Myst III: Exile

About

Myst III: Exile is a single player casual puzzle game with fantasy, drama and mystery themes. It was developed by Presto Studios and was released on September 24, 2018. It received very positive reviews from players.

In Myst III: Exile, you are immersed in a thrilling adventure of betrayal and revenge, exploring five new Ages with a 360-degree view and interacting with a dramatic storyline. This sequel to Myst and Riven offers many hours of new mysteries and intriguing cinematics, creating an incredibly realistic game experience. Unfortunately, I cannot provide the release date or the developer and publisher of this game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 387 reviews

story82 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

The game features beautiful environments and stunning graphics that enhance the overall experience.
The puzzles are engaging and provide a satisfying challenge without being overly frustrating.
Brad Dourif's performance as the antagonist Saavedro adds depth to the story and enhances the emotional impact.

The controls can be clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustration during gameplay.
Some puzzles feel overly simplistic or lack clear logic, making them less rewarding to solve.
The navigation can be confusing, especially in certain areas where paths are not clearly defined.

story
147 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
41%
3%
The story of "Myst III: Exile" is generally well-received, praised for its engaging narrative and character development, particularly the compelling antagonist, Saavedro. While some reviewers note that the plot can feel simplistic or less intricate compared to earlier entries in the series, it effectively ties into the established lore and offers a satisfying continuation of Atrus's family saga. The integration of puzzles with the storyline is highlighted as a strong point, although some players feel the storytelling delivery could be improved, relying heavily on exposition rather than environmental cues.
- “The story is compelling and gives even more background to [spoiler]Sirrus and Achenar's betrayal[/spoiler] and the current state of the D'ni people.”
- “The sheer beauty of the ages is worth the price of admission alone, but the excellent story, logical and interesting puzzles, and new 3D-balloon movement make it a big step forward in the Myst saga.”
- “In summary, 'Myst III: Exile' is a worthy addition to the Myst series, offering an engaging storyline, challenging puzzles, and captivating environments.”
- “The environmental storytelling of the past two games is almost entirely absent.”
- “The story is very simple.”
- “The only negatives are that it is pretty short, graphically it has not aged well, and the story is going to confuse anyone new to the series.”
graphics
97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
43%
6%
The graphics of the game are generally considered beautiful and impressive for their time, showcasing stunning landscapes and intricate details that still hold up well today, despite some players noting they appear dated on modern displays. While many appreciate the nostalgic charm and artistic composition, others find navigation challenging due to cluttered visuals and low resolution. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the immersive experience, though some players feel an HD overhaul would enhance the game's appeal for contemporary audiences.
- “Amazing graphics, especially when you realize how old this game is.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, but some may see them as dated.”
- “The graphics, while low res, are still beautiful.”
- “The graphics are, of course, dated, but it's, for the most part, a well-constructed point-and-click game.”
- “Still, at a lot of points the low-resolution graphics had me squinting to figure out what was a path or interactive object, and what wasn't.”
- “Desperately needs an HD overhaul and POV slider -- it's one of my favorites, but the graphics look awful on modern displays.”
music
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
26%
7%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its rich, atmospheric quality and emotional depth, with many praising Jack Wall's contributions as some of his best work. While the soundtrack effectively enhances the immersive experience, some players feel it occasionally overemphasizes emotions rather than allowing players to engage organically. Overall, the combination of haunting melodies, live instrumentation, and dynamic sound design creates a captivating auditory backdrop that complements the game's visuals and puzzles.
- “The music is really great, some of Jack Wall's best work.”
- “Beautiful soundtrack, amazing visuals, interesting storyline, challenging puzzles, and a wonderful bit of nostalgia for this old fellow who remembers playing Myst on my old Mac back when it came out so many many years ago.”
- “The music and atmosphere is incredible, the puzzles are interesting and the end game brilliant... a game that completely out-does Obduction on all levels.”
- “And the soundtrack goes more for the standard 2000s movie vibe than something unique, complete with unnecessary vocal and orientalist flourishes (again, in Edanna, the worst age in the series so far).”
- “Sadly the music doesn't continue all throughout, but whenever the music picks up I tended to stop for a moment to listen.”
- “The first two games, scored by Robyn Miller, used ambient, natural music.”
gameplay
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
60%
9%
Gameplay in Myst III is characterized by a mix of immersive exploration and complex puzzles, though many players find the mechanics outdated and frustratingly trial-and-error based. While the 360º navigation enhances immersion, it can lead to pixel hunting and confusion about interactable elements. Despite these challenges, the game retains a strong sense of world-building and clever puzzle design that appeals to fans of the series.
