View source for Riven

{{short description|1997 video game}}
{{for|the Winx Club character|List of Winx Club characters#Riven}}
{{featured article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Riven: The Sequel to Myst
| caption = The PC box art for ''Riven'' showcases [[Richard Vander Wende]]'s concept of what players would first see on the Age of Tay.<ref name="making of riven"/>
| image = Riven Coverart.png
| developer = [[Cyan Productions]]{{efn|PlayStation and Saturn versions developed by [[Sunsoft]]}}
| publisher = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|[[Red Orb Entertainment]]}}|'''PlayStation'''<br />[[Acclaim Entertainment]]<br />'''Saturn'''<br />[[Sega]]<br />'''Pocket PC'''<br />[[Mean Hamster Software]]<br />'''Android'''<br />Noodlecake Studios}}
| director = [[Robyn Miller]]<br />[[Richard Vander Wende]]
| producer = [[Rand Miller]]
| designer = Robyn Miller<br />Richard Vander Wende
| programmer = Richard A. Watson
| composer = Robyn Miller
| series = ''[[Myst (series)|Myst]]''
| platforms = [[Classic Mac OS|Mac OS]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], [[Sega Saturn]], [[Pocket PC]], [[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]]
| released = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|October 31, 1997}}|'''MacOS, Windows'''<br />{{vgrelease|WW|October 31, 1997<ref name="redorbship">{{cite web|url=http://www.redorb.com/news/pressreleases/press10-97.html|title=Red Orb Entertainment Press October 1997 - The World Of Riven: The Sequel To Myst, Is Ready For Visitors|publisher=Red Orb Entertainment|date=October 30, 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980610095835/http://www.redorb.com/news/pressreleases/press10-97.html|archive-date=June 10, 1998|url-status=dead|access-date=October 4, 2019}}<br>
"Red Orb Entertainment...announces the domestic and international availability of the Cyan Inc. production Riven: The Sequel to Myst...Riven will be featured at retail starting tomorrow [October 31]."</ref>}}'''PlayStation'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|December 22, 1997<ref name="PSRivenShip">{{cite web|url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_12/22_rivenps/index.html|title=Acclaim Ships PlayStation Riven|last=Johnston|first=Chris|date=December 22, 1997|publisher=[[GameSpot]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990221153540/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_12/22_rivenps/index.html|archive-date=February 21, 1999|url-status=dead|access-date=October 31, 2022}}</ref>|EU|February 1998}}'''Saturn'''<br />{{vgrelease|EU|June 5, 1998<ref>{{Cite web |date=1998-12-02 |title=sega-europe.online |url=http://www.sega-europe.com/saturn/satinfo.html |access-date=2023-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981202140918/http://www.sega-europe.com/saturn/satinfo.html |archive-date=December 2, 1998 }}</ref>}}'''Pocket PC''' <br />{{vgrelease|NA|December 20, 2005}}'''iOS'''<br />{{vgrelease|WW|January 12, 2011<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyanworlds.com/news/?p=23 |title=iOS Riven! The Stunning Sequel to Myst is Here. |publisher=CyanWorlds.com |date=January 12, 2011 |access-date=May 5, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808075601/http://www.cyanworlds.com/news/?p=23 |archive-date=August 8, 2011 }}</ref>}}'''Android'''{{vgrelease|WW|April 26, 2017<ref name="android">{{cite web |last1=Callaham |first1=John |title=Riven, the sequel to Myst, is now available to explore on Android |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/mysts-sequel-riven-android-767510/ |website=Android Authority |access-date=February 28, 2020 |date=April 26, 2017}}</ref>}}}}
| genre = [[Graphic adventure game|Graphic adventure]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
}}
'''''Riven: The Sequel to Myst''''' is a 1997 [[adventure game]] developed by [[Cyan Productions]] and published by [[Red Orb Entertainment]]. The second installment of the [[Myst (series)|''Myst'' series]], ''Riven'' was released for Mac and Windows personal computers on October 31, 1997, in North America. ''Riven'' was also [[Video game port|ported]] to several other platforms. The story of ''Riven'' is set after the events of ''Myst''. Having rescued [[Characters of Myst#Atrus|Atrus]] who had been trapped by his sons, the [[player character]] is enlisted by him to free his wife from his power-hungry father, [[Characters of Myst#Gehn|Gehn]]. ''Riven'' takes place almost entirely on the Age of Riven, a world slowly falling apart due to Gehn's destructive rule.

Development of ''Riven'' began soon after ''Myst'' became a success, and spanned more than three years. In an effort to create a visual style distinct from that of ''Myst'', director [[Robyn Miller]] and his brother, producer [[Rand Miller]], recruited production designer [[Richard Vander Wende]] as a co-director. Broderbund employed a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign to publicize the game's release.

''Riven'' was praised by reviewers, with the magazine ''[[Salon (website)|Salon]]'' proclaiming that the game [[Video games as an art form|approaches the level of art]]. Critics positively noted the puzzles and immersive experience of the gameplay, though publications such as ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'' felt that the nature of point-and-click gameplay limited the title heavily. The best-selling game of 1997, ''Riven'' sold 1.5&nbsp;million copies in one year. After the game's release, Robyn Miller left Cyan to form his own development studio, ending the professional partnership of the two brothers. Rand stayed at Cyan and continued to work on ''Myst''-related products including ''[[The Myst Reader]]'' and the real-time rendered game ''[[Uru: Ages Beyond Myst]]''. The next entry in the ''Myst'' series, ''[[Myst III: Exile]]'', was developed by [[Presto Studios]] and published by [[Ubisoft]]. A remake of the game, recreating the world in fully explorable 3D and supporting both flatscreen and [[virtual reality]] modes, was released in June 2024.

