Riven
Riven, the 1997 sequel to Myst, is remembered as a visually stunning, brutally difficult puzzle game that inspired many players’ interest in graphics, storytelling, and worldbuilding. Commenters reflect on how its static pre-rendered environments, deep lore (including tie-in novels), and open-ended, often opaque puzzle design belong to a pre–always-online era when players had the time and patience to take notes, get stuck, and resist spoilers. They also debate Cyan’s modern relevance, compare Riven’s legacy to newer puzzle and exploration titles like Outer Wilds, The Witness, Obduction, and Firmament, and look ahead with cautious optimism to Cyan’s upcoming 3D remake with VR support.
Enduring Love for Riven, Myst, and the Books
- Many recall Riven and Myst as formative experiences, often played with family and accompanied by note-taking and map-drawing.
- Several comment that Riven’s atmosphere, worldbuilding, and “every pixel matters” visuals still hold up.
- Multiple people recommend the Myst novels (especially The Book of Atrus and the first two books overall) for matching the games’ tone and deepening the lore; paperbacks and hardcovers are praised as artifacts, though they may be out of print.
Remakes, VR, and How to Replay
- The upcoming 3D Riven remake (with VR support, including on Quest) is repeatedly linked and anticipated.
- Prior Myst remakes are described as confusingly numerous; the 2020 version is often recommended.
- For an “original experience,” people suggest:
- Steam versions of “Myst: Masterpiece Edition” and Riven (ScummVM-based),
- Running the original CDs via ScummVM,
- Or using classic Mac emulation sites.
- Some report technical issues with the newest Myst remake (poor performance, audio glitches).
Puzzle Design, Difficulty, and the Internet Age
- Riven is widely viewed as significantly harder than Myst; many admit resorting to guides or hotlines in the 90s.
- There’s debate over its navigation/UI: some think more aids (like a compass) would help; others argue the fixed views and friction are integral to its character and puzzle design.
- Comparisons are drawn to modern “Riven-tier” puzzle games such as The Witness, Outer Wilds, The Talos Principle (1 & 2), Obduction, Firmament, Quern, Animal Well, Tunic, and others.
- Several argue modern games make “concessions” to the internet era by:
- Localizing difficulty to smaller spaces,
- Reducing obscure interactions and “pixel hunting,”
- Or making puzzles more clearly scoped.
- Others insist these newer titles can still be deeply savored if players avoid wikis and walkthroughs.
Cyan’s Role and Legacy
- Opinions diverge on Cyan’s current relevance:
- Some see a small studio living off endless Myst/Riven remakes and nostalgia.
- Others defend their newer works (especially Obduction, with mixed views on Firmament) and say the market, not their quality, has changed.
- Analogies are made to aging bands re-recording or remixing old hits; some view this as beating a dead horse, others as serving a devoted niche audience.