- “Clever puzzles make for gripping gameplay.”
- “With its stunning visuals, deep storyline, and intricate gameplay, this game is sure to leave a lasting impression on players long after they've completed their journey through its rich and mysterious world.”
- “The free look mechanic is great and feels a lot more immersive than Myst and Riven.”
- “You'll likely figure out the mechanics of a puzzle very early on, but then have to spend far more time figuring out the exact solution the game wants.”
- “The ages present are very shallow, often almost entirely devoid of detail unrelated to the immediate gameplay.”
- “Gameplay-wise, I feel like the puzzles in this outing are a little more hit-and-miss; certain areas of the game are unnecessarily difficult to find your way around, and finding solutions often feels like it takes more trial-and-error than it should.”
optimization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
The game's optimization is notably lacking, as it does not support modern display resolutions or widescreen monitors, resulting in performance issues on contemporary gaming PCs. Despite this, the artistic elements, including the graphics and music, are praised, alongside standout performances, particularly by Brad Dourif, which enhance the overall atmosphere and storytelling.
- “The game lacks support for any modern gaming display resolutions (or widescreen monitors), hasn't been modernized or updated to run smoothly on modern gaming PCs.”
- “Let's start with the (very) good: Brad Dourif's performance is fantastic, gracing the game's atmosphere with a sense of real danger and deep mystery.”
- “Brad Dourif puts out an outstanding performance as the main antagonist, conveying a lot of emotion through various video logs and a couple of encounters.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
27%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning composition, haunting beauty, and immersive soundscapes, despite graphics that may not meet modern standards. Players appreciate the deep sense of danger and mystery, enhanced by excellent voice performances and rich audio design, creating a fully engaging experience. The beautifully crafted, sometimes unsettling environments invite exploration and enjoyment, making it a standout in the adventure and puzzle genre.
- “The music and atmosphere are incredible; the puzzles are interesting and the end game is brilliant... a game that completely outdoes Obduction on all levels.”
- “The atmosphere in the different worlds can sometimes even be quite unsettling as they look so abandoned and lifeless while being exceptionally beautiful.”
- “It maintains the characteristic labyrinthine beauty and haunting atmosphere.”
- “Not that the graphics are great (for the year 2025 that is), but the composition, atmosphere, animation, and level of detail are stunning.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight that while the puzzles in the game can be enjoyable and intuitive, they often veer into tedious territory, particularly due to an overwhelming number of books and some intricate points that can lead to players getting stuck. The final puzzle is frequently noted as especially tedious, detracting from the overall experience despite the engaging plot and enjoyable gameplay.
- “If there’s one word to describe these puzzles, it would be 'tedious'.”
- “Myst games sometimes go overboard on the number of books, which can be tedious to read when you want to just go explore the environment.”
- “It has some tedious puzzles, in Amateria and Narayan specifically, and it's easy to get stuck because you missed some intractable point somewhere in the level.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt storytelling and memorable characters, with one standout performance that adds depth to the experience. Players appreciate the refreshing approach to narrative, focusing on emotional engagement rather than typical combat scenarios, although some feel that the ease of gameplay detracts from the overall emotional impact.
- “He really is a show stealer in everything he's in, so if they could get him back out, I would recommend it, because it's amazingly hammy yet heartfelt.”
- “The story is really heart touching and (no spoilers) you don't have to fight the resurrected zombie demon from outer space with big guns and tentacles, which is quite refreshing nowadays.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization strategy of the game is perceived as exploitative, with users suggesting it serves primarily as a nostalgia cash grab rather than offering genuine value.
- “This seems to have been put on Steam as a nostalgia gouge, or just a cash grab to try to profit from abandonware.”
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it prioritizes profit over player experience.”
- “I can't believe how many microtransactions are crammed into this game; it feels like a constant money grab.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
"Myst III: Exile" features multiple endings based on player choices, significantly enhancing its replayability by encouraging exploration of various paths and outcomes. This design element motivates players to revisit the game to experience all possible scenarios.
- “The game offers multiple endings based on the choices players make, adding significant replayability and encouraging exploration of different paths and outcomes.”
- “With various choices leading to unique endings, the replayability factor is high, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
- “The ability to explore different storylines and outcomes keeps players coming back for more, enhancing the overall replay value of the game.”