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system shock on the computer with shodan
Image via Nightdive Studios

6 games like System Shock to play right now

There's not much like System Shock, but some games come close.

If you’re in the mood for more after playing System Shock, it’s easier said than done. System Shock arguably pioneered the immersive sim genre with a blend of obscure puzzle solving, survival horror, and first-person shooter elements that’s hard to find in modern games.

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While no game is exactly like System Shock, we still have plenty of excellent recommendations for you if you want a game that comes close.

Survival games like System Shock

In every entry on this list, you have to survive a terrifying existential threat. Some of our chosen games lean into the survival horror elements of System Shock, while others lean more into the combat and exploration.

Dead Space Remake

dead space remake combat
Staring down a Necromorph. Image via EA

System Shock and Dead Space almost feel like opposite sides of sci-fi horror. Where System Shock is highly stylized and has a retro aesthetic pastiche, Dead Space is dark and oppressive. Like System Shock, you can play Dead Space three times and still jump at its scarier moments—the atmosphere is just that terrifying.

Dishonored 1 and 2

dishonored 2 combat
Moving in for the kill. Image via IGDB

The Dishonored series has similar immersive sim elements to System Shock, alongside stealth and puzzle-solving. But the combat is far deeper, and you’ll use magical abilities to traverse the map and assassinate your targets. Dishonored is ideal for players who like to carefully plan their strategies to slip past—or eliminate—dozens of enemies without them noticing. It’s the least scary on this list, but definitely worth playing for System Shock fans.

Bioshock 1 and 2

bioshock 2 cutscene
Reborn out of the ocean. Image via 2k

It shouldn’t be a surprise to see Bioshock on this list. The FPS series is a spiritual successor to 1994’s System Shock. Bioshock trades cyberpunk for steampunk but retains similar combat and the resource-scavenging elements of System Shock. There are lots of arguments between fans about which is superior, so the only way to find out is to try both for yourself.

Prey (2017)

prey 2017 gameplay
Staring down monsters in Prey. Image via Arkane Studios

Like Bioshock, you can’t talk about System Shock without bringing up Prey (2017). It’s another game that’s considered a spiritual successor to System Shock. You’re trapped aboard an enormous, labyrinthine space station, like System Shock, and it similar puzzles and tough combat. It’s also probably the hardest game on this list, besides System Shock itself, so if you’re looking for a challenge, here it is.

Atomic Heart

atomic heart glove skill
Putting the glove to good use. Image via Mundfish

Atomic Heart takes the idea of sci-fi socialist realism and runs with it. This definitely isn’t a horror game; it’s far closer to an action title, but some of the machines you fight are terrifying. Atomic Heart is worth playing for the art style alone. It’s very stylized with its Soviet aesthetic, polished to perfection. It has fairly complex combat, with various guns, melee weapons, and special abilities that give you plenty of freedom while fighting nightmarish robots. You’ll regularly want to tell the protagonist to shut up, but the story is a fascinating dive into an alternate, Soviet-dominated sci-fi future.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

deus ex mankind divided
A school in futuristic Prague. Image via Square Enix

The Deus Ex series is perfect if you want a dystopian sci-fi experience in the same vein as System Shock while playing a guy who looks like Neo’s cousin. All the Deus Ex games give you multiple ways to build your character, and there are multiple ways to finish most missions, from stealth to combat to persuasion. Mankind Divided is the sixth game in the series, but it does a decent enough job of filling in the gaps that playing the prior entries isn’t necessary.


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Author
Image of Nickolas Davis
Nickolas Davis
Freelance writer at Dot Esports. Covering all topics gaming, travel, politics, and music-related since 2021. Also occasionally writes music and fiction under the pen name Saz. Published in Madness Heart Press, The Chamber Magazine, and The NoSleep Podcast.