Myst
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Myst
(2006) -
Myst: Masterpiece Edition
(1999) -
Real Myst
(2000)
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10 PC Games: Ultimate Gamer Pack Vol.2
(2008) -
Ages of Myst
(1998) - Help Charity Compilation (1996)
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Myst (Desktop Edition)
(1998) -
Myst (Limited Edition)
(1997)
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Myst
(2006 on
PSP, 2007 on
Nintendo DS, 2012 on
Nintendo 3DS)
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Myst
(2020 on
Quest, 2021 on
Windows,
Macintosh...)
Description official descriptions
You have just stumbled upon a most intriguing book, a book titled Myst. You have no idea where it came from, who wrote it, or how old it is. Reading through its pages provides you with only a description of an island world. But it's just a book, isn't it? As you reach the end of the book, you lay your hand on a page. Suddenly your own world dissolves into blackness, replaced with the island world the pages described. Now you're here, wherever here is, with no option but to explore.
Myst is a first-person point-and-click adventure where the player controls a character known as The Stranger. Magically transported into the world described in the book, he needs to explore Myst Island and solve its mysteries. The game is presented as a series of static scenes where the player acts with the environment by clicking and manipulating objects. There are no enemies and it is not possible to die. Through Myst Island, the game is further divided into mini-worlds set in different ages accessed through different books.
The game's interface is reduced to a single cursor for navigation and interaction. Rather than collecting items and using them to solve puzzles, the player must gather subtly placed clues and manipulate complex mechanical devices in order to advance in the game. The world of Myst is mostly uninhabited, and the game has very few live-action scenes with characters and dialogue.
Spellings
- ミスト - Japanese spelling
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Credits (Macintosh version)
28 People (10 developers, 18 thanks) · View all
| Designed by | |
| Directed by | |
| Graphics | |
| Animation | |
| Environmental Sound Design | |
| Sound Effects | |
| Musical Score | |
| Video and Movie Editing | |
| Producer | |
| Production Assistant | |
| Assistant Product Manager | |
| Senior Marketing Manager | |
| Marketing Coordinator | |
| QA Lead Technician | |
| Alpha Testing | |
| Manual | |
| Special Thanks to | |
| [ full credits ] | |
Reviews
Critics
Average score: 78% (based on 69 ratings)
Players
Average score: 3.3 out of 5 (based on 336 ratings with 12 reviews)
I think "The Curse of Monkey Island" had the best review for this game...
The Good
In "The Curse of Monkey Island," Guybrush Threepwood speaks with a ferryman who's been lost in the mists for a long time now. Here's what Guybrush had to say about the boatman's experience:
"I like mist. I think it's pretty."
The Bad
The boatman's response to Guybrush's statement:
"Of course it's pretty, but egads, is it DULL!"
The Bottom Line
That conversation alone describes the game.
There's no story and no point to the game. There isn't even an ending. Your reward for finishing the game is to read all those freakin' books all over again. That's enough to make me want to put my foot through the monitor, but I'd rather just play frisbee with my dog using the CD.
Windows · by Macaroni Penguin (4) · 2002
This game is very difficult to enjoy.
The Good
First, the graphics and sounds were very realistic, even for today. Second, It gives you a great sense of mystery exploring the island and all the ages.
The Bad
The game is bleeping impossible! The puzzles are ridiculously difficult and obscure. You will randomly click around, hoping to push the secret button. Also, the story is practically non-existant and you will walk away saying "huh" if you don't read the book "Myst: The book of Atrus".
The Bottom Line
This game is ok if you are a fan of the book, but for those just wanting to sit down and play a game, you will be sorely disappointed.
Windows · by James Kirk (150) · 2004
The god of games. Prostrate yourself before its might!
The Good
Myst was one of the first games I ever played, back in 1997 when I was 6. Consequently, it had a great impact on my gaming tastes. At the time, graphics weren't greatly thrilling. Myst raised the standard to unparalleled heights and is more detailed than many of the games of our age. Though you may not realize it, the beauty of modern games owes its existence to the stunning landscapes of Myst.
Myst was a great change from the slaughter-fest platform shooters and uninspiring hunting games that dominated the era, being about exploration and problem solving rather than grinding aliens into red paste with your chain gun that never runs out of bullets.
To us modern gamers, point-and-click adventures sound... well, dull. But that goes to show that we have no taste. A simple method of locomotion makes more room for the beautiful graphics and fiendish puzzles that define the Myst franchise.
The Bad
I consider myself quite smart. So it's rare that I am completely stumped by anything. But clearly Rand Miller is a true genius, for even my fearsome intellect was humbled by his creation (though the puzzles didn't start getting truly insane until Riven). While this is technically a good thing, it pains me immensely to look up a walkthrough, even if just for one puzzle.
Other than that, I can't think of anything.
The Bottom Line
Many people describe this game is being overly complicated or boring. To them I say; Philistines! Complication defines civilization. If nothing was complicated, life would be disgustingly boring. On that note, BORING! Saying Myst is boring is like saying that cake tastes bad, or that Survivor is interesting. And by that, I mean that anyone who says such blasphemy should fall on their own sword while shooting themselves in the head.
