System Shock (Remake)

Looking Glass’s 1994 System Shock is a wonderful, massively influential game that is unfortunately challenging for some of today’s players to engage with. Enter Nightdive Studios’ uh… Well, first it was pitched as a remaster. Then a remake. Then a reboot. But after years of development hell, what finally popped out was a slick modern reimagining of the game that helped spark the immersive sim genre. And against all odds, it was actually worth the wait.

The new System Shock is a study in contrasts. It’s both reverent to its unusual source material but unafraid to innovate when 1994-era design no longer cuts it. It looks great and exceedingly modern, but with vibrant retro colors and thoughtfully intentional pixelation. It brings almost all of what made System Shock memorable into the present, but adds its own spin in the process. Nightdive performed an incredible balancing act here, and the positive reviews speak for themselves.

Sure, I miss the original’s iconic music too, but that everything else is so on point here is just unbelievable. Has there ever been a more troubled remake that turned out so great? — Alexandra Hall

Playable On: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Windows, macOS, Linux

Rough Average Playtime: 14 hours