Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (Metacritic) | – | 78 | 24 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 90% | 84 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 78 | 73 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 86% | 79 | 3000 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Apr 25, 2024) · 300 reviews sampled · 3904 total reviews in window · weighted 209.2 up / 27 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (73)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 90
“System Shock is a remake years in the making, and Nightdive Studios masterfully reimagines the critically acclaimed classic. From the challenging puzzles, dangerous combat, cyberpunk aesthetic, and the tragic story that serves as the backbone for it all, there’s a lot to love about this game. System Shock’s legacy will live on in this brilliant modern take.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“System Shock makes a good first impression, only for frustration to become its default mode once more and more of the station opens up to you.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“System Shock Remake isn’t for everyone, but it is a true gem if you actually give it a chance. With an updated visual design that is a love letter to the original’s aesthetics and some crucial gameplay changes that improve the overall experience, it is a justful and well-made remake of one of the most influential games of all time. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“System Shock is finally back as one of the best cyberpunk games ever. The remake looks exactly like I remembered the original, and in a world dominated by games that tend to hold the player by the hand, it is shockingly refreshing to think for yourself.”
read full review ↗ - 87
“System Shock of 2023 pulls no punches and remains every bit old-school as it was back in the day, albeit some quality of life improvements. With gameplay that has aged like fine wine and an imposing villain in the face of SHODAN, this iteration of System Shock is the optimal way to experience the father of immersive sims in the present day.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“System Shock is a masterful version that takes creative liberties without forgetting its roots or losing its way. Without a doubt, a classic that everyone should play.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Ultimately, the System Shock remake doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. The original game already revolutionized the shooter and immersive sim genre back in 1994. Nightdive Studios’ take gives one of the most influential games ever made a fresh coat of paint, tweaking the formula and pacing subtly while adding some quality of live improvements. For those that were too intimidated by the original, this is a fantastic way of playing it. While the few, but substantial, differences might be divisive among returning fans, the System Shock remake does a great job of informing new players of why the game was so impressive in 1994 and proves that it remains impressive in 2023.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“System Shock Remake is a solid remake of an exceptional game. It doesn't quite reach the levels of modernization that you might see from something like Resident Evil 4 Remake, but it does a good job of adapting a classic without losing what made it a classic in the first place. It's a clever and creative game that deserves its place in gaming history, and the remake emphasizes that.”
read full review ↗ - 55
“Nightdive’s System Shock remake is a strange game, and whether it will appeal to you may largely depend on your nostalgia for the era of gaming from which it came. This remake still shows its age, despite the considerable and impressive paint job, lighting, and updated controls. If you don’t mind the sometimes murderous level of difficulty, tons of backtracking, and minimal handholding, System Shock may be a compelling piece of gaming history that is worth checking out.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“SHODAN is what makes parts of this game truly special, even with some warts. Thankfully, the original's impenetrable Excel sheet menus are gone. But Nightdive doesn't take the Capcom or Square Enix approach with this remake; they're actually pretty uncompromising in their mission to update the original. As a result, there aren't any wildly dynamic abilities or playful ways to move around the station (a la Prey) that some newbies might expect. But ultimately, the System Shock remake faithfully recreates a classic, retains most of its appeal, reframes everything with a horror tilt, and as a result, makes it more playable for everyone. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“System Shock returns with great glory and new graphics. Despite some mistakes, the positives are significantly dominant and the return of the cult game has definitely succeeded.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“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.”
read full review ↗
Gamepressure
Slant Magazine
PLAY Zine
GRYOnline.pl
LevelUp
Siliconera
Worth Playing
Checkpoint Gaming
Eurogamer
SECTOR.sk
GameGrin…and 61 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Parity Patch (v2.1)Mar 20, 2026
- System Shock - Update 1.3.0Sep 20, 2025
- Patch 1.2.18898May 21, 2024
- Patch 1.2.18890May 3, 2024
- Patch 1.2.18887Apr 25, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.2 & -55% Sale Now Live!Apr 11, 2024
- Shodan's Citadel Station Updates on April 11thApr 4, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- CITADEL STATION SYSTEMS UPDATED - PATCH 1.0Jun 9, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- September 2021 UpdateSep 27, 2021
- February Kickstarter UpdateFeb 25, 2021significant · resets scoring window
- System Shock Alpha Demo v1.22 is now available on SteamJun 6, 2020significant · resets scoring window
- February Kickstarter UpdateFeb 7, 2020
- September Kickstarter UpdateSep 7, 2019
- August Kickstarter UpdateAug 20, 2019