System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster Reviews

In the age of remasters, new audiences are being brought into the fold of classic games every single day. System Shock 2 bucks that trend by appealing to long-time fans, but perhaps few others.

The System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is a hard game to recommend. On the one hand, if you're extremely eager to experience the origin of the immersive sim genre or are looking for the definitive way to play System Shock 2 as a fan of the series, then this is the game for you. However, if you're coming fresh off the System Shock remake or are entering the series as a newcomer, you'll quickly be intimidated by the backtracking and dated gameplay design.

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is the original System Shock 2 experience for better and for worse. It includes every aspect of the original game, including the clunky menus and side features that don’t work as well as intended. Fans of the original will miss nothing, and have a smooth-running version on consoles. While System Shock 2 is an important video game, it’s going to be difficult for modern players to experience it for the first time. I recommend Nightdive’s System Shock remake for anyone who wants to get into the series for the first time. Undoubtedly, System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is the best way to play this classic open-world survival horror FPS CRPG.

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster brings the classic title forward for contemporary systems, and does so flawlessly. The artistic and gameplay elements are all restored to their original glory. If you've never played before, or it's been far too long since you last played, don't sleep on this one. You won't regret it.

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is a wonderful way to experience one of the most well-regarded FPS titles of all time. With an excellent narrative and a world that begs to be explored, it's not only an incredible game in its own right but should also be considered essential reading for BioShock fans. Minor combat concerns aside, System Shock 2's immersive mechanics will keep you hooked from start to finish, with Nightdive's enhancements and supplemental material providing ample bonus points. Now go play it, insect.

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is Nightdive Studio's tribute to the hugely influential 1994 original. Offering a much-needed technical upgrade, along with a bevvy of extras, System Shock 2 is still an impressive game, even if some of its forward-thinking mechanics feel quite quaint three decades later.

System Shock 2 25th Anniversary Remaster contains a complete package of the source material, lovingly maintained in its original form, alongside tons of assets and history that most preservation efforts can't compare to.

I get why diehards love System Shock 2, but it doesn't change the fact that it hasn't aged all that gracefully in 2025. This game deserves its legendary status for the influence it had on the industry at large, but it's one most of us should just appreciate from afar. This remaster is undoubtedly the best way to play the game on modern hardware. Still, it also ultimately feels like a low-effort endeavor that's devoid of desperately needed Quality of Life improvements, making me question why they even bothered. The lore and vibe are still incredible, but the moment-to-moment gameplay can sadly be a downright slog. You'll already know if this remaster is for you, and I think you'll enjoy it if that's the case. Curious newbies should just watch a playthrough.

Retaining everything that made the original great while enhancing its presentation, System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is well worth it for newcomers and longtime fans.

Still a classic, but a little of that vital weirdness is gone.

There has never been a better time for System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster to grace consoles once again, and it’s a must try for fans of Sci-Fi.

Initially developed by Irrational Games, which would then go on to create the mostly excellent, Bioshock franchise, System Shock 2 is known as one of the most revolutionary games of all time. Still, its relatively cult following and inaccessible nature for many players (especially on console) means that a lot of people haven’t managed to try it out. System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remastered is the perfect game for Nightdive to bring to more modern hardware. Does it live up after all this ...

System Shock 2 is an all-time classic and one of my favorite games. Nightdive Studios has brought the game back to PC and eventually to consoles, with the 25th Anniversary Remaster. My review was played on Xbox Series X, which is weird because the game was just delayed there. I had roughly 18 hours from code arrival to embargo timing. Thankfully, this port is solid and adds something that will make this great title even better, up to 4-player co-op.

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is engrossing, deep, and atmospheric. It's a game that has aged marvelously, but even so, Nightdive's efforts in remastering this classic makes it more accessible than ever before.