The Myst series of adventure-puzzle games may just be the peak of games that developed a serious cult following long after their initial releases. Today, fans of the original 1993 game praise Myst's atmosphere, world-building and expertly captured the sense of mystery that makes solving the puzzles on Myst Island so intriguing. However, Myst wasn't always showered in praise, though many would come around to the game with later rereleases and sequels.
There have been twelve unique games in the series, though some of these are new versions of previous entries that add enough to overhaul the experience. While two games, Myst: Masterpiece Edition and Uru: Complete Chronicles, don't seem to have reviews on Metacritic or the Internet Games Database, the rest of the entries in the adventure game series do. With the original Myst on Xbox Game Pass, now's a perfect time to see what critics think of Myst and its many sequels and spinoffs.
N/A: Myst: Masterpiece Edition and Uru: Complete Chronicles
These two games are releases of the original Myst and Uru: Ages Beyond Myst. Both are similar to the original games but also include some notable updates, extra content and changes that make them stand on their own. Metacritic and the Internet Games Database do not currently have reviews of either game, though Uru and its separate expansions do have their reviews categorized separately.
9. realMyst (66)
Reviews for realMyst are all over the board, which may be why its average review score is so low. Some believe realMyst is a spiritual successor to the original, while others argue that the game completely misses what the original was all about. Some technical issues give this remake of the original Myst a bad reputation, especially compared to the original.
There haven't been a ton of attempts to remake the original Myst, though it appears that most of the ones that tried ended up falling short of critic expectations. That being said, there are fans of this game who think it's an amazing way to play the original, though most still seem to agree that later entries on this list are a better way to enjoy the classic adventure game. realMyst does try to recapture the magic of the original game but, at least in the eyes of critics, falls short.
8. Uru: The Path of the Shell (72)
The Uru series of games are somewhat of a spin-off to Myst, though they aren't really traditional spin-offs. While they retain similar gameplay and design, they take players to an entirely new location in the world of Myst. Uru: The Path of the Shell is actually an expansion back to Uru: Ages Beyond Mist, which would later be re-released as part of Uru: Complete Chronicles. Despite being an expansion, The Path of the Shell is almost a completely new game added on top of the original.
Critics note that The Path of the Shell is just as immersive as Ages Beyond Mist, which helps build more of a connecting storyline behind the world presented in Myst. However, a fair amount of criticism is pointed towards the game's difficulty as many critics felt it was trying to outdo previous entries in the series. The Path of the Shell also seems to be hindered by sharing elements with Myst Online: Uru Live, though that game would be slightly better received.
7. Myst V: End of Ages (74)
Myst V: End of Ages would be the last chapter in the game's branching storyline. Given that previous games explored other aspects of the lost D'ni people, no sequel had actually directly followed up on the events of the original Myst. End of Ages takes place directly after the first game's events, which makes a lot of the changes to the Myst formula that had happened between both entries that much more apparent.
Critics consider End of Ages a wonderful send-off to the series that manages to do a lot of what the original did well. The graphics and controls were also praised in reviews, though there's a bit of contention about whether End of Ages lives up to Myst's legacy. Some critics believe the game meets the quality of the original, while others still see Myst V as a step backward.
6. Myst Online: Uru Live (75)
Sold on the promise that players would become the storyteller, Myst Online: Uru Live is an open-source MMO that boasted many really interesting features, such as persistent worlds that would change to reflect other players' actions. A group of fans maintain the game to this day, with series developer Cyan having released the source code online. Uru Live does a lot of unique things, though not every critic was impressed.
When initially released, Uru Live was a subscription-based game that many felt wasn't quite worth the innovations to the MMO formula. When the game was canceled and relaunched as a free game, critics who took a second look were far more impressed. While the game's unique approach to MMOs sat well with critics, they still felt that Uru Live required a bit too much dedication to experience the game's full evolving story.
5. Myst (2020 VR Remake) (78)
The newest entry into the wide range of Myst remakes and remasters takes the game to VR headsets. VR feels like a wonderful fit for Myst, giving players a brand new perspective on Myst Island. The game can also be played without a VR headset, though the VR experience impressed most critics. In many ways, the 2020 remake may actually be the best way to experience Myst on modern systems.
One of the biggest problems critics have with this version of Myst is that while there are new graphics and features added, the core gameplay structure of Myst remains unchanged. Critics point out that the original gameplay of Myst hasn't aged particularly well, leaving an incredibly modern-looking remaster feeling much older than it should. Still, 2020's Myst remains one of the better ways to experience the original classic.
4. Uru: Ages Beyond Myst (79)
Released in 2003, Uru: Ages Beyond Myst was seen as an impressive next step in the Myst series of games. Once again, one of this game's biggest points of praise is world-building. The impressive graphics and sound design helped many critics praise just how alive the world of Uru felt. From a technical standpoint, the only main criticism seems to be that the control scheme was a little rough around the edges.
While critics loved this entry, some long-time Myst fans felt the overall difficulty of the puzzles and mysteries was much lower than in previous Myst games. Some critics brought this point up in their reviews but countered it by saying that the main enjoyment of Myst was still there. Uru: Ages Beyond Myst was seen as a fantastic adventure puzzle game that was a well-received next chapter.
3. Riven and Myst III: Exile (83)
Both Riven and Myst III: Exile have some fairly similar reviews from critics. Both games received the usual kinds of praise common for the Myst series, specifically with the sound design and visuals. However, both games were often seen as being far too difficult for most players, especially given the kinds of games being developed around the time of both Riven and Myst III.
More specifically, Riven saw a lot of praise for the complexity of the game's puzzles. Some enjoyed how challenging the puzzles could be, while others felt that players would need to over-rely on walkthroughs or guides to beat the game. Myst III: Exile was seen by critics as still being challenging but something a bit fairer than Riven and a worthy entry in the Myst series.
2. Myst IV: Revelation (85)
Myst IV: Revelation is the second-best Myst game, beaten out only by the original. That may actually be why it got so well-reviewed, as many critics were quick to point out how similar Revelation is to the original Myst, though not always as a point of criticism. Some wished that there were more changes to the formula, while others enjoyed that this game was simply more Myst.
Oftentimes, follow-ups to a well-loved classic get criticized for being too much of the same thing. Myst IV perhaps goes against this due to the formula of the series. Myst is a game series that's drawn players in with complex puzzles and in-depth exploration. For a sequel to simply be more Myst would mean that it's more worldbuilding and more puzzles, playing directly to the strengths of the original classic.
1. Myst (89)
While some review websites list reviews for 2007's DS rerelease of Myst under the original, there's no doubting that the original Myst still stands out to critics as the definitive game in the series. Modern reviews of Myst are equally as kind to the game, with many noting how adventure games that followed Myst were called Myst-likes for the longest time. The original is still an iconic PC adventure game far ahead of its time, but that doesn't mean there aren't any criticisms.
While the original came out in 1993, some reviews note that the game was technically and graphically behind the times. The vague nature of Myst wasn't for everyone either, as some critics believe that the explorations elements could've used a bit more direction to help players. Regardless of these criticisms, Myst is a landmark game of the adventure genre that's still worth checking out today.