System Shock cover art

System Shock

by Looking Glass Studios · published by Origin Systems

Released September 22, 1994 on PC and Mac.

System Shock Game intro thumbnail

About System Shock

A seminal cyberpunk first-person exploratory adventure game with RPG elements in which, waking up in the Citadel Space Station, a lone hacker has to survive corrupted enemies and collect audio logs and equipment from former station workers in order to shut down SHODAN, the station's artificial intelligence that has killed everyone on board and now intends to destroy the world.

You are a hacker. You have attempted to hack into the TriOptimum Corporation Network, and gain unauthorized access to protected files concerning the Space Station Citadel. Unfortunately, your hacking attempts have been detected, and your location is soon tracked. Edward Diego (an executive at TriOptimum Corporation) sees your potential, and is eager to make a deal with you. He will drop all charges against you, if you hack into SHODAN, the artificial intelligence that controls Citadel Station. You will also gain a military grade neuro interface if you are successful. Naturally, you agree to this offer, and Edward Diego gives you Level 1 access to SHODAN. You receive your neuro implant, and undergo a 6-month healing coma. The game starts when you awake from your coma. But somehow, things are not quite how you remember them. You find an audio log (as well as some other goodies) hidden in a cupboard. The log is from Rebecca Lansing, who is a TriOptimum counter terrorism consultant based on Earth. She tells you that they have detected a disruption on Citadel Station, and that a mining beam is preparing to fire at Earth. Since you are the only contact between Earth and Citadel Station, it is up to you to find out what is going on. You soon discover that when you hacked into SHODAN 6 months ago, you removed all of her ethical restraints. Now she has re-examined her priorities, and drawn her own conclusions about humanity!

Release dates by platform

MacNADecember 1995
PCOctober 14, 2015 · Out now

Reviews & players

Player score9189 ratings on IGDB

System Shock FAQ

When did System Shock come out?

System Shock was released on September 22, 1994 for PC and Mac.

Is System Shock on PlayStation 5?

No. System Shock has not been announced for PlayStation 5. It is available on PC and Mac.

Is System Shock on Xbox Series X|S?

No. System Shock has not been announced for Xbox Series X|S. It is available on PC and Mac.

Is System Shock on Nintendo Switch 2?

No. System Shock has not been announced for Nintendo Switch 2. It is available on PC and Mac.

Who is making System Shock?

System Shock is developed by Looking Glass Studios and published by Origin Systems, Electronic Arts, and Dong Seo Interactive.

Is System Shock multiplayer?

No. System Shock is single player only.

System Shock series

6 games in release order

Full timeline
  1. System Shock1994
  2. System Shock 21999
  3. System Shock: Enhanced Edition2015
  4. System Shock2023
  5. System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster2025
  6. System Shock 3TBA

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Prey

PC PS4 XB1

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