System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is reported free to claim on the Epic Games Store through October 8, 2026. The same reported promotion includes Buried Stars, a very different, story-led mystery. The claim period and included games were reported by Digital Citizen on October 1 and Notebookcheck on October 2.
Which game is free until October 8?
The headline refers to System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster. According to the October 1 and 2, 2026 reports, it can be claimed on the Epic Games Store through October 8, 2026. Buried Stars is also included in the reported giveaway.
The reports do not establish an exact cutoff hour, regional eligibility, or official Epic Store terms. Check the store listing in your region before the deadline. Digital Citizen reports that a claimed title remains tied to the account after the offer ends; that is distinct from being able to claim it after October 8.
How the two free games differ
| Game | Genre and play style | Reported premise |
|---|---|---|
| System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster | First-person sci-fi survival horror with shooting, RPG systems, and immersive-sim elements; the report also describes cross-play co-op. | Aboard the Von Braun in 2114, the player wakes from cryogenic sleep with no memory as mutants and robots overrun the ship and SHODAN appears to be in control. |
| Buried Stars | Narrative mystery visual novel focused on dialogue and investigation. | Contestants and crew are trapped beneath a collapsed studio during a survival-audition show; after a murder, players talk to characters, gather clues, and use a fictional social-media system. |
These descriptions are reported by Notebookcheck and Digital Citizen, not hands-on assessments. Notebookcheck describes the remaster as an update to the 1999 game by Irrational Games and Looking Glass Studios, released by Nightdive Studios in 2025.
Recommended Free Tools
#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.
Which one should you claim?
- Choose System Shock 2 if you want first-person exploration, combat, survival horror, and character progression in a science-fiction setting.
- Choose Buried Stars if you prefer a dialogue-led mystery in which investigation and character interactions drive the experience.
- Claim both if you are interested in either style; the reports describe both as part of the same Epic promotion.
What does “100% free” mean here?
The reports describe a limited-time Epic Games Store giveaway, rather than a permanent price change. They do not confirm the offer’s precise regional terms or checkout requirements. Prices quoted elsewhere for the games should not be read as universal Epic Store prices: xGamerss says its USD figures are based on Steam and may vary by region. No Epic-specific regular price is established by that qualification. See its October 1–8 giveaway report.
Quick Recap
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.
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
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