Choose System Shock® 2 (1999)
Choose System Shock® 2 (1999) if you want a RPG game with Multi-player and Co-op. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 94.5% positive across 4,870 reviews.
System Shock® 2 (1999) vs System Shock
System Shock® 2 (1999) and System Shock both land in Action on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Action games on Steam. System Shock® 2 (1999) (2013) is 10 years older than System Shock (2023). System Shock® 2 (1999) scores higher on Steam reviews (94.5% positive) than System Shock (90.9% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose System Shock
Choose System Shock if you want an Adventure experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2023) and ships with the modern feature baseline. 7,516 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both System Shock® 2 (1999) and System Shock sit in Action on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 System Shock® 2 (1999) |  System Shock | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2023 |
| Genres | Action, RPG | Action, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | Price unknown | 39.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 94.5% positive (4,870 reviews) | 90.9% positive (7,516 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Co-op | Single-player only |
| Developers | Nightdive Studios, Irrational Games, Looking Glass Studios | Nightdive Studios |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- System Shock® 2 (1999) (2013) is 10 years older than System Shock (2023).
- System Shock® 2 (1999) scores higher on Steam reviews (94.5% positive) than System Shock (90.9% positive).
- System Shock® 2 (1999) has co-op; System Shock does not.
- Both are Deck Playable.
System Shock® 2 (1999) vs System Shock — FAQ
- Which is better, System Shock® 2 (1999) or System Shock?
- On Steam reviews System Shock® 2 (1999) scores higher (94.5% positive) than System Shock (90.9% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, System Shock® 2 (1999) is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play System Shock® 2 (1999) or System Shock first?
- If you want chronology, System Shock® 2 (1999) (2013) came out before System Shock (2023). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are System Shock® 2 (1999) and System Shock similar?
- They overlap on Action on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Does System Shock have multiplayer like System Shock® 2 (1999)?
- No. System Shock® 2 (1999) supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player, Co-op), while System Shock is listed as single-player only.