Myst: The Best Game Ever Made

Myst

23. June 2026.

In the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-three, Myst was released.

Rand and Robyn Miller then had the idea to step out of the realm of children's games and create a nonlinear adventure for an adult audience. The rest, as they say, is history.

Myst has evolved over time into a whole multimedia franchise. It has received sequels, spin-offs, novels, and several new versions. The original game, aside from its old slideshow glory, now exists in several full-fledged 3D editions.

Here, however, I will focus on the game in front of me, namely the new version of Myst that has just been released.

Island, silence, and puzzles

Myst starts simply. An island. A dock. The player is thrown into the unknown and left to their own devices, their gray cells, and their willingness to explore without much explanation.

Right from the start, I see a potential problem with the younger audience. Heh, heh.

I might be channeling an old grump from my future, but I couldn't help but think while playing. The whole time, I imagined how Myst would look today to someone who knows nothing about it, who hasn't played similar adventures, and who is in their twenties.

The real answer to that question should come from younger players. As far as my impression goes – Myst is still Myst.

A game that marked an era

The original game broke minds in 1993 with its graphics, atmosphere, and premise. After that, it broke sales records, holding the top spot among the best-selling PC games for an entire decade.

Today, of course, it is harder to impress players. The gaming market in 1993 was significantly different from the market in 2026. However, that doesn't mean the new version of Myst doesn't have anything to offer.

I am not disappointed with the technical aspects of the game. On the contrary, the presentation is very good.

Modern technical execution

The new version of Myst brings 4K resolution, HDR, upscaling technologies, ray tracing, full controller support, and much more.

The game looks good, runs smoothly, is responsive, and I didn't experience any crashes during gameplay.

I was particularly pleasantly surprised by the transition between the controller, keyboard, and mouse. I play PC games via tablet or handheld on the couch, so it was important to me how practical everything was in real use.

I moved around the island and puzzles normally using the controller. However, in parts where numbers are entered or levers are pulled, I instinctively switched to the touchscreen. The touchscreen simply worked like a mouse or trackpad.

This isn't a new thing, especially if you play mobile games or stream PC games like I do, but it's impressive how everything worked without any additional adjustments.

It truly is a plug and play experience, with no friction between the game and the player. Kudos to the team that worked on the controls.

For old and new players

If you know what Myst is, if you've played any of the games in the series or even all of them, there is also a mode here where the puzzles are randomized. It's a nice addition for those who think they already know all the answers.

And if you don't know what Myst is, if you've never played it or have just stumbled into the rabbit hole of PC adventures and are looking for an entry into this world, there has probably never been a better time for that.

The new version is accessible, technically polished, and modern enough to bring the old idea closer to a new audience.