Riven 12+

An excellent rebuild of an already great game!

Whether you’re a fan of the original Riven and here for the nostalgia or you simply enjoy immersive visuals that pull you into another reality, you’re in the right place. This reimagining of Riven is worth every penny.

I consider myself a diehard fan of the 1997 release of Riven and I found myself agreeing with nearly every change made in this new version. It can be challenging to compete with nostalgia but this team (which includes some of the original 1997 leadership) hit a great balance.

The one change I can’t seem to accept is the bridge between Book Assembly Island and Temple Island. In the 1997 original, you started on Temple Island but were unable to explore all of the island until much later in the game. This made the world feel bigger and more interconnected. In this new version, the order of exploration is more linear. Of course, there is a new sense of interconnectedness through the reimagined fire marble domes (which I love!) but I miss the original Temple Island reveal from Book Assembly Island. It felt like a massive unlock walking along that bridge.

I’m sure other fans of the original will also pick at aspects of this reimagining that feel different to them. However, in my opinion, the changes are a net positive and the team that produced this version pulled off the impossible—exciting and thoughtful revisions that somehow still feel faithful to the original.

A must have game for anyones library!

A gorgeous remake of one of the best games of all time! This is a masterpiece and it's not just a great puzzle game because Cyan is the master of full immersive environmental world building. Every view is a work of art and the environmental sounds add to the ambience of the world. It's not just seeing the most realistic waves of water moving and lapping up against the shore but hearing the water, wind and insects that make it feel so real and serene. And the puzzles, they are not just puzzles for puzzles sake. They have an environment purpose adding to the lore of the inhabitants of this world. Cyan has also changed many of the puzzles and added new places so this is more than just a remake so that old and new players alike can feel like it is all brand new. Even though I give it 5 stars it's not perfect. A few of the 3D characters are poorly done and off-putting, taking us away from the realism that Cyan so meticulously created. There are a few glitches from time to time and it can run a tad hot that I'm sure future upgrades or patches will resolve. Now please remake Myst 3!

Developer Response ,

Wow, thank you for calling this remake of Riven a "must have"! Thank you for your support, and so glad to hear that you are enjoying this version of Riven.

Incredible

A brand new Riven experience that retains the identity of the original while offering new gameplay methods to advance a memorable and unique story.

Writing is one of Riven's best attributes and is apropos to a story about Age creation through linking books. The storytelling is excellent and characters have depth of which the journals serve as an excellent vehicle in building. Be sure to read them. The in-game journal for personal note taking is a great touch.

Gameplay, sound, and music are all as equally excellent with the music being contextually perfect in matching the game environment.

Some constructive criticism:

1. All of the new puzzles are conceptually sound (and some are very cool!). However, not all are executed flawlessly. There are a few design choices I am not a fan of that I felt shortcuts were taken. It detracts slightly from the overall experience given the high standard Riven sets in general.

2. Bugs do exist and graphic quality in the most minute of detail can be suspect. I understand that Cyan prioritized platform accessibilty which created layers of unique techical issues to iron out. Overall, the technicals are very solid on my M2 Pro. Zero gameplay issues.

3. I would have loved a "classic" version to be included in the 2024 game as an alternative option to play. Or maybe even an option to have all original puzzles vs. new puzzles. Maybe both could be packaged up under one bundle and playable out of a single application.