PC gamers are running out of time to claim a first-person shooter masterpiece at absolutely no cost. One of the biggest perks of being a PC gamer is access to free games. Storefronts like Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store give away free games on a near-constant basis, ensuring that there’s always something for PC gamers to play without having to spend any money.
As far as the Epic Games Store free game giveaways go, PC gamers get new freebies every single week. The new Epic Games Store free games are made available on Thursdays at 10:00am CST, with the platform often letting fans know what they can expect from the following week’s offerings. One of the current Epic Games Store free games is a title called Buried Stars, which is a mystery adventure game that originally released in 2021. The other game being given away is the remaster of a title that is often hailed as one of the absolute best FPS games of all time.
Claim System Shock 2 for Free
Until Thursday, October 8 at 10:00am CST, System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is free on the Epic Games Store. For those that may be unfamiliar with the game, System Shock 2 is a sci-fi FPS/immersive sim where players explore a spaceship called the Von Braun. Unfortunately, the Von Braun has been overrun with violent, mutated people and that, combined with the ship’s hostile defense systems, makes it a particularly dangerous place. System Shock 2‘s immersive sim FPS elements combined with its first-person shooter gameplay, sci-fi horror themes, and memorable narrative catapulted it to critical acclaim, earning a 92/100 on review aggregate site Metacritic and winning numerous awards at the time of its original launch in 1999, including Game of the Year from multiple publications.
System Shock 2 was designed by Ken Levine, who would go on to create the spiritual successor BioShock franchise. BioShock and its sequels are in many ways more accessible versions of System Shock 2, which does admittedly have some elements that modern gamers may consider cumbersome or outdated. The version of the game being given away on the Epic Games Store is the remastered version, which smooths out some of the rough edges and has support for things like achievements and cross-play co-op.
System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is arguably the best way to experience the landmark FPS game, and could be perfect for someone that is anxiously awaiting Levine’s next game or BioShock 4 and never played System Shock 2. System Shock 2 can sometimes feel like a proto-version of what Levine would go on to achieve with BioShock, but it certainly has its advantages over its successors as well.
The System Shock franchise is basically dormant at the time of this writing. A System Shock 3 has been in various stages of development over the years, but nothing concrete has materialized. Ken Levine’s next game is a sci-fi game called Judas, and it seems like it’s a modern take on System Shock and BioShock. A release date has yet to be announced. BioShock 4 remains in development as well, but it too is lacking a release date. Gamers can claim System Shock 2 for free on EGS while they wait to learn more about these future projects.
- Released
-
June 26, 2025
- ESRB
-
M For Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Language
- Franchise
-
System Shock
