It is the sequel to 1993's Myst, and the second installment of the Myst series. Riven: The Sequel to Myst is a 1997 adventure game developed by Cyan Productions and published by Red Orb Entertainment for Mac OS and Microsoft Windows.

The Story Behind Riven - The Sequel to Myst

PC Data reported it as the best-selling computer game in the United States during 1997, despite its having only been on the market for less than three months. Vander Wende had previously worked for ILM, and at Walt Disney Feature Animation as a designer for the animated feature Aladdin. Before development began, when the name of the game was undecided, the brothers Robyn and Rand Miller said they wanted a "natural flow" from the first game to the sequel.

By 2001, over 4.5 million units had been sold. Two years into the project, Cyan Productions still could not develop the game into a testable state. At the time of Rivens development, original publisher Broderbund was facing falling revenues as development costs rose.

How Riven - The Sequel to Myst Plays

Such items can then be examined at any time, and either reveal clues to puzzles or provide information on the game's setting and story. To navigate the world, the player clicks in the direction they want to walk or turn. For instance, if the player positions the cursor hand near the side of the screen, it may show a pointing finger, indicating that clicking will turn the view in that direction.

The player explores immersive environments depicted through a large series of computer generated stills using mouse clicks for movement or to manipulate objects within reach. Riven has more complex and numerous puzzles than its forerunner and is set in a larger virtual world for players to explore. The cursor changes in context to show when players can drag or toggle switches, or when certain items can be picked up and carried.

Why Players Still Load It Up

Kelly Rickards and Shawn Smith of EGM argued that while the game is superficially very similar to Myst, subtle elements such as the greater amount of interaction and better puzzle design make it more appealing, and that anyone with an open mind should give it a try. Computer Gaming World felt that the gameplay was too similar to the original Myst, making Riven the "same game with a new title"; the magazine also criticized the minimal character interaction. Gaming magazine Edge felt that although Riven was a good game, the solitary atmosphere and lack of mobility was steadily becoming outdated, as games like Super Mario 64 sacrificed graphical fidelity for an increase in freedom.

If you enjoyed Myst, you'll thoroughly enjoy Riven." Computer Gaming World stated that the graphics were the best they had seen in any adventure game. Laura Miller of Salon declared that "Art [...] is what Riven approaches," and praised the gameplay as having "a graceful elegance that reminds [her] of a masterfully constructed novel." The game's sound and graphics were consistently praised. Jeff Segstack of GameSpot gave the game high marks, explaining that it is "a leisurely paced, all-encompassing, mentally challenging experience.

Riven - The Sequel to Myst — Frequently Asked Questions