==Gameplay==
[[File:Riven-prison.png|thumb|left|A screenshot of ''Riven'', showing the prison island where the [[non-player character]] Catherine is held captive]]
Like its predecessor, ''Riven'' is a [[point and click]] adventure game played from a [[first-person narrative|first-person]] perspective. The player explores immersive environments depicted through a large series of [[computer-generated imagery|computer generated stills]] using mouse clicks for movement or to manipulate objects within reach.<ref name="play">{{cite book|title=Riven: The Sequel to Myst - User's Manual|publisher=Broderbund|author=Cyan|year=1997|edition=[[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] version|pages=9–10|series=Playing the Game|author-link=Cyan Worlds}}</ref> By operating mechanical contraptions and deciphering codes and symbols discovered in the surroundings, the vaguely explained goal can eventually be reached.<ref name="nyt-personal computers">{{cite news|author=Maines, Stephen|date=November 4, 1997|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/04/science/personal-computers-riven-picks-up-where-best-selling-myst-left-off.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|title=Riven Picks Up Where Best-Selling Myst Left Off|work=[[The New York Times]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018093036/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/04/science/personal-computers-riven-picks-up-where-best-selling-myst-left-off.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|archive-date=October 18, 2015}}</ref>

To navigate the world, the player clicks in the direction they want to walk or turn. The cursor changes in appearance, depending on its position on the screen and what it is hovering over, to show what effect clicking will have.<ref name="play"/>  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.<ref name="play"/> The cursor changes in context to show when players can drag or toggle switches, or when certain [[Item (gaming)#Items in adventure games|item]]s can be picked up and carried.<ref name="play2">{{cite book|title=Riven: The Sequel to Myst - User's Manual|publisher=Broderbund|author=Cyan|year=1997|edition=[[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] version|pages=11–12|series=Manipulating Objects|author-link=Cyan Worlds}}</ref> Such items can then be examined at any time,<ref name="play2"/><ref name="gamespot preview"/> and either reveal clues to puzzles or provide information on the game's setting and story.  Like ''Myst'', ''Riven'' has an optional method of navigation known as Zip Mode, which allows players to skip to areas already explored, but may cause them to miss important clues.<ref name="play"/>

''Riven'' has more complex and numerous [[Adventure game#Puzzle-solving|puzzles]] than its forerunner and is set in a larger virtual world for players to explore.<ref name="driven"/> Whereas in ''Myst'' the objective of the game is to travel to different Ages to solve puzzles before returning to a "hub Age", ''Riven''{{'}}s gameplay takes place on the five islands of the Age of Riven. Much of it consists of solving puzzles to access new areas of the islands, though players are also able to explore without fulfilling objectives.<ref name="gamespot preview"/> The volcanic landscape depicted, with its steep cliffs and [[Volcanic crater lake|crater lake]]s, is bestrewn with mechanical, Victorian-style artifacts such as elevators, pipes, levers and roller coaster-like transports.<ref name="gamespot preview"/><ref name="driven"/> To solve the game, players must consider the purpose and physical principles of these artifacts as well as their role in the fictional culture.<ref name="driven"/>

==Plot==
''Riven''{{'}}s story continues where ''[[Myst]]'' and its companion novel, ''[[The Myst Reader#Book of Atrus|The Book of Atrus]]'', left off. [[Characters of Myst#Atrus|Atrus]] knows the ancient art of creating "linking books", specially written books that serve as portals to other worlds known as "Ages".<ref name="washingtonpost-plot">{{cite news|author=Streitfeld, David|date=November 1, 1997|title=Another Myst Opportunity; With Riven, Fans Can Click On, and On, and On|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|page=C1}}</ref> Atrus needs the player's help to free his wife, [[Characters of Myst#Atrus and Catherine|Catherine]], who is held hostage in her home Age of Riven, which is slowly collapsing. Her captor is Gehn, Atrus' manipulative father and self-declared ruler of Riven. Thirty years earlier, Atrus and Catherine trapped Gehn on Riven by removing all of the linking books that led out of the Age. The final book they escaped from Riven with, leading to the Age of Myst, fell into the Star Fissure, a rift leading out of the damaged Age of Riven into a mysterious, [[Wormholes in fiction|space-like void]]. The linking book was not destroyed but was instead found by the player, leading to the events of ''Myst''. Catherine was later tricked into returning to Riven by her sons, [[Characters of Myst#Sirrus and Achenar|Sirrus and Achenar]], whereupon she was taken hostage by Gehn.<ref name="washingtonpost-plot"/>

At the beginning of ''Riven'', Atrus equips the player with a trap book—a snare that functions as a one-man prison, yet looks identical to a linking book—and his personal diary summarizing the events leading to the present situation. Atrus cannot explain in depth as he is engaged in rewriting the descriptive book of Riven, in an attempt to slow its deterioration. The player must enter Riven with no way of leaving, as Atrus cannot risk sending a real linking book to Riven until Gehn is safely imprisoned, lest he use it to escape.<ref name="gamespot preview">{{cite web|author=Muldoon, Moira |date=October 31, 1997 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/riven/ |title=Featured Preview: Riven |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=May 25, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060515224603/http://www.gamespot.com/features/riven/ |archive-date=May 15, 2006 }}</ref> With the instructions of trapping Gehn, freeing Catherine, and signaling Atrus, the player links to Riven.

