Is MYST Still Good... 30 Years Later?

It's been 30 years since Cyan released MYST. Does the old video game still hold up in a modern context?

[tayzonday]

To contextualize Myst, it’s very helpful to play Cyan’s earlier title — “The Manhole” — on an old mac.

[mystman]

You should definitely check out Riven when the remake comes out, because that game basically perfected what Myst started. Whereas Myst's puzzles largely feel arbitrary, Riven's puzzles actually have reasons to exist in the world and story and require understanding the world rather than just finding a clue randomly hidden somewhere.

[ThetaReactor]

Myst has got to be some subconscious memetic seed that led directly to the modern fascination with liminal spaces. I never got into the gameplay of it, but that game has got one hell of a vibe.

[HeisenbergFam]

Puts a smile on my face there are still people appreciating good old 1990s classics

[ZeekerssRBLX]

I remember that Riven did an impressive job at justifying its puzzles within the lore of the world, in a way that felt like the "puzzles" and world-building were almost the same or at least hand-in-hand. That's mind-bogglingly hard to do, and most games don't try very hard at all

[MeerkatChris]

I never got far in Myst, but I always remember going back to it terrified because of the eerie silence walking around that first isolated & deserted island (always felt like someone was watching me). It's such a cold feeling game that always sent shivers down my spine when exploring in it as a kid... Was also one of the only games I remember my Mum seeking out and playing herself

[fives]

Myst is the kind of game you can only fully experience going in blind. I feel that the atmosphere and mystique really hits hard when you have no idea what anything does.

[tessiepinkman]

This was a game that me and my parents sat together in front of the computer and played. It became a family thing, and for me, that's the way it's supposed to be played - either with family or friends. It's a social thing. Of course it can be fun to grind it alone, but when you play it as a group effort, it becomes something else. People see different things, different patterns and that helps. I remember many laughs and quite a few frustrating moments - but it was always FUN. So, that's my best advice to anyone who wants to play through this game. Play it together with people and have fun!

[adanufgail]

Last year I replayed all of the copies of Myst that I own to get the Steam achievements, and found that the single biggest reason I think it was successful (and Riven captures this game design decision as well) was that while the thing that you were manipulating often wasn't directly within the same eyeline as the thing that would show you results, they were never far, and were always intrinsically linked. When you moved the tree elevator in the log cabin (where every other structure is metal or brick), you heard it, and could see it as soon as you went outside. The water draining puzzle in the Stoneship age has an umbrella over it and in the background you can see the ocean. It has an audio cue, and you can see the hallway down into the mountain within two clicks if that was the button you pressed, showing the player the purpose.

[ChiriVulpes]

As someone who was never able to finish the games from this series when I was younger, by recommendation I recently got a pen and paper and completed Riven from start to finish, solving the puzzles on my own. It was absolutely amazing, one of the best experiences I'd had in a long time. I then moved back to Myst to see how it held up, and I gave up in about an hour. The games may be in the same genre, and the same series, but they are literally nothing alike, and it's honestly tragic how much more people go into the series of games nowadays with Myst instead of Riven. Only one of them manages to hold up at all to modern game design

[woodencoyote]

I cannot begin to explain how big a role Myst and especially the sequel Riven played in my family's relationship with early home computers. Everyone played at least one or all of the series. Even my mother who has not played another PC or videogame in her life since, played Myst. I missed the beginning of the big family Christmas dinner because I was watching the climactic final cut-scene with Gehn, and when my parents were going to tell me off my aunt cut in to explain that it was really important to the story and she totally whiffed that puzzle the first time and Gehn was a real jerk about it...

[sophiaisabelle]

MYST seems like a fascinating masterpiece to analyze. We appreciate the fact that you've really gone out of your way to make great content for us. Keep up the good work.

[cyanmanta]

Myst works well as a group effort. Your friends may think differently to you, so one of you may spot a pattern before the others. It can be maddening to play solo even if you're good at this type of game.

[WasatchWind]

I never played Myst, but my sisters were really into the Nancy Drew games and me and my brother often watched. Very similar, a bit more advanced, I'd say, but still navigating pre rendered environments and solving a lot of puzzles.

They were strangely fun to spectate because we all got to try to figure out the mystery (and laugh at the interesting voice acting.)

[ChartingCourse]

My favorite creator... talking about my favourite game series? ...I'VE NOT CLICKED ON A VIDEO FASTER MY LIFE! As a die hard fan of Myst as a series (Riven and EXILE being my favorites), I completely agree with everything you said here. MYST was of course vital in sparking a series and lore that has fascinated and entertained a passionate fan base for years, though its far outdone by its sequels in almost every way.

The attention to detail and far better integrated puzzles of Riven truly represent what the Miller brothers wanted out of creating a virtual world. Myst was their first step into creating something bigger and better than their past ventures, but once that released and gave them great success, they had far more room to experiment and truly create something spectacular.

I fully agree that its far more exciting to see the new work being put out by Cyan Worlds rather than focusing on nostalgia. Riven's remake is of course fantastic, but the original still holds up (in places) with its photo-realistic textures aging supremely well after 25 years. If you want the best experience, enjoy the original!

Thanks for doing a video on this Austin, it was fantastic!

[NinjaPirateJedi]

Was going through the whole video thinking "Does he know about Firmament coming out?" Hahaha!

Myst itself was the first, and possibly only game(series) that my dad actually played. Having little-to-no time after working at the hospital, it was exactly the game he needed. No wasted time grinding xp, repeating levels due to death, or developing hand-eye-coordination. He simply wanted an immersive interactive space with some ambient music and puzzle solving. I do think lots of the puzzle logic and story get smoothed out as Cyan grew as a company, and when I told him about Firmament, my tired ol' dad actually lit up and added it to his Steam wishlist. It's really the only genre of game he wants to play.

[PixelatedHO]

The 2016 game The Witness is directly inspired by Myst, according to the game's director. I highly recommend it. It's much more forgiving, and the puzzles are of a different type, but it definitely has the vibes of Myst in its genes.

[gamble]

The thing I remember most about Myst back in the day was the atmosphere. Nothing like it when it came out. Never solved a single puzzle (I was seven-eight years old) but just walking around and exploring trying to figure things out was trippy and erie.

[SpriteGuard]

Myst felt dated the day Riven came out. It's every good idea in Myst the way it should have been. I have never played another game that even comes close to the level of logic and world-integration that Riven has.

[soundguydon]

I loved Myst at the time, but the one that really sticks with me even more than Myst is The 7th Guest. For me that was such a *different* and breakthrough type game, with a spooky atmosphere and over-the-top acting.. Freaking loved that game :-)