Game Information

Game Title: System Shock (2023 Remake)

Platforms:

• PC (May 30, 2023)
• Xbox Series X/S (TBA)
• PlayStation 5 (TBA)
• Xbox One (TBA)
• PlayStation 4 (TBA)

Trailer:

• System Shock Remake Coming Soon Trailer | Nightdive Studios

Developer: Nightdive Studios

Publisher: Prime Matter

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 75 average - 68% recommended - 39 reviews

Critic Reviews

Destructoid - Zoey Handley - 9 / 10

A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.

Enternity.gr - Stelios Anagnostopoulos - Greek - 9 / 10

The ecosystem of the System Shock remake has all those elements that established the original game, confirm the professionalism of Nightdive Studios but - and most importantly for the community - discount, if accepted by the community-market, the return of SHODAN in a possible System Shock 3.

BaziCenter - محمد طالبیان - Persian - 9 / 10

System Shock Remake might not be without flaws, but remaking one of the greatest games ever made after almost 3 decades was never an easy task to start with. Nevertheless, the Remake is solid enough to give the new generation of gamers a taste of one of the pioneers of the video games industry.

Tom's Hardware Italia - Andrea Riviera - Italian - 8.5 / 10

System Shock is indeed a good remake, capable not only of replicating the wonderful and distressing atmospheres of the 1994 original, but of expanding on them thanks to a decidedly distinctive -- if occasionally a bit strange -- visual style and a level design still capable of setting the standard. Nightdive Studios has brought to life what is probably their best remake work; an act of love towards the work of Warren Spector and Doug Church, which now everyone can finally enjoy in its modern form.

WayTooManyGames - Kyle Nicol - 8.5 / 10

For those who are huge fans of the original release, I am sure that this will be highly regarded as a fantastic remake. But this is more than that: for those new to the franchise, this is also a great point to step in at. Nightdive’s System Shock remake is one that will appeal to both audiences. The core gameplay mechanics may not the best or most polished, but it’s the world design, atmosphere and engaging plot that make for an experience that is still very much unique, and well worth the gigantic wait.

The Games Machine - Emanuele Feronato - Italian - 8.2 / 10

Won't be easy to drop the game before defeating SHODAN. This happens mainly thanks to an excellent gameplay set in superbly designed levels, despite some technical inaccuracies. Many hours await you in a continuous challenge between human and artificial intelligence.

Eurogamer - Kaan Serin - 4 / 5

A remake that closely follows the original classic, with a slightly different overall effect.

Everyeye.it - Riccardo Cantù - Italian - 8 / 10

System Shock's remake is a love letter to the original and its fans, but also an opportunity for new fans to rediscover an authentic video game classic.

Guardian - Rick Lane - 4 / 5

Lovingly remade, this game is no longer the trailblazer it once was, but there is an enduring majesty to the design of its space-station setting

PC Gamer - Joshua Wolens - 80 / 100

It might be a little conservative, but this is a smart, faithful remake and easily the de facto way to play System Shock in the modern era.

Screen Rant - Jason Hon - 4 / 5

Nightdive Studios' System Shock remake is the definitive version of the classic 90s PC title whose influence is still felt in today's sci-fi shooters.

Shacknews - TJ Denzer - 8 / 10

Nightdive’s System Shock remake keeps much of its successful elements intact while doing away with a lot of its archaic issues that would drag down a modern game.

VG247 - Siobhán Casey - 4 / 5

Nightdive Studios may have taken seven years, but it's finally managed to do the impossible and thread the unlikely line between reboot and remake.

Wccftech - Ule Lopez - 8 / 10

The System Shock remake offers a lot of great graphical enhancements and beautiful stylistic choices that make for an overall enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, it's dragged back by several aspects that haven't aged well over the years and have become more accentuated after the advancements that gaming has made in all these years.

Worth Playing - Chris "Atom" DeAngelus - 8 / 10

System Shock Remake is a solid remake of an exceptional game. It doesn't quite reach the levels of modernization that you might see from something like Resident Evil 4 Remake, but it does a good job of adapting a classic without losing what made it a classic in the first place. It's a clever and creative game that deserves its place in gaming history, and the remake emphasizes that.

COGconnected - Mark Steighner - 78 / 100

While we wait for a genuine reboot, System Shock is worth playing as a reminder of how important great ideas were, and still are, to the hobby we love.

Spaziogames - Marcello Paolillo - Italian - 7.8 / 10

System Shock Remake is a solid sci-fi first person shooter, although it does not go beyond the boundaries drawn by the first and immortal chapter, released in 1994.

GameGrin - Violet Plata - 7.5 / 10

Unforgiving, with no tutorials, and a true-to-classic experience, System Shock is a retro survival horror title through and through, but you should still consider checking it out, even if you don't care for the original.

Hobby Consolas - Daniel Quesada - Spanish - 75 / 100

If only for the historical value of the original, it is worth trying. Its non-linear gameplay can choke for some players, but if you're into challenges, here's a curious incentive.

Press Start - Brodie Gibbons - 7.5 / 10

After three decades, System Shock still serves up a sci-fi banquet complete with one of the greatest antagonists and features that revolutionised a genre. Classic games are left open to classic stumbling blocks, however, as some of the design shows considerable depreciation.

