Following the 2023 PC launch of System Shock (Remake), the PlayStation and Xbox versions launched just a year later. One more year on, in 2025, Nightdive Studios followed up yet again by releasing System Shock on the Nintendo Switch family of consoles. I decided to equip my Nintendo Switch 2 and explore the depths of a Shodan-infested ship once more to see how it fares on the newest hybrid console.
This review, which focuses mostly on playing on the Nintendo Switch 2 version, is intended as a follow-up to our more detailed main review from the PC launch. Unfortunately, it is quite a different experience.
Operator, I’m In
Nothing has really been touched since the original 2023 release of the game regarding narrative content, as expected. It is still the tale of the Hacker who gets lifted by TriOptimum Corporation and sent off to Citadel Station to try and purge the rogue AI, Shodan, who has a certain distaste for the human race. The story here is as amazing as it ever was.
I would say that for anyone who picked up the fantastic System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster, this is an ideal companion, allowing you to see exactly why Shodan ended up where they were in that game.
Choice of OS
System Shock is a sweet mix of immersive simulation and horror. It’s a harsh and oppressive game with quite a bit of wiggle room for you to tackle situations in your own way. You have to play it smart to survive. Otherwise, Shodan and the army of mutants and robots aboard the Citadel will happily wear your face to dinner.
The controls on Switch 2 and the game in general are fine for the most part, with the exception of inventory management and browsing files being a pain with a controller on this title. Movement and combat work as expected with the standard controls for the FPS genre. This is something the remake did a fantastic job of tackling, as the original game was, frankly, a nightmare to control; it was almost akin to Flight Simulator when it came to juggling commands and button prompts.
Combat is quite weighty. The melee combat leaves quite a bit to be desired, as it’s very basic and just involves swinging your pipe or wrench around nonstop until either you or your foe dies. Firearms are a little more involved with aiming and using different types of ammo, which have different effects. Electric-based rounds aren’t quite as effective on squishy monsters, and bullets are going to have a tougher time getting through sheets of metal; you get the idea.
Essentially, aside from a number of updates that add a little difficulty balancing, a few quality of life improvements in directing you to where you need to be, and helping a little more with puzzles, playing System Shock now is almost the same as it was then. As I said in my original review, they knocked it out of the park with the remake. But the same can’t be said about the Nintendo release. Though that’s not to say they didn’t try.
Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive Features
The Nintendo Switch 2 version of System Shock boasts that it has gyro and mouse controls, enhanced visuals compared to the original Switch version, and the bonus of being portable.
Using the gyro controls feels fine. I’m not a massive fan of them outside of playing Splatoon, and usually turn them off as they tend to inhabit every Nightdive title. The game doesn’t really require any intense aiming, as enemies are quite bulky and you won’t be taking on any sniper missions while on the Citadel.
On the other hand, the mouse controls are an absolute godsend for this title. When playing on a controller, the aforementioned inventory management and scrolling through your files can seem a little wild and unruly. Stick the game into mouse mode, and baby, you got all the benefits of owning a console version with the nirvana that is a mouse cursor and controls.
I wish I could just end it there and say it’s a wonderful port and everyone should get a ticket to the Citadel. The praise for the game ends there, and we hit an enormous roadblock in the form of shocking performance and other nasties.
The game was said to aim for 60fps on the Nintendo Switch 2, and I can confidently say at no point did the game ever reach 60fps, nor did it actually ever have a stable framerate. Instead, I was hobbling around the citadel with a framerate that was so up and down that it had a terminal stutter throughout. It was borderline headache-inducing and made me wonder if my Switch 2 was having an issue. This occurred whether the game was on the SD card or the console.
The other major issue is that I am unable to complete System Shock on the Nintendo Switch 2. This isn’t a skill issue; it’s a technical problem. The game repeatedly crashed during the latter half of the game. It was to the point that any and all progress was just halted; if the framerate soured the experience, this just confirmed it was rotten. I’ve completed the game on PC, so I feel confident talking about the game, but finishing it on Switch 2 just isn’t viable.
Nightdive Studios promised they would release a patch by the end of December 2025. I’m not confident this is coming, as I write this almost two months later.
Verdict
The Nintendo Switch 2 port of System Shock is terrible, and it’s a damn shame. The game looks fantastic on the console, and if these issues get ironed out, you could be looking at a wonderport.
I still believe System Shock is a must play game for fans of horror and immersive simulation games, especially if you picked up the 25th anniversary remaster of the sequel last year. I just wouldn’t pick up this version, at least not in this state. I pray that Nightdive can turn this around, a la Cyberpunk 2077, and once patched up it becomes the bastion of ports. But as it currently stands, please play it anywhere but on the go!
SYSTEM SHOCK IS NOT RECOMMENDED (ON NINTENDO SWITCH/SWITCH 2)
If you would like to see more FPS games, you may be interested in our review of Doom: The Dark Ages.
Many thanks go to Nightdive Studios for a Nintendo Switch 2 review code for this title.
Pride of utopia & greatest thing ever, I found the One Piece, Collected the Dragon Balls & won the Mortal Kombat Tournament in one night, it was quiet for me that night! Follow me on Twitter @powahdunk
