findings that can facilitate progress within underexplored areas of bioinspired gas sensing.