System Shock (2023) Reviews

System Shock (2023) is ranked in the 67th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
7 / 10.0
May 29, 2023

The graphics won’t blow you away and it won’t be making too many “best graphics of the year” lists. But it’s a loving tribute and beautifully recreated edition of a much-beloved classic. There’s a lot to like in this remake, and if this is the building block for what’s to come in the franchise, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

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Dave Irwin
Top Critic
7 / 10
May 29, 2023

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 However, it still clings to some somewhat outdated mechanics that will frustrate newcomers.

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7 / 10
Jun 20, 2023

Though held back from greatness by gameplay flaws and performance issues, System Shock still presents a fascinating world and interesting story that'll be more than worth the effort for dedicated players.

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7 / 10.0
May 30, 2023

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

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TheSixthAxis
Steve C
Top Critic
7 / 10
May 29, 2023

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the horror genre then this is the version to play, but you might want to bookmark a guide to avoid System Shock's most outdated elements.

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7 / 10
May 29, 2023

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.

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7.3 / 10.0
May 20, 2024

It's hard not to get carried away by nostalgia, especially if you've played the original game, so we're not too impartial when we tell you that this remake of System Shock is a game worth playing. The additions are very interesting and allow the level of difficulty to be adjusted to all types of player profiles to make it attractive to new generations. If you have not played the original, it is a good time to approach this game and discover one of the precursors to great games like Dead Space or Bioshock.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

75 / 100
Jul 2, 2023

A remake that gives today's players a cult classic with the atmosphere of the old games.

Review in Turkish | Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
Jun 4, 2023

Despite having some sparse storytelling and a lot of annoying gameplay elements, the System Shock remake still succeeded in providing an enjoyable experience and proved that even after all these years, the game is still worth the time of new and returning fans.

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7.5 / 10.0
May 29, 2023

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.

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7.5 / 10.0
May 21, 2024

While the changes to the ending and some quality-of-life improvements do great work in improving this remake, System Shock still brings with it the thirty years of baggage that the original game did. Despite its resounding influence and its impact on a genre it arguably helped to carve out, the System Shock remake does best with what it has to offer an experience that's authentic to the original game, for better or for worse.

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7.5 / 10.0
May 29, 2023

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.

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75 / 100
May 29, 2023

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.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

7.8 / 10.0
May 29, 2023

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.

Review in Italian | Read full review

78 / 100
May 29, 2023

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.

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80 / 100
May 20, 2024

The remake of System Shock that came to PC a year ago and now comes to consoles remains extremely faithful and respectful, which means that its innumerable virtues have been maintained, but also other somewhat archaic or outdated elements. This is both a cause for rejoicing for fans of the original title and a major barrier to the game reaching a new audience.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

8 / 10.0
May 20, 2024

System Shock is an all-time classic, and this is by far the best way to experience it. Nightdive Studios have followed through on their promise and delivered a full remake that gets what made the original so special.

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May 20, 2024

Modern players may find it interesting but not vital.

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8 / 10
Jun 29, 2023

System Shock is a successful remake of an almost 30-year-old legend that honors the original in every possible aspect, be it story, atmosphere, difficulty, or its core ideas. I enjoyed playing it despite the tension and slight frustration that overcame me every time I missed instructions on continuing the story. The pleasant elevator tune helped ease my inner restlessness.

Review in Czech | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Jun 14, 2023

Nightdive are synonymous with fantastic remasters but to my knowledge, this is the first from-the-ground-up remake they have produced and Shodan be praised, did they knock it out of the park! System Shock isn’t a game for everyone as previously stated. It doesn’t have the flexible character builds of its sequel nor is it a more linear digestible experience like its spiritual successors. What it does offer is a hardcore, sci-fi horror game with a level of immersion that only comes around every so often. Fans of Prey (2016) will certainly find a lot to love here, along with gamers looking for a challenge. You will get lost, you will die, and you’ll spend more than enough time scratching your head at some of the more obscure objectives and puzzles. But if you stick with it, you’ll come out of the other side fulfilled and with an even greater appreciation of just how much of a landmark title System Shock was and still is.

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