Riven Reviews
For those who enjoy seemingly pointless wandering and endlessly searching for something that helps, Myst developer Cyan's Riven remake in 2024 is worth a look. Fans of the original from 1997 will be treated to a stunning and familiar surreal world, once again filled with obscure puzzles that, unfortunately, cannot be solved by digging into your traumatic core memories from back then. Myst and Riven enthusiasts will definitely have their work cut out for them, especially if they're used to solutions being within easy reach and the game almost pointing them out with fluorescent arrows. While I thoroughly enjoyed the new Riven, I anticipate that different groups will have varying grievances. Newcomers will likely struggle with the lack of a helpful hand, veterans will miss the FMV characters, and VR players will need an excellent memory. Riven is no easy feat—it's just a bit odd, but still quite enjoyable.
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Overall, I loved this Riven. It’s stunning; the new and updated puzzles are brilliant and fun, the music is amazing, the sound design is flawless, and everything in it is so beautiful. I did have a little bit of an issue with the game running poorly and having to turn the graphics way down, and I also didn’t like the character models. But overall, the translation from an old-school point-and-click to an updated version of itself went rather splendidly. I never played the remake of Myst from 2020, but I’m thinking I might have to go back and do just that now that I have seen how beautiful the new Riven is.
Riven 2024 is a true labor of love, a direct result of fan efforts to render the game in a modern style. Character models, puzzles, and other touches have been dramatically streamlined, and barring a few hard knowledge checks, my time in Riven sped by. Graphics hiccups and captioning omissions are tiny blemishes on Riven’s triumphant return. I’ll be thinking of it, pun intended, for ages.
Playing Riven on a VR headset in 2024 gives us a glimpse into a bygone era of adventure gaming that trusted players to explore freely without being led by the hand. Fans of the original game will find much to love in this new version as seeing locations that were previously only static pre-rendered images come to life in VR is breathtaking. But for newcomers or modern audiences, Riven might be a tough pill to swallow.
Although a Remake, This version retains the core elements that made the original a classic, while introducing new content and enhancements that elevate the adventure to new heights. Riven remains an artistic masterpiece and a puzzle adventure game that still holds up and can compete and beat out even some of the newest titles of its genre.
Updated for modern systems, Riven reminds us why it's a classic adventure game. Perhaps a bit short now, occasionally obtuse in its puzzles, but still visually stunning and engaging.
With its lonely, other-worldly setting, interesting sci-fi and fantastical elements, and puzzling puzzles, the remake Riven is a game that feels incredibly faithful to the era in which it was created and should be a fantastic title for fans of the series and newcomers alike.
Overall the remake of Riven is an excellent effort on all fronts. The original Riven was already an exceptionally high quality title that is still playable even today. This new ground-up remake takes that epic title and introduces it to a new generation. This is definitely its final form and stands on its own as an excellent release. I highly recommend it, not just to fans of the original but to any gamer who enjoys puzzle games.
Riven is still one of the best puzzle games of all time, with challenging puzzles, an intricate plot, and a gorgeous world that all fold into each other in great ways. It's a wonderful experience, except for how slow it can be at points. As a remake, the full 3d movement and stunning new graphics add a lot, though replacing the FMV cutscenes with in-game cutscenes does pull away some of the game's original charm.
The Myst games will always hold a special place in my heart, and although their spiritual successors like Obduction and The Talos Principle fill much of the same gap, there’s nothing which is quite like them. The complexity and challenge of the puzzles has long been a source of frustration for some players, as the game never holds your hand or offers hints. Riven and its sequel Myst III: Exile are the clear highlights of this formula in both style and content, with Exile still being my personal favourite. For this reason I do hope that Cyan feels comfortable giving Exile the same remake treatment next, even though they weren’t the original developers (that being the long defunct Presto Studios). The Riven remake is an expert modernization and expansion to the original, bringing its gorgeous worlds fully to life, and still packed full of fairly challenging puzzles.
Riven is for old and new players, offering new twists for players of the original while offering a deep and rewarding experience for newcomers. Riven has never looked better, and has finally received the remake treatment it has so rightly deserved after 27 agonizing years. Cyan has completed their arc of remaking their first two Myst games with incredible accuracy, care, and reverence, and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. Riven is a perfect blend of nostalgia and modern realism to provide a puzzle adventure for the ages.
Riven is the pinnacle of puzzle-oriented games, and in this regard, you probably won't find any better or even on the same level—its puzzles are just something else. If you combine it with a mysterious story and charming aesthetics, you'll get a game that will occupy your attention for quite a while.
When I first went into the Riven remake, I really wasn't sure if I would enjoy it or not. I had only played Myst once back when I was ten or so, and I couldn't make heads or tales of it back then. Seeing fans of the game talk about its difficulty had me nervous as well. But once I found myself immersed in the world, everything just kind of...clicked. Riven isn't an obstuse puzzle box like I expected. It's a surprisingly fleshed-out world. One of seeming loneliness, one of mystery, one that wound up being absolutely enthralling. One that absolutely won't be for everyone, but if it manages to hook you in, good luck getting it to let go. Riven is a game that demands your full attention, occasionally to its detriment. If you aren't locked in and focused, it is easy to lose the trail the game is gently leading you on. But if you can give it your time and attention, it will take you on an unforgettable ride.