Once there, the player travels across the islands of Riven, encountering Catherine, Gehn, and the Moeity, rebels fighting against Gehn's rule. Because of the decay of Riven's structure, the only way to clearly signal Atrus is to further destabilize the Age&mdash;accomplished by reopening the Star Fissure, which Gehn had closed. When it is opened, Atrus links to Riven to investigate, and meets the player at the brink of the fissure. Depending on the player's actions, the ending to ''Riven'' varies. In the best (and canonical) ending, the player tricks Gehn into the prison book and releases Catherine, who helps the Rivenese people evacuate to another Age. Atrus and Catherine thank the player before linking back to Myst. The player then falls into the Star Fissure to be taken back to their world. The worst ending involves signaling Atrus without either capturing Gehn or releasing Catherine, which allows Gehn to kill Atrus and the player, then take Atrus's linking book to Myst, leaving the Rivenese people to die in the rapidly collapsing Age as he escapes. Other endings include capturing Gehn without saving Catherine, being trapped in the prison book, or being killed by Gehn after angering him.

==Development==
[[File:Taospueblo003.jpg|thumb|right|[[Taos Pueblo]], a Native American settlement near Santa Fe. The artists spent a day at a pueblo in Santa Fe, gathering textures for the game.<ref name="staub santa fe">{{cite web|year=1997|url=http://www.riven.com/backstage/research.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000303063458/http://www.riven.com/backstage/research.html|archive-date=March 3, 2000|title=Riven Backstage: Building Blocks - Research Expedition|publisher=[[Cyan Worlds]]|access-date=December 10, 2010}}</ref>]]
Cyan Productions began work on ''Riven'' in 1993, after ''Myst''{{'}}s release. Before development began, when the name of the game was undecided, the brothers [[Robyn Miller|Robyn]] and [[Rand Miller]] said they wanted a "natural flow" from the first game to the sequel.<ref name="cnn - fans">{{cite web|author1=Baxter, Steve |author2=Nelson, Brian |date=October 31, 1997|url=http://www.cnn.com/TECH/9710/31/riven/index.html|title=Fans say Riven release lives up to hype|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=May 14, 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095500/http://www.cnn.com/TECH/9710/31/riven/index.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> As ''Myst'' proved to be a popular and commercial success, the two developers were able to expand their four-person team to a much larger crew of designers, artists, programmers, and sound designers.<ref name="making of riven">{{cite video|people=[[Robyn Miller|Robyn]] and [[Rand Miller]], Cyan|date=1997|title=The Making of Riven: The Sequel to Myst| publisher=Cyan/Broderbund| medium=CD-ROM}}</ref> Development spanned more than four years, and was a much larger undertaking than for the first game;<ref name="making of riven"/> ''Riven'' had a budget of between US$5&nbsp;and $10&nbsp;million, more than ten times the cost of developing ''Myst''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Takashi, Dean|date=August 26, 1997|title=Can Myst's Sequel Live Up to Expectations?|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref>

The design for ''Riven'' stemmed from a desire to create something different and more dynamic than the [[Romanticism|romantic]] style of ''Myst''. At an early point, the game's world was to be called Equiquay.<ref name="guerrillas">{{cite magazine|author=Carroll, John |date=August 1994 |url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/2.08/myst_pr.html |title=Guerrillas in the Myst |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |issue=8 |volume=2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209043813/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/2.08/myst_pr.html |archive-date=February 9, 2011 }}</ref> The first stage of development was to create the puzzles, in an attempt to integrate them as smoothly as possible into the areas in the game. The Millers met their co-designer, [[Richard Vander Wende]], at a demonstration of ''Myst'' for the Digital World Expo in Los Angeles.<ref name="making of riven"/> Vander Wende had previously worked for [[Industrial Light & Magic|ILM]],<ref name="making of riven"/> and at [[Walt Disney Feature Animation]] as a designer for the animated feature ''[[Aladdin (1992 Disney film)|Aladdin]]''.<ref name="driven">{{cite magazine|author=Carroll, John |date=September 1997 |url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/5.09/riven.html |title=(D)Riven |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |issue=9 |volume=5 |pages=1–15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026065751/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/5.09/riven.html |archive-date=October 26, 2012 }}</ref> As the third member of ''Riven''{{'}}s conceptual team, Vander Wende ended up contributing what Robyn Miller described as an "edgier" and complementary vision, that made the game dramatically different from its predecessor.<ref name="making of riven"/>

===Graphics===
As in ''Myst'', the [[topography]] of the islands was originally created as grayscale images, where brightness corresponded to elevation.<ref name="making of riven"/><ref name="driven"/> In [[Autodesk Softimage|Softimage]], these maps were turned into the terrain models seen in the game.<ref name="driven"/><ref name="computergraphicsworld">{{cite journal|author=Forcade, Tim|date=February 1998|title=Unraveling Riven|journal=Computer Graphics World}}</ref> The large island objects were broken apart to facilitate efficient rendering, which required them to be created using polygonal geometry.<ref name="computergraphicsworld"/> All other objects were modeled using [[B-spline]]s and [[Nonuniform rational B-spline|NURBS]].<ref name="computergraphicsworld"/>

