Riven: The Sequel to MYST

About

In "Riven: The Sequel to MYST" , you are transported to a stunning yet enigmatic world filled with intrigue, betrayal, and beauty. Explore vast landscapes, decipher cryptic clues, and interact with unusual inhabitants to uncover deep secrets and save a world on the brink of collapse. This immersive game offers a timeless, emotional story that will captivate you with its awe-inspiring atmosphere and profound sense of purpose.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 865 reviews

story108 positive mentions

stability28 negative mentions

Riven is widely regarded as one of the best puzzle games of all time, offering a deeply immersive experience with its intricate world-building and complex puzzles.
The game's atmosphere is captivating, with stunning graphics for its time and an atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
Many players appreciate the challenge of the puzzles, which require critical thinking and attention to detail, making the sense of accomplishment when solved very rewarding.

The game can be extremely difficult and frustrating, with some puzzles being considered overly obscure or illogical, leading to reliance on guides.
There are numerous technical issues, including crashes and save file corruption, particularly on modern systems, which can hinder the gameplay experience.
The graphics, while beautiful for their time, are dated and may not appeal to players accustomed to modern high-resolution visuals.

story
213 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
48%
1%
The story of Riven is widely praised for its depth, complexity, and immersive world-building, significantly improving upon its predecessor, Myst. Players find the narrative engaging and intricately woven with the game's puzzles, creating a rich experience that encourages exploration and discovery. While some note that the storytelling can be convoluted and requires patience, the overall consensus is that Riven offers a compelling and memorable narrative that enhances the gameplay.
- “The game's narrative is expertly crafted, and players will find themselves fully invested in the story from start to finish.”
- “Its immersive world-building, complex puzzles, and captivating storytelling make it a true masterpiece that will be remembered for generations to come.”
- “The story is captivating, the puzzles are good and challenging, interwoven in the world in a beautiful way.”
- “After that, when I played the game, I found the background story/lore included in-game (via Atrus' journal) to be sorely lacking, abridged to the point of being a near-total misrepresentation.”
- “Unlike Myst, the storyline for Riven is gated behind vague bits in obscure places and is difficult to decipher, so one is less invested in the characters and plot, and Riven becomes tedious, almost boring, to play.”
- “The book you start off with is just a giant exposition dump (some of which I think would have served better as part of the opening narrative), and the ones that actually provide backstory you don't gain access to until much later.”
graphics
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
51%
5%
The graphics of *Riven* are widely praised for their stunning pre-rendered visuals, which have aged surprisingly well since the game's release in 1997. While some players note that the graphics can appear grainy and dated by modern standards, many appreciate the game's artistic design and immersive atmosphere, considering it a masterpiece of its time. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's rich storytelling and puzzle-solving experience, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.
- “Riven's visuals are nothing short of breathtaking.”
- “The graphics are amazing, such attention to detail.”
- “Riven has to be one of the most beautiful games ever made; hands down, the visuals and ambiance are just wonderful, even now years after its release.”
- “However, this game has controls, graphics, and video quality from 1998.”
- “The graphics are vastly improved compared to the original Myst, and in fact, I think they hold up surprisingly well even today, despite the tiny resolution.”
- “There are no graphical enhancements with this version, and stretched to fit a modern monitor it manages to look worse than it would have 20 years ago.”
gameplay
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
71%
5%
The gameplay of Riven is characterized by its immersive point-and-click mechanics, which, while similar to its predecessor Myst, present more complex and challenging puzzles that require careful exploration and attention to detail. Players appreciate the integration of story and gameplay, although some find the mechanics less intuitive and occasionally hindered by technical issues. Overall, Riven is praised for its rich lore and atmospheric design, despite its dated graphics and occasional bugs.
- “Riven offers a substantial gameplay experience that can span from 15 to 30 hours, depending on your puzzle-solving skills and exploration.”
- “Riven is a masterpiece of combining the environment, story, and gameplay into one world, making you feel like you are there despite the point-and-click nature of the game.”
- “Cyan really outdid themselves with Riven, building a dark layered world filled with interlocking aspects of gameplay, story, art direction, and lore, not to mention the dark gothic-tinged ambient music composed by Robyn Miller.”
- “Stuff like this that has nothing to do with the mechanics of the puzzle itself gets in the way of solving it.”
- “As gameplay-wise, Riven felt like a huge step backwards compared to Myst, and the fact the enhanced graphics often only serve to detriment the game with either the FMV sequences becoming a chore or the graphics simply not being up to allowing you to spot things without trial and error, I have to give this a negative review.”
- “I also felt like I had to spend far too much time clicking all over creation just to see what I could interact with, and a lot of the game mechanics just weren't all that intuitive (having to go back and forth across the islands way too much).”
atmosphere
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
26%
6%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive soundscapes, haunting soundtrack, and beautifully detailed environments, creating a uniquely engaging experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a sense of solitude and intrigue, with many considering it one of the most atmospheric titles in the adventure genre. Despite some technical issues, the overall ambiance and world-building are described as sublime and unforgettable, making it a must-play for fans of atmospheric puzzle games.
- “One of the most atmospheric games ever made, with exquisite sounds and beautiful scenes.”
- “From the ambient sounds of the islands to the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, Riven's audio elements play a pivotal role in creating an immersive atmosphere that keeps players engrossed throughout their journey.”
- “The atmosphere is sublime and uniquely alive; even the other Myst games don't have such a feeling to them.”
- “The somber, solitary pensiveness of the first of the Myst series is eerie and surreal, and the second game in the Myst series - Riven - not only continues, but fully adopts this atmosphere.”
- “I don't know if it's the music, the atmosphere, or the visuals, but nothing seems to quite hit the same spot as Riven.”
- “That's part of the atmosphere, but you may find it feeling empty at times.”
music
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
47%
6%
