The remake of Riven, the sequel to Myst – which was actually called Riven: The Sequel to Myst when it was first released in 1997, but is now apparently just called Riven – is due out later this year with a “meticulous, from the start”. A “from the ground up” rework that promises new puzzles, an expanded story and of course the signature Myst aesthetic, all implemented in Unreal Engine 5.
Riven was more technologically advanced than Myst, but still played essentially the same way: clicking on the screen brought players to various static images, sometimes peppered with small animated bits in which they pressed buttons, turned knobs, and playing around in a different way Stupid puzzles that involve trying to figure out how to open a door and activate one thingor otherwise advance the action.
A big change in the remake is the ability to freely move through the environments in real time. The 2021 Myst remake did the same thing (as have more recent games in the series, including Uru: Ages Beyond Myst, which should please be remade next), and while older people may find it's nostalgic Hit tones down a bit, it definitely creates a great feeling of immersion in the game world.
That's not the only upcoming change either. Developer Cyan Worlds is tight-lipped on details, but says that the Riven remake is “both an homage to its roots and a leap into the future of interactive storytelling” and that it “recreates and expands its vision” for the game. will New puzzles, expanded storylines and breathtaking images.
That's a big promise for a game that helped cement one of the most loved or hated subgenres in gaming history. Myst and Riven were groundbreaking and hugely influential games at the time, but they also caused divisiveness: one of my fondest gaming memories is playing through the original in a single weekend with a friend, but PC Gamer contributor Richard Cobbett hates it so much, that he does was forced to write at least two detailed stories about it. I don't think technological improvements and the addition of more content will change anyone's mind on this matter.
Still, it's been more than a quarter century since Riven first appeared, and bringing it to new audiences in a more immersive and accessible format will open the door to new fans. As a former fan of the series, I'm glad it's happening.
Riven supports both standard viewing and VR and is available to wishlist now steam And GOG. To get a better idea of what Riven is all about, take a few seconds and enjoy the original launch trailer below.
