Have you ever wanted to experience one of the most influential games ever made, completely free? Right now, you can grab System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster on the Epic Games Store at no cost. This deal runs until October 8, 2026, and as with all Epic freebies, once you claim it, it's yours to keep forever. All you need is a free Epic Games account, and you'll play it through the Epic Games Launcher.
The remaster comes from Nightdive Studios, the team known for excellent classic revivals like Quake and Star Wars: Dark Forces. They released this 25th Anniversary Remaster in June 2025, and it's a love letter to the original. You get remastered visuals for cutscenes, character models, and weapons, plus support for up to 4K at 144fps on PC. There's adjustable field of view, ultrawide support, full mod support, and even cross-play co-op for up to four players. You can also choose an O.S.A., Marine, or Navy background to shape your playstyle.
If you're new to the series, here's the deal: the original System Shock 2 launched back in 1999, developed by Looking Glass Studios and Irrational Games. It blended FPS shooting with RPG character building in a way few games had done before. You wake from cryosleep aboard the faster-than-light ship Von Braun in the year 2114 with no memory of who you are, and the ship is overrun by hybrid mutants and hostile robots. It's a tense, atmospheric ride that still holds up today.
The influence of System Shock 2 is hard to overstate. Many of the people behind it went on to make the BioShock games, which are often called its spiritual successor. Its blend of environmental storytelling and player choice has shaped countless games since. The original even earned a 9/10 rating when it received an updated review. So this free offer is a perfect chance to see where it all began.
If the remaster leaves you hungry for more, Nightdive also released a full remake of the first System Shock on PC in 2023. That one rebuilt the original with new HD visuals, updated controls, and a revamped hacking system. It's a great way to explore the series' roots, though System Shock 2 works perfectly well as a standalone adventure. The first game is currently $11.99 on Steam with a hefty 70% discount during the Autumn Sale.
Oh, and Epic is giving away another game this week: Buried Stars, an anime-style visual novel where contestants on a TV show must survive a mysterious attack. Like System Shock 2, it's available to claim until October 8. You can add both to your library in just a couple of clicks.
So, will you be picking up System Shock 2 and Buried Stars? Let us know in the comments!
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