The music in Riven is widely praised for its haunting beauty and atmospheric quality, significantly enhancing the game's immersive experience. Players often highlight the soundtrack's ability to evoke emotions and complement the intricate world and storytelling, with many expressing a desire to purchase the soundtrack separately. Overall, the audio elements are considered a pivotal aspect of the game, contributing to its status as a classic in the genre.
- “The music of this game alone makes it worth playing.”
- “From the ambient sounds of the islands to the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, Riven's audio elements play a pivotal role in creating an immersive atmosphere that keeps players engrossed throughout their journey.”
- “The atmosphere, story, and music are all top notch.”
- “No music or magic and the video cuts are annoying.”
- “It's rather like vinyl as opposed to downloaded music.”
- “The music made me buy the soundtrack and I spent hours and hours just walking around these landscapes, not really understanding the lore or storyline.”
stability
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
The stability of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and save file corruption, particularly on modern systems. While some players managed to have a smoother experience with specific workarounds, the overall consensus is that the game is plagued by significant bugs that severely impact gameplay. Many recommend avoiding the game due to its instability, especially in its Steam version.
- “With the new port, I had a perfect playthrough experience with no glitches or crashes at all.”
- “On the second day of owning this game, it no longer starts up through Steam, but going to the Steam folder and running ScummVM, which is included, it runs great again.”
- “An amazing game in itself with beautiful artwork and complex puzzles; unfortunately, this version is completely unplayable. It crashes every few minutes, doesn't allow for saves, is buggy and temperamental at best, the menu bar doesn't work, and my computer needs a full restart often to even exit the game screen.”
- “The game freezes constantly and is already not fun.”
- “It is buggy and prone to crashing and freezing.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of "Riven" to be tedious, often feeling that the puzzles rely more on persistence and trial-and-error than on logical reasoning. The extensive backtracking and repetitive interactions can lead to a sense of time-wasting, particularly with transport rides and lengthy FMV sequences, which detracts from engagement with the storyline and characters. While some players tolerate the grind due to their appreciation for the game's aesthetic and atmosphere, many agree that it can become monotonous and frustrating.
- “Unlike Myst, the puzzles in this game seem to rely less on logic and discovery than on persistence, trial and error, spam clicking, or simply wasting your time. You often have to find the right thing to interact with to advance a puzzle, but that thing may be many screens away and even in a completely different zone. As you advance by trying to interact with everything conceivable, this can get extremely tedious as there are so many screens you may or may not have to 'search', and the next advancement may be a very long way away.”
- “Adding to the sense of time wasting, the transport rides look great to start with but soon become tedious to use, as they just take up time to re-explore an area that may or may not have something you need to do or have missed. This is also the same for some of the FMV sequences where you may be learning how something works and have to endure multiple (sometimes long-winded) FMV sequences.”
- “It seemed like solving part of a riddle just meant being faced with another riddle, which required more tedious endless travel back and forth.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Overall, the game's replayability is highlighted by its randomized elements and depth, which encourage players to engage with it multiple times for varied experiences. However, some users note a lack of replay value due to forgetfulness regarding problem-solving, suggesting that while many find it engaging, others may not feel compelled to replay it frequently.
- “A particular high point was the genius move to include 3 randomized code combinations, which prevented people from rushing through the entire game by memory, making them actually play it instead, and at the same time sent the replay value through the roof.”
- “Great replay value, because, honestly, I forget how to solve the problems every time.”
- “The absence of hand-holding and the game's depth ensure replayability, as each playthrough can provide a different experience and perspective.”
- “There is little replay value.”
- “A particular high point was the genius move (at the time) to include 3 randomized code combinations, which prevented people from rushing through the entire game by memory, making them actually play it instead, and at the same time sent the replay value through the roof.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, recalling nostalgic experiences from childhood that evoke a sense of accomplishment and engagement. The game's imaginative world demands not only intellectual strategy but also significant emotional investment, leading to both challenges and rewarding moments that resonate with players across different life stages. Despite its difficulty, the emotional journey remains a compelling aspect that enhances the overall experience.
- “Riven is imaginative, and requires real emotional and psychological engagement on the part of the player, in addition to an understanding of the intellectual strategy of the game.”
- “Playing Riven as an adult made me feel the same way child me felt playing Myst.”
- “It's definitely harder than Myst, and it will give you much emotional pain, but still I liked playing it.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the optimization of the game is praised for its smooth performance and stability, particularly with the use of ScummVM, which enhances the experience by eliminating crashes. The character performances and dialogue are also highlighted as well-crafted, contributing to a seamless integration into the game's world.
- “But then this version arrived one day, and through the magic of ScummVM, this version actually runs smoothly and without crashes.”
- “Character performances are memorable, and the dialogue and backstory are acute and carefully crafted.”
- “Riven is captured beautifully, and the live-action character performances are well done and integrate seamlessly into the world.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is subtle and not the primary focus, contrasting with more comedic adventure titles. Instead, it relies on clever dialogue and situational irony, particularly in the context of the Myst series, enhancing the immersive experience without overwhelming it with overt jokes or absurdity.
- “If you help Atrus, he tells you he may help you get back to where you came from. It's funny when you read the Myst books, so you journey on to Riven with no linking books, many puzzles ahead, and a very detailed and interesting world awaits.”
- “This is not one of those funny adventure games, full of crazy dialogue and weird inventory items (those are nice too...).”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the sound and music are praised, the reviews indicate that the character development is less emphasized, with a focus on the convincing world and character design rather than deep narrative growth or evolution.
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is not explicitly discussed in the provided text, but it suggests that the game has generated interest and anticipation, potentially indicating a marketing strategy aimed at attracting players.