CGMagazine - Andrew Farrell - 7 / 10

System Shock is an upgraded classic with dated elements that needs quality of life improvements, yet despite everything is still a fun treat for immersive sim fans.

Capsule Computers - Admir Brkic - 7 / 10

System Shock remake offers a great facelift on almost every front but leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to enemy AI and sound design.

GBAtemp - Prans Dunn - 7 / 10

While I won’t call the System Shock remake an instant classic or on par with other recent remakes such as Resident Evil 4 or Dead Space, it is a decent effort to bring a revered sci-fi title to a new audience.

God is a Geek - Mick Fraser - 7 / 10

If you've always wanted to play System Shock but never had the chance, then this remake is the ideal entry point for you.

Metro GameCentral - Steve Boxer - 7 / 10

Not the high-end remake that some fans would have been hoping for but even as a, at times, too faithful remaster this is a fascinating second look at one of gaming's great unsung heroes.

PCGamesN - Dave Irwin - 7 / 10

The System Shock remake is the best way to play the PC classic, making it an enjoyable first-person experience for the modern age. However, it still clings to some somewhat outdated mechanics that will frustrate newcomers.

TheSixthAxis - Steve C - 7 / 10

If you want to explore the history of the horror genre then this is the version to play, but you might want to bookmark a guide to avoid System Shock's most outdated elements.

Atomix - Alexis Patiño - Spanish - 68 / 100

System Shock is the remake fans have been waiting since 2015 and it succeeds in bringing back all that 90s PC gaming experience. Including the outdated feel in an era flooded with greater and more attractive games.

PowerUp! - James Wood - 6.5 / 10

System Shock is less of a modern means through which to experience the best of the original but a separate beast, one far clumsier but in much nicer lipstick.

GamesRadar - Leon Hurley - 3 / 5

An oddly pitched remake that has its moments but adds very little to the original beyond a visual upgrade

Multiplayer First - Vitor Braz - 6 / 10

The original System Shock was a classic but also a niche game that never achieved commercial success; this remake highlights the niche aspect but will forgo the classic label. It may entice players who want to see how this updated version looks and plays, and while there’s some considerable tension to be had while going down narrow and dim lit corridors, the fun of being lost in maze after maze wears out quickly, especially when you’re doing the umpteenth scan through the map looking for whatever card or switch you have missed. At this rate, SHODAN is likely going to conquer both Citadel Station and Earth, as frustrating her plans is precisely that – frustrating.

Slant Magazine - Steven Scaife - 3 / 5

However commendable Nightdive’s efforts to preserve the spirit of the original may be, it doesn’t take much frustrated wandering before questioning whether their modernization efforts have gone far enough.

Checkpoint Gaming - Tom Quirk - 5.5 / 10

Nightdive's System Shock remake is a strange game, and whether it will appeal to you may largely depend on your nostalgia for the era of gaming from which it came. This remake still shows its age, despite the considerable and impressive paint job, lighting, and updated controls. If you don't mind the sometimes murderous level of difficulty, tons of backtracking, and minimal handholding, System Shock may be a compelling piece of gaming history that is worth checking out.

WellPlayed - Nathan Hennessy - 5.5 / 10

The atmospheric visual overhaul marks the best part of this exhausting and dated remake, while the villainous AI SHODAN remains a timeless antagonist.

ACG - Jeremy Penter - Buy

Video Review - Quote not available

Chicas Gamers - Álvaro Bustío - Spanish - Unscored

After almost three decades behind it, Nightdive Studio revives System Shock, a much-loved cult game that, this time, is presented to us as a remake (remember that there is also an Enhanced version that is more visually faithful to its original), preserving its game mechanics and adapting them to current ones, all programmed with Unreal Engine 4 with updated graphics in high definition according to current standards. It also has a very interesting interface, which makes all the addons look spectacularly good, updated controls and a soundtrack and voices that make walking the citadel and facing the horrors sent by SHODAN even more immersive than ever. A very entertaining adventure, especially for lovers of shooters and exploration, that although it can be finished in 6 hours on its lowest difficulties and knowing what to do, it can take substantially longer on its highest difficulties.

Polygon - Gita Jackson - Unscored

It’s easy to understand why people played this game and then became obsessed with it, why you can trace some people’s careers through the game.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Jeremy Peel - Unscored

While its refusal to let you cheat the exam will prove too punishing for some, the new System Shock is a breathtakingly beautiful and astonishingly faithful remake that proves the enduring power of Looking Glass design.

Vamers - Edward Swardt - Essential

System Shock by Nightdive Studios is a marvel of a title, whilst also serving as an utterly transcending and faithful adaptation. The game brings the iconic 1994 shooter to life in modern and unique ways, allowing the classic to be experienced by an entire new generation of video gamers. Similarly, it introduces a unique type of gameplay that many games today have all but forgotten about. It requires thinking, encourages exploration, and absolutely does not hold the player’s hand during any of its many challenging levels. Faithfulness is what System Shock beckons, yet perfection is what it achieves.