When you hear about Cyan Worlds, you almost automatically think of Myst, but they’ve now returned to one of their other iconic creations with a full remake of Riven, the sequel that first came out back in 1997. This updated version, now available on PC and tested in VR with a Meta Quest headset (in both native and PCVR modes), brings the mysterious world of Riven into the modern era, offering both nostalgic elements and fresh experiences for new players after the development team rebuilt it from the ground up.
The story of Riven throws players into a world that’s on the brink of collapse. As the protagonist in this story, you explore a realm shaped by the whims of Gehn, a man who fancies himself a bit of a god. It’s a narrative that is deeply immersive, rewarding careful observation of what’s around you and thorough exploration of the game world. Piece by piece, you start to unravel the secrets of the island dwellers and the purpose of the giant golden dome, with a story that comes together through scattered clues. In that sense, this remake stays true to the original’s intricate storytelling, but it does so while expanding the lore of the Myst universe, adding depth and context to the pre-existing narrative.
Riven was always renowned for its complex and rewarding puzzles, and the remake faithfully preserves this aspect. The puzzles are always seamlessly integrated into the environment, making it feel an interconnected world that challenges players to think critically and pay close attention to their surroundings. This careful design ensures that solving each puzzle feels like a natural part of the exploration process rather than an isolated task as well.
The game’s free movement in a real-time 3D environment marks a significant departure from the original’s point-and-click interface. This change obviously enhances the immersion, allowing players to navigate the lush jungles, caverns, and monolithic structures of Riven with greater freedom. And while some purists might miss the charm of the original’s style, this effect is even greater when playing this in VR.
The controls on PC are intuitive, with smooth transitions between exploration and puzzle-solving. In VR, the controls adapt well, providing an immersive experience that makes full use of the headset’s capabilities – though the PSVR version looks superior to the Quest 3 one so we’d recommend playing it that way if you have the chance. But whichever version you play, navigating the world in VR feels natural, and the tactile engagement with the environment and puzzles adds a new layer of depth to the gameplay. In VR, this game truly feels like the original Riven stepped forward several generations of computing power.
Visually, Riven is stunning anyway, especially on PC. The remake leverages modern graphics to bring the world to life with breathtaking detail. The dense jungles, immense caverns, and intricate structures are all beautifully rendered, creating an atmospheric experience that draws players in. The updated visuals are particularly striking in VR, where the sense of scale and depth enhances the Riven experience – with the game’s larger areas in particular being great at conveying a sense of being small in a wondrous world.
The audio design complements the visual overhaul. The remastered soundtrack and ambient sounds enhance the mystical atmosphere of the game, making the world feel alive and immersive. The audio cues are not just for ambiance either, but also play a crucial role in solving puzzles, guiding players through the narrative – often with subtle hints.
Zooming in on the VR experience, the Meta Quest headset can be used either natively or with the PC build, and it offers an incredibly immersive experience that makes you feel like you are truly inside the world of Riven. It can be an intense experience though, and if you’re hoping to jump into this having played the original game it can be overwhelming if you don’t have your VR legs yet – this is full length game, and those are rare in VR.
At the end of the day, Riven excels in creating a rich, immersive world filled with challenging puzzles and a compelling narrative. The updated graphics and audio breathe new life into a classic game, while the free movement and VR capabilities offer fresh perspectives and deeper engagement. The complexity of the puzzles might be a bit daunting for some players, but Riven veterans will find a lot to love here – and most likely even more than they were expecting, when looking at the additional content.
In conclusion, that makes Riven a masterful reimagining that retains the core elements that made the original so beloved while incorporating modern advancements as well. Highly recommended for fans of narrative-driven adventures and puzzle games, or those looking for a deeply immersive VR experience.
Score: 8.7/10
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