Epic Free Games Next Week (Oct 1–8, 2026): System Shock 2 Remaster & Buried Stars

26.09.2026

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Updated September 26, 2026. Epic Games Store is kicking off October with one of the best giveaways of the year. From Thursday, October 1 to Thursday, October 8, you can claim System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster and Buried Stars for free and keep them forever. Together they normally cost $69.98. Here is what each game is, whether it is worth your time, and exactly when and how to claim them.

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster

SHODAN remains one of gaming’s most iconic villains. (Image: Nightdive Studios)

Released in 1999, System Shock 2 is one of the most influential games ever made. It blended first-person shooting, RPG character building and survival horror long before that mix became common, and its DNA runs through BioShock, Prey and countless immersive sims since. You wake up aboard the starship Von Braun with no memory, surrounded by hybrid mutants and deadly robots, and gradually realise that the rogue AI SHODAN has plans of her own.

Nightdive’s 25th Anniversary Remaster rebuilds the classic for modern PCs with higher resolutions and quality-of-life improvements, while keeping the tense, resource-starved atmosphere intact. If you have never played it, this is the version to start with. If you love story-driven sci-fi, it pairs perfectly with our list of games like Mass Effect.

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster | Official Launch Trailer (Nightdive Studios)

Buried Stars

Buried Stars traps the contestants of a live audition show inside a collapsed studio. (Image: LINE Games)

Buried Stars is a mystery visual novel with a great hook. The contestants of a live survival audition show are trapped when the broadcast studio collapses. Waiting for rescue, they can only communicate with each other and the outside world through social media, and as unexpected events unfold, trust starts to fall apart. Piecing together what really happened, and who you can trust, is the heart of the game.

It is a very different experience from System Shock 2: slower, story-first and perfect for a couple of relaxed evenings. At a normal price of $39.99, it is also the more expensive of the two giveaways.

▶ Watch the official Buried Stars trailer on Steam

How to Claim Epic’s Free Games

1. From October 1 at 11:00 AM ET, open the Epic Games Store website or launcher and sign in.
2. Go to the Free Games section on the Discover page.
3. Open each game marked Free Now and click Get.
4. Confirm with Place Order. The total is $0.00 and no payment method is required.
5. Both games stay in your library forever, even if you install them later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Before you dive into the Von Braun, check the other big news of the week: The Witcher 3 Remastered is a free upgrade on September 29.

Offer dates confirmed on the Epic Games Store on September 26, 2026. Prices in USD from Steam and may vary by region.