Many of the [[texture mapping|textures]] were accumulated during a three-day trip to [[Santa Fe, New Mexico]]. The artists took hundreds of photos of wood, adobe, sand, stucco and other materials, which were treated in [[Photoshop]] before being mapped onto the [[3D modeling|3D geometry]].<ref name="making of riven"/><ref name="computergraphicsworld"/> Whereas many [[computer graphics|computer-generated]] environments of the time ended up looking smooth, like plastic,<ref name="making of riven"/> the Millers and Vander Wende developed a more gritty and weathered design, with corroded and aged elements, to imply reality.<ref name="making of riven"/><ref name="driven"/> The artists considered how objects would look and function if they were real, where and how they would be worn, and created corresponding details.<ref name="computergraphicsworld"/> While [[bump map]]s were occasionally used to simulate geometry, even small details such as screws were often individually modeled.<ref name="computergraphicsworld"/>

Rendering was executed in [[Mental Ray]], using numerous custom-made [[shader]]s to produce lifelike lighting, water and landscapes.<ref name="computergraphicsworld"/> [[Wire-frame model|Wireframes]] also served as a guide to model the backgrounds.<ref>{{cite journal |date=February 1998 |title=Riven - MacAddict |url=https://archive.org/stream/MacAddict-018-199802/MacAddict-018-199802-BobKiwi-v1#page/n53 |journal=[[MacAddict]] |author=Joseph O. Holmes |issue=18 |page=53 |access-date=July 9, 2017}}</ref> In total ''Riven'' has over three hours of video<ref name="driven"/> and almost five thousand images;<ref name="making of riven"/> rendering was a major bottleneck in production despite the use of 18 dedicated [[workstation]]s.<ref name="computergraphicsworld"/> Some scenes consisted of tens of thousands of individual models and textures and more than a hundred virtual light sources. Loading a single island model could take two hours.<ref name="computergraphicsworld"/> Runtime animation effects were created by Mark DeForest, to add flying insects and simple water ripples.<ref name="computergraphicsworld"/>

''Riven'' combined the pre-rendered backgrounds with [[live action]] footage, in order to increase the player's immersion level.<ref name="making of riven"/><ref name="gamespot preview"/> ''Riven'' was the first game in which any of its designers had directed live actors, and Vander Wende was apprehensive about their use.<ref name="making of riven"/> Rand Miller had to reprise his role of [[Atrus]] from ''Myst'', even though he hated acting.<ref name="driven"/> All the actors were filmed with a blue screen as a backdrop, which was removed in post-production by [[chroma key]], so that the actors would blend into the virtual environment.<ref name="driven"/> Real world stairs, doorways and studio lights had to be meticulously positioned on the live stage to match their CG equivalents. Some sequences were seamlessly cut together with [[morphing]], to allow for partial variations due to the [[Linearity (video games)|nonlinearity]] of the gameplay.<ref name="computergraphicsworld"/>

===Audio===
Robyn Miller composed ''Riven''{{'}}s music, which was later packaged and released by [[Virgin Records]] as ''Riven: The Soundtrack''. Miller designed the liner notes and packaging, which included English translations of the [[Constructed language|language found in the game]].<ref name="Houston Chronicle-riven ost">{{cite news|author=Schein, Amy|date=February 1, 1998|title=Out of the Myst comes Riven, the soundtrack|work=[[Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> Whereas the music to ''Myst'' was, at first, only available by mail-order from Cyan, Virgin Records had bought the rights to release it initially, prompting Miller to make sure that it could stand alone in CD form.<ref name="denver post-sound">{{cite news|author=Thomas, David|date=May 8, 1998|title=Mastermind of Myst, Riven also has a talent for music|work=[[The Denver Post]]}}</ref> The compact disc was released on February 24, 1998, with 54&nbsp;minutes of music.<ref name="AMG">{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|title=Riven: The Sequel to Myst|website=[[Allmusic]]|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r340531|pure_url=yes}}|access-date=January 13, 2010}}</ref>

Miller established three [[leitmotif]]s for the game's three central characters, Atrus, Catherine, and Gehn.<ref name="riven notes">{{cite AV media notes |author-link=Robyn Miller |last=Miller |first=Robyn |chapter=Introduction |year=1997 |title=Riven: The Soundtrack |publisher=[[Virgin Records]]}}</ref> Gehn's theme is only heard in its complete form near the end of the game, but portions of the melody can be heard throughout Riven, highlighting his control of the Age.<ref name="virgin product">{{cite web|author=Virgin Records America |year=1997 |url=http://www.virginrecords.com/riven/ |title=Riven: The Soundtrack product page |work=[[Virgin Records]] |access-date=April 12, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611151405/http://www.virginrecords.com/riven/ |archive-date=June 11, 2008 }}</ref> Miller tried to let the environment dictate the resulting sound in order to make the music as immersive as possible.<ref name="Houston Chronicle-riven ost"/> He blended live instrumentation with [[synthesizer]]s: "By mixing and matching conventional instrumentation, you can create an odd, interesting mood," Miller said. Ultimately, he wanted the music of ''Riven'' to reflect the game itself, which he described as having "a familiar-yet-strange feel to it."<ref name="riven notes"/>

Miller described his biggest challenge in writing ''Riven''{{'}}s music as reconciling the linear, pleasing construction of music with the [[Linearity (video games)|nonlinearity]] of the gameplay. As players can freely explore all areas, Miller explained in an interview, "the music can't say anything too specific. If it says something, if it builds in intensity and there starts to be a climax, and people are just standing in a room looking around, and they're thinking 'What's going on in here? Is something about to jump out from behind me?' You can't have the basic parts of music that you'd like to have, you can't have a basic structure. It's all got to be just flowing, and continue to flow."<ref name="denver post-sound"/> [[Allmusic]] critic [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] argued that the soundtrack is "appealingly atmospheric", but "lacks definition", and that the music loses impact when separated from the game.<ref name="AMG" />

