Myst is among the greatest games of all time. Obduction is even better. Riven is a low point for Cyan...and still very much worth playing.

The visuals, lore, and characters of this world are all relatively dull (even with the significant technological upgrade over what Myst could offer). So much time is spent meandering back and forth across overly long, similar-looking paths. The puzzles are maddeningly obtuse and tedious. I completed Myst and Obduction with a guide, and felt incredibly rewarded for my efforts. Even with my abundance of handwritten notes and screenshots, I found several puzzles utterly inscrutable, and among a few of those I did know how to solve, the process of wandering across each island, cross-referencing this and that was so unappealing that I wish I had saved myself the effort.

And while it's all a bummer compared to Cyan's best, it's an easy recommendation for anyone who enjoys this style of game. The flashes of brilliance, the fantastical tourism, and even the act of reaching for a real-life notepad to jot down those auspiciously cryptic symbols are all worth the headaches.

If, however, you've never liked Myst or its many imitators, stay far away. There's nothing here to change your mind.