System Shock 2
System Shock 2 is a 1999 immersive sim and horror game developed by Irrational Games in collaboration with Looking Glass Studios. Set aboard the starship Von Braun overrun by a parasitic hive mind called the Many and a malevolent artificial intelligence, players combine first-person combat, RPG-style skill and psionic development, weapon degradation, and hacking to survive a hostile ship pieced together through scattered audio logs.
Praised for its oppressive atmosphere, meaningful player choice in character builds, and the chilling return of the AI antagonist SHODAN, the game blended shooting, role-playing, and survival horror in ways that deeply influenced later titles like BioShock. Its emphasis on scarcity, emergent problem-solving, and dread made it a landmark immersive sim despite modest initial sales.
System Shock 2 has been re-released in updated and remastered editions that make it accessible on modern hardware, and it remains widely regarded as one of the finest games of its kind.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to System Shock 2, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioShock Remastered | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Signalis Indie | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Untested | PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| System Shock (2023 remake) | € 39,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
| Prey | € 29,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
BioShock Remastered
€ 19,99The remastered original, made by the people who built System Shock 2 and still the closest thing to it.
BioShock Remastered runs on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Linux, Android phone, Android tablet.
Signalis Indie
€ 19,99A striking indie survival-horror with retro sci-fi dread.
Signalis runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster
€ 19,99A modernised version of the survival-horror classic.
System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster runs on PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet.
System Shock (2023 remake)
€ 39,99A stunning ground-up remake of the first game.
System Shock (2023 remake) runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Switch.
Prey
€ 29,99Arkane's station-set immersive sim, widely considered the true successor to System Shock 2.
Prey runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, Switch.
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