==Release==
At the time of ''Riven''{{'}}s development, original publisher [[Broderbund]] was facing falling revenues as development costs rose. Two years into the project, Cyan Productions still could not develop the game into a testable state.<ref name="driven"/> Broderbund's stock dropped from $60 a share to $22 in 1996, because of ''Riven''{{'}}s delay from the original planned holiday 1996 window.<ref name="business week-more magic" /><ref name="gamespot preview"/><ref name="driven"/> ''Riven'' was released in North America and the United Kingdom to retail on October 31, 1997 by [[Red Orb Entertainment]], a publisher brand of Broderbund.<ref name="redorbship"/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Oldfield |first=Andy |date=September 23, 1997 |title=Myst's sequel is coming |pages=48 |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://newspapers.com/image/719931791/?terms=%22riven%22%20%22myst%22&match=1 |access-date=November 28, 2023 |quote=''Riven'', the much anticipated sequel to the popular adventure game ''Myst'', will be available on 31 October for Power Mac and PCs, says Broderbund.}}</ref> While ''Riven''{{'}}s sales were expected to be higher than any other game that holiday season, Broderbund launched a multimillion marketing campaign<ref name="business week-more magic">{{cite web|author=Browder, Seanna|date=October 6, 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609172720/http://www.businessweek.com/1997/40/b3547133.htm|url=http://www.businessweek.com/1997/40/b3547133.htm|title=More Magic From the Makers of 'Myst'?|work=[[BusinessWeek]]|access-date=May 12, 2008|archive-date=June 9, 2008}}</ref><ref name="zdnet_1997-11-02">{{cite web|last=Silverthorne|first=Sean|date=November 2, 1997|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/riven-out-of-the-myst/|title=Riven: out of the Myst|website=[[ZDNET]]|access-date=February 14, 2024}}</ref> and developed a retail marketing partnership with [[Toshiba]] America.<ref>{{cite news|author=Winkler, Eric|title=Riven: The Sequel to Myst Tops 1 Million Units Sold Through to Consumers in North America|publisher=[[Business Wire]]|date=March 8, 1998}}</ref> Anticipation for the game was high even among non-gamers, helped by web-based word of mouth and well-placed media coverage.<ref name="nyt-personal computers"/><ref name="boston globe-riven door">{{cite news|author=Saunders, Michael|date=November 9, 1997|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|title=Riven opens door to mystical world}}</ref>

[[Sunsoft]], who previously developed and published ''Myst'' for the [[Sega Saturn]], were initially set to publish the Saturn version of ''Riven'' in PAL regions, but the rights were later picked up by [[Acclaim Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Acclaim Snags Riven: Myst Sequel Arriving Soon|magazine=[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]|issue=25 |publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|date=November 1997 |page=14 |url=https://archive.org/details/Sega_Saturn_Magazine_Issue_25_1997-11_EMAP_Images_GB/page/n13 |access-date=December 3, 2019}}</ref> A potential conversion of ''Riven'' to the [[Atari Jaguar]] never materialized.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dragon|first=Lost|url=http://forums.atari.io/index.php/topic/2674-the-ultimate-jaguar-unreleasedbetasourcedev-master-list/page-5#entry34182|title=The Ultimate Jaguar Unreleased/Beta/Source/Dev Master List! - Page 5|website=atari.io|date=July 5, 2017|access-date=2018-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104015428/http://forums.atari.io/index.php/topic/2674-the-ultimate-jaguar-unreleasedbetasourcedev-master-list/page-5#entry34182|archive-date=November 4, 2018|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The game initially shipped on five [[compact disc]]s. A version of the game that shipped on a single [[digital video disc]] was released in 1998.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pc.ign.com/news/78.html|title=News Briefs|date=August 12, 1998|website=[[IGN]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000305082712/http://pc.ign.com/news/78.html|archive-date=March 5, 2000|url-status=dead|access-date=December 6, 2019|quote=Broderbund is becoming one of the first game companies to jump on the DVD platform, with a DVD release of Riven: The Sequel to Myst...}}</ref>

