System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is the classic sci-fi game reported free to claim on the Epic Games Store through October 8, 2026. The same reported offer includes Buried Stars, a very different kind of game. The promotion and deadline were reported by Digital Citizen on October 1 and Notebookcheck on October 2; an official Epic listing was not verified in those reports.
Which game is free on Epic Games Store?
The headline refers to System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster, the updated edition of the 1999 sci-fi horror game. Digital Citizen and Notebookcheck reported that it could be claimed on the Epic Games Store through October 8, 2026. Digital Citizen says a claimed game stays attached to the claimant’s account after the offer ends.
The reports do not establish an exact cutoff hour, regional eligibility, or official checkout requirements. Check the Epic Games Store listing in your region before relying on the deadline.
What else is included in the offer?
Buried Stars is also part of the reported two-game giveaway. It is a narrative mystery visual novel, not a sci-fi action game. Digital Citizen describes contestants and crew trapped beneath a collapsed studio built for a survival audition show; after a murder, players investigate through conversations, clues, and a fictional social-media system.
#1 Best Overall
- System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster Key Features: Cross-Play Co-Op multiplayer. Choose from 3 branches of the Military; O.S.A, Marines or Navy and experiment with different play styles. Up to 120 FPS performance with ultra-widescreen support. 50 Trophies to unlock. Enhanced Characters, Weapon Models and Animations. Optimized Controller support. Quality of Life Improvements.
How the two games differ
| Game | Style and interaction | Premise |
|---|---|---|
| System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster | First-person exploration and shooting, with survival horror, RPG progression, and immersive-sim elements, according to Notebookcheck. | Aboard the Von Braun in 2114, the player wakes from cryogenic sleep without memories as mutants and robots overrun the ship and the rogue AI SHODAN appears to be in control, according to Notebookcheck. |
| Buried Stars | Dialogue-led investigation: speak with characters, gather clues, and use a fictional social-media system, according to Digital Citizen. | Contestants and crew are trapped under a collapsed survival-audition-show studio, where a murder takes place, according to Digital Citizen. |
Choose System Shock 2 for first-person exploration, combat, and character development; choose Buried Stars for a dialogue-focused mystery. These descriptions come from the cited coverage, not hands-on testing.
What is the 25th Anniversary Remaster?
Notebookcheck describes it as an update to the 1999 game from Irrational Games and Looking Glass Studios. The report says Nightdive Studios released the remaster in 2025 and notes cross-play cooperative multiplayer alongside its first-person, RPG, and immersive-sim features. These are details from that report, rather than independently verified technical specifications here.
Rank #2
- System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster on a region-free physical cartridge
- Cross-Play Co-Op multiplayer.
- 50 Trophies to unlock
- Enhanced Characters, Weapon Models and Animations
- Optimized Controller support
How to claim the reported free games
- Open the Epic Games Store and find each game’s store listing.
- Confirm that the listing shows the offer in your region and that the promotion is still active.
- Complete the store’s claim or checkout flow for each title before the displayed deadline. The reports do not specify an exact expiration time.
The offer is a reported Epic promotion; the available coverage does not verify the live store pages or their regional terms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are the games really worth $70?
Notebookcheck reported regular prices of $29.99 for System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster and $39.99 for Buried Stars, or $69.98 combined, in its October 2026 coverage. Those are deal-report figures, not confirmed universal Epic prices. xGamerss says its USD pricing is based on Steam and can vary by region: its October 1–8, 2026 report should not be treated as proof of Epic’s local pricing.
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Rank #4
- System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster game on physical cartridge
- Soundtrack
- Trioptimum Keychain
- 12" x 16" Double-Sided Poster
Rank #3
- System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster [Anniversary Edition] includes: >Base Game - Booklet Deluxe Folding Box (with Shodan Lenticular Card inside) Soundtrack CD Double-Sided Poste
- System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster by Nightdive Studios brings to you the modernized remaster of the FPS/RPG classic, featuring Cross-Play Co-Op multiplayer and more.
- Its the year 2114 and as you awake from cryo sleep on the FTL ship Von Braun, you are unable to remember who or where you are and something has gone terribly wrong. Hybrid mutants and deadly robots roam the halls while the cries from the remaining crew reverberate through the cold hull of the ship. SHODAN, a rogue AI bent on the destruction of mankind has taken over and its up to you to stop her.
- Delve through the corridors of the derelict ship Von Braun and immerse yourself in the story rich atmosphere and environments. Explore deck by deck and unravel the horrifying fate of the Von Braun and her crew.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