[[PC Data]] reported it as the best-selling computer game in the United States during 1997,<ref name=pcgsales1>{{cite journal |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=April 1998 |volume=5 |issue=4 |title=The Best-Selling Games of 1997 |journal=[[PC Gamer US]] |page=44}}</ref> despite its having only been on the market for less than three months.<ref name="gd-march98-p13" /> ''Myst'' or ''Riven'' held the number one and two spots on the [[PC Data]] sales charts from June 1997 until January 1998.<ref name="gd-march98-p13">{{cite journal|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=March 1998|url=http://twvideo01.ubm-us.net/o1/vault/GD_Mag_Archives/GDM_March_1998.pdf|title=New Titles on Top|journal=[[Game Developer (magazine)|Game Developer]]|publisher=UBM Tech|page=13|issue=28}}</ref> By April, ''Riven'' had sold over 1 million units and earned $46.2 million in revenue domestically, which led PC Data to declare it the fifth-best-selling computer game in the United States between January 1993 and April 1998.<ref name=1993-1998>{{cite magazine | author=Staff | title=Player Stats: Top 10 Best-Selling Games, 1993 – Present | date=September 1998 | issue=170 | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | page=52 }}</ref> Sales surpassed 1.5&nbsp;million units within a year of its release.<ref name="myst is riven"/> By 2001, over 4.5&nbsp;million units had been sold.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-may-17-tt-64538-story.html|author=Pham, Alex|date=May 17, 2001|title=Game Design; Adding Texture, Detail to Miller Brothers' Legacy|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|page=T4|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203123338/http://articles.latimes.com/2001/may/17/news/tt-64538|archive-date=February 3, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=August 17, 1998|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/060/060078p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021022101154/http://pc.ign.com/articles/060/060078p1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 22, 2002|title=News Briefs: Duke Movie news; Broderbund tackles DVD, and Simon & Schuster picks the Pink Panther|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=April 1, 2008}}</ref> [[Acclaim Entertainment]] cited ''Riven'' as one of their best-selling PlayStation releases up to that time.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=To Hell and Back with Acclaim |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=40|publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=April 1998|page=14|quote=As for PlayStation we are very happy about what happened with ''Riven''. It really exceeded both our and retail's expectations, with nice, healthy reorders.}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 85% (PC)<ref name="game rankings">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/36592-riven-the-sequel-to-myst/index.html |title=Riven: The Sequel to Myst for PC |website=[[GameRankings]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=December 11, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206183812/http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/36592.asp?q=Riven |archive-date=December 6, 2008}}</ref><br />73% (PS)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/198489-riven-the-sequel-to-myst/index.html |title=Riven: The Sequel to Myst for PlayStation |website=[[GameRankings]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=December 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215171750/https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/198489-riven-the-sequel-to-myst/index.html |archive-date=December 15, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
| MC = 83/100 (PC)<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/riven-the-sequel-to-myst/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Riven: The Sequel to Myst for PC Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=December 11, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208100711/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/riventhesequeltomyst?q=riven |archive-date=December 8, 2008}}</ref><br />82/100 (iOS)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/riven-the-sequel-to-myst/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad |title=Riven: The Sequel to Myst for iPhone/iPad Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=December 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170124152800/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/riven-the-sequel-to-myst |archive-date=January 24, 2017 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
| AdvGamers = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="adventure gamers rev" />
| Edge = 7/10<ref name="edge riven"/>
| EGM = 6.875/10 (PS)<ref name=EGMPS>{{cite magazine |title=Review Crew: Riven |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=104 |date=March 1998 |page=125}}</ref>
| GameRev = A<ref name="game revolution"/>
| GSpot = 7.8/10 (PC)<ref name="gamespot rev"/><br>5.5/10 (PS)<ref name=GSPS>{{cite web |last=Broady` |first=John |title=Riven: The Sequel to Myst Review |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/riven-the-sequel-to-myst-review/1900-2546050/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=19 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822033552/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/riven-the-sequel-to-myst-review/1900-2546050/ |archive-date=August 22, 2016 |date=May 14, 1998 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| NGen = {{rating|3|5}} (PC)<ref name="NG"/>
| rev1 = ''[[Macworld]]''
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name=macworldreviews />
}}

''Riven'' was generally positively received by critics, with the PC version garnering an average critic score of 83/100 at [[Metacritic]].<ref name="metacritic"/> Jeff Segstack of ''[[GameSpot]]'' gave the game high marks, explaining that it is "a leisurely paced, all-encompassing, mentally challenging experience. If you enjoyed ''Myst'', you'll thoroughly enjoy ''Riven''."<ref name="gamespot rev">{{cite web|author=Sengstack, Jeff |date=November 3, 1997 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/riventhesequeltomyst/review.html?tag=tabs;reviews |title=Riven: The Sequel to Myst |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=May 6, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416230931/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/riventhesequeltomyst/review.html?tag=tabs%3Breviews |archive-date=April 16, 2009 }}</ref> ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' stated that the graphics were the best they had seen in any adventure game.<ref name="cvg">{{cite magazine|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=January 1998|title=Myst Again|magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]]}}</ref> ''[[GamePro]]'' said that it "retains the ambiance of ''Myst'', but new features, such as increased use of animation and live action footage, create even more believable environments." The reviewer gave it a 4.5 out of 5 in graphics and a perfect 5.0 in every other category (sound, control, and funfactor), and predicted that it would both surpass the expectations of ''Myst'' fans and draw in many new enthusiasts to the series.<ref name=GPro112>{{cite magazine |author=Dr. Zombie |title=PC GamePro Review: Riven: The Sequel to Myst|magazine=[[GamePro]] |issue=112 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |date=January 1998|page=62}}</ref> Laura Miller of ''[[Salon (magazine)|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."<ref name="riven rapt">{{cite news|author=Miller, Laura|date=November 6, 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030104122931/http://images.salon.com/21st/feature/1997/11/cov_06riven.html|url=http://images.salon.com/21st/feature/1997/11/cov_06riven.html|title=Riven Rapt|work=[[Salon (magazine)|Salon]]|access-date=April 7, 2008|archive-date=January 4, 2003}}</ref> The game's sound and graphics were consistently praised.<ref name="nyt-personal computers"/><ref name="washingtonpost-plot"/><ref name="boston globe-riven door"/><ref name="game revolution">{{cite web |author=Garcia, Thomas |date=October 1, 1997 |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/oldsite/games/mac/riven.htm |title=Riven comes a' tap-tap-tapping at your door |publisher=[[Game Revolution]] |access-date=May 24, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514113347/http://www.gamerevolution.com/oldsite/games/mac/riven.htm |archive-date=May 14, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="gamespot rev"/><ref name=GPro112/> ''[[Macworld]]''{{'}}s Michael Gowan highlighted the game's "rich, engrossingly mysterious world", and he argued that the quality of its storytelling made ''Riven'' "more like a good novel than a computer game."<ref name=macworldreviews>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010810062339/http://www.macworld.com/1999/02/games/games.html |url=http://www.macworld.com:80/1999/02/games/games.html |title=Name Your Game; From Goofy to Gory, ''Macworld'' Reviews 48 Ways to Play |author=Gowan, Michael |work=[[Macworld]] |date=February 1999 |archive-date=August 10, 2001 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Nevertheless, several publications found fault with aspects of ''Riven''. ''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.<ref name="cvg"/> Gaming magazine ''[[Edge (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. They stated "the question is whether Cyan can incorporate its almost [[Tolkien's legendarium|Tolkien-esque]] world-building skills into a more cutting-edge game vehicle next time."<ref name="edge riven">{{cite magazine|author=<!--Not stated-->|title=Riven Review|magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]|publisher=[[Future Publishing]]|page=96|date=December 1997|issue=4}}</ref> Even long-time players of the ''Myst'' games, such as Heidi Fournier of ''[[Adventure Gamers]]'', felt that a few puzzles were too difficult;<ref name="adventure gamers rev">{{cite web|author=Fournier, Heidi |date=May 20, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607094002/http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id%2C68 |archive-date=June 7, 2008 |url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,68 |title=Riven Review |website=[[Adventure Gamers]] |access-date=April 25, 2008 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> ''[[Computer and Video Games]]'', meanwhile, believed that the story clues were too symbolic and scant, which made following the plot difficult.<ref name="cvg-review">{{cite magazine|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=August 31, 2001|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=3369&skip=yes|title=PC Review: Riven|magazine=[[Computer and Video Games]]|access-date=May 29, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609184312/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id%3D3369%26skip%3Dyes <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archive-date=June 9, 2008}}</ref> ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' commended ''Riven'' for being highly accessible to the general public rather than just experienced gamers, but also said the puzzles, while an improvement over those of ''Myst'', were still not well-integrated into the story, making them feel like arbitrary obstacles to progress.<ref name="NG">{{cite magazine|title=Finals|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |issue=38 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=February 1998|page=122}}</ref>

''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' (EGM) and ''GamePro'' both positively reviewed the PlayStation port, remarking that ''Riven'' is very specific to the player's taste, with a slow pace, intricate plot, vast size, and often frustrating set of puzzles that would likely infuriate traditional action gamers but engross the more patient player.<ref name=EGMPS/><ref name=GProPS>{{cite magazine|author=Dr. Zombie |title=PlayStation ProReview: Riven |magazine=[[GamePro]] |issue=114|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=March 1998|page=95}}</ref> 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.<ref name=EGMPS/> ''GamePro'' gave it the same scores as the PC version, excepting only that the graphics category dropped to a 4.0 out of 5.<ref name=GProPS/> John Broady of ''GameSpot'', however, said that while the developers had done the best they could with converting the game, the limitations of the PlayStation made it fall far short of the PC original, with dithered scenery, muddy video sequences, and long load times. He concluded that "Playing ''Riven'' on the PlayStation is sort of like watching ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' on a 13{{''}} TV; you'll get the point but you're definitely missing something."<ref name=GSPS/>

Despite the success of the game, the Miller brothers eventually pursued other projects. Robyn Miller said: "I think it would be a detriment to always, for the rest of our lives, be creating ''Myst''-like projects. [...] We're going to change, evolve and grow, just like any person does in any manner."<ref name="cnn - fans"/> Robyn would leave Cyan to form a new development company called Land of Point;<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=March 5, 1998|title=Robyn Miller, Co-creator of Riven and Myst, Forms New Development Company Called Land of Point|publisher=[[Business Wire]]|page=1}}</ref> Vander Wende would also leave to pursue other projects.<ref name="myst is riven">{{cite web|author=Lillington, Karen|date=March 2, 1998|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010913083729/http://images.salon.com/21st/feature/1998/03/02feature.html|url=http://images.salon.com/21st/feature/1998/03/02feature.html|title='Myst' Partnership is Riven|work=[[Salon (magazine)|Salon]]|access-date=April 9, 2008|archive-date=September 13, 2001}}</ref> The next video game entry in the ''Myst'' franchise would be 2001's ''[[Myst III: Exile]]'', which was not developed by Cyan nor published by Broderbund. [[Presto Studios]] took over development; [[Ubisoft]] acquired Broderbund's entertainment library from [[The Learning Company|The Learning Company (formerly SoftKey)]] and published the Myst sequels.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Uhler, Greg|date=October 2001|title=Presto Studios' Myst III: Exile|magazine=[[Game Developer (magazine)|Game Developer]]|volume=8|issue=10|pages=40–47}}</ref><ref name="Judson-Neoseeker-2001">{{cite news|last=Judson |first=Peter |date=March 7, 2001 |access-date=January 16, 2013 |title=UbiSoft Acquires Entertainment Division of the Learning Company |newspaper=Neoseeker |url=http://www.neoseeker.com/news/924-ubisoft-aquires-entertainment-division-of-the-learning-company/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028095901/http://www.neoseeker.com/news/924-ubisoft-aquires-entertainment-division-of-the-learning-company/ |archive-date=October 28, 2014 }}</ref>

The reviewer from ''[[Pyramid (magazine)|Pyramid]]'' #29 (Jan./Feb., 1998) stated that "''Myst'', and now ''Riven'', are worlds to be explored, with complex puzzles to be solved, and without time limitations or enemies to worry about. Take all the time you like; the basic problems of the game will still be there, waiting for you to solve them."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=47|title=Pyramid: Pyramid Pick: Riven|website=www.sjgames.com}}</ref>

At the [[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]]' [[1st Annual Interactive Achievement Awards|inaugural Interactive Achievement Awards]], ''Riven'' won the award for "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction|Outstanding Achievement in Art/Graphics]]", and received nominations for "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Game of the Year|Interactive Title of the Year]]", as well as console and personal computer genre awards for "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Adventure Game of the Year|Adventure Game of the Year]]".<ref name="Finalists1998">{{cite web |title=The Award - Updates |url=http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardupdate.htm |website=Interactive.org |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |access-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010718074748/http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardupdate.htm |archive-date=July 18, 2001 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Winners1998">{{cite web |title=The Award - Winners |url=http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardwin98.htm |website=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |access-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980615090115/http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardwin98.htm |archive-date=June 15, 1998}}</ref>

==Remake==
Cyan announced plans to release a remake of ''Riven'' on the game's 25th anniversary on October 31, 2022. Like the [[Myst (2020 video game)|3D remake of ''Myst'']], this version of ''Riven'' features fully explorable 3D environments. Cyan had attempted to use the original ''Riven''<nowiki/>'s models but found they were too low-resolution, instead recreating the world using [[Unreal Engine 5]]. They reached out to The Starry Expanse project, a fan-driven effort to recreate ''Riven'', about a year prior to the announcement, working out a deal to work with members of that team to use their efforts within the remake of ''Riven''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Polo, Susana|date=October 31, 2022|url=https://www.polygon.com/23432662/riven-remake-myst-sequel-cyan-worlds-release-date/|title=Riven, possibly the best puzzle-adventure game of all time, gets a modern remake|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|access-date=October 31, 2022}}</ref><ref name="gi remake">{{Cite magazine |last=Morgan |first=Adam |date=2024-06-25 |title=Riven Feature – Remaking a Masterpiece |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/feature/2024/04/01/riven-feature-remaking-a-masterpiece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402003352/https://www.gameinformer.com/feature/2024/04/01/riven-feature-remaking-a-masterpiece |url-status=live |archive-date=April 2, 2024 |access-date=2024-06-26 |magazine=Game Informer |language=en}}</ref> The few cases where characters were shown through full-motion video from the original game were remade using computer-generated characters coupled with motion capture, as the original video quality was poor and did not include full-screen shots of the characters. While Miller reprised the voice of Atrus in new audio, the game uses the original audio performance by [[John Keston]], who had died in 2022, using an actor to recapture his mannerisms for Gehn.<ref name="gi remake"/> While the islands of Riven are recreated faithfully with respect to the original game, some of the placement used for point-and-click movement did not work for a fully 3D traversable landscape, and were repositioned to work better. Some puzzles feature random solutions that change on starting a new game, making it impossible to jump ahead with prior knowledge of ''Riven''{{'}}s solutions, while other puzzles were completely reworked to be less difficult for new players to the game.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/reviews/24185656/riven-review-remake-remaster-pc-steam-vr | title = The Riven remake transforms a tricky classic into a modern masterpiece | first = Susano | last = Polo | date = June 26, 2024 | access-date = June 26, 2024 | work = [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] }}</ref>

The game was released on June 25, 2024 for Windows, macOS, and [[Meta Quest]] platforms.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fanelli|first=Jason|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/riven-returns-in-2024-with-updated-visuals-new-puzzles-and-vr-support/1100-6521933/|title=Riven Returns In 2024 With Updated Visuals, New Puzzles, And VR Support|work=[[GameSpot]]|date=March 19, 2024|access-date=April 30, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Ed|date=June 3, 2024|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/riven-remake/release-date|title=After 25 years, monumental PC classic gets a full remake, out soon|website=[[PCGamesN]]|access-date=June 3, 2024}}</ref> The remake received "generally favorable" reviews according to [[Metacritic]], with an aggregate score of 86/100 from 32 reviews.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.metacritic.com/game/riven/ | title = Riven | work = [[Metacritic]] | access-date = October 4, 2024 }}</ref> The [[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] nominated the ''Riven'' remake for "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction|Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction]]" at the [[28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/awards/506810/dice-awards-nominations-2025 | title = Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a GOTY front-runner at the DICE Awards | first = Oli | last = Welsh | date = January 10, 2025 | accessdate = January 11, 2025 | work = [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] }}</ref>

==References==
{{Notelist}}
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite magazine|title=Can Riven soar as high as its predecessor?|last=Elliott|first=Mike|authorlink=Mike Elliott (game designer)|issue=23|magazine=[[The Duelist (magazine)|The Duelist]]|publisher=[[Wizards of the Coast]]|pages=76–77|date=March 1998}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{MobyGames|id=/riven-the-sequel-to-myst}}
* {{Metacritic game}}
* {{IMDb title}}

{{Spoken Wikipedia|Riven_Fixed_Audio_Low.ogg|date=2013-08-03}}
{{Myst franchise}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1997 video games]]
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[[Category:Myst games| Myst II]]
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