Windows · by Eugene Parker (2) · 2006
Trivia
1001 Video Games
Myst appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.
Development
Myst was rendered entirely on stock color Macintoshes using only Stratavision Software. Until the success of Myst, The Miller brothers ran Cyan from their basement.
Easter egg
A mosaic on the floor in the D'ni Age shows the face of developer Chuck Carter.
Novels
Hyperion published three novels set in the Myst universe:1. The Book of Atrus (1995), by Rand Miller, Robyn Miller and David Wingrove; 2. The Book of Ti'ana (1996), by Rand Miller, Robyn Miller, and David Wingrove; and 3. The Book of D'ni (1997), by Rand Miller and David Wingrove.
A fourth novel, The Book of Marrim, by Rand Miller and David Wingrove, was put on hold while the last Myst games were completed, and is now expected to be published at some point in 2006.
Additionally, Dark Horse Comics published two issues (Passages and the Joining) of an aborted Myst comic book miniseries, The Book of Black Ships.
Reception
Myst is the best-selling game of all time. Over the course of a few years, it stayed on PC Data's top ten list. The game's non-violence (the creators are both pious Christians), simplicity, and amazing graphics contributed to its success. Myst was also responsible for many people buying a CD-ROM drive for their computers.
References
While in D'ni, you may notice there is a mosaic of a face on the tile floor. Though it may look like one of the characters in the game, it is actually Chuck Carter, one of the graphics designers for the game.
References to the Game
In the 1995 episode "Treehouse Of Horror VI" of the TV series The Simpsons the last of three parodies named Homer³ is based on a Twilight Zone episode. Homer gets sucked into the 3rd dimension and enters a 3D animated world where some 3D objects exist on a grid. As he walks along, you can see a replica of Myst's library and a snippet of the Myst finale theme music can be heard.
Cancelled versions
Sunsoft announced releases for both the Sega CD and the LaserActive's Mega LD format, both of which were in an advanced state of completion before being cancelled.
Soundtrack
Myst soundtrack composed by Robyn Miller was released in 1998. This soundtrack is pretty much available everywhere, in almost every online music CD store.
The songs are parted to several Myst game ages:* Myst Island (1-6) * Mechanical Age (7-13) * Stoneship Age (14-17) * Selentic Age (18) * Channelwood Age (19-21) * Finale (22-23) * Bonus Tracks (24-26)
Tracklist: * Myst Theme * Treegate * Planetarium * Shipgate * The Tower * The Last Mesage (Forechamber Theme) * Fortress Ambience, Part I * Fortress Ambience, Part II * Mechanical Mystgate * Sirrus Cache * Sirrus Theme * Achenar's Cache * Achenar's Theme * Compass Rose * Above Stoneship * Sirrus Theme - Stoneship Age * Achenar's Theme - Stoneship Age * Selentic Mystgate * The Temple of Achenar * Sirrus Theme - Channelwood Age * Achenar's Theme - Chennelwood Age * Un-finale * Finale * Fireplace Theme * Early Selentic Mystgate * Original Un-finale
Awards
- Computer Gaming World
- November 1996 (15th anniversary issue) – #11 Most Innovative Computer Game
- November 1996 (15th anniversary issue) – #13 Hardest Computer Game
- November 1996 (15th anniversary issue) – #3 Least Rewarding Ending of All Time
- Electronic Entertainment
- March 1994 – Editors' Choice Awards: Breakthrough Game (Honorable Mention)
- FLUX
- Issue #4 - #14 in the "Top 100 Video Games of All-Time" list
- GameStar (Germany)
- Issue 12/1999 - #33 in the "100 Most Important PC Games of the Nineties" ranking
- MacUser
- 1993 - Best Game (Editors' Choice)
- PC Gamer
- April 2000 - #42 in the "All Time Top 50 Games" Readers' Poll
Information also contributed by Adam Baratz, Agent 5, Big John WV, Mu77etOfDeath, PCGamer77, Pseudo_Intellectual, Scaryfun and Scott Monster
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Related Sites +
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Cyan's Myst Walkthrough
Full solution to Myst -
JTB's Myst Help
A webpage providing a hint book in three different formats, illustrated puzzle solutions, both spoiler-free and spoiler-laden tips, maps of the Channelwood Age, links to other sources of online help for the game, and a set of save games for the Macintosh version of the game. -
Myst UHS Hints
Online web hints for Myst, written by Jason Strautman. -
Myst.Com
Cyan's Official Myst Homepage. -
Play Myst For Me
An article by Scott Rosenberg, originally published in the SF Examiner Sunday Magazine, detailing his experiences attempting to get Myst running on his (dated) PC (1994 - Feb. 1995). -
The Myst Guidebook
The Myst subsection of the Guidebook fansite that provides information about the game and a brief background on the game's production and later remake in addition to game hints and a walkthrough.
Identifiers +
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Contributors to this Entry
Game added by MAT.
PS Vita added by Fred VT. PlayStation 3 added by Lance Boyle. CD-i added by Corn Popper. Windows added by Trixter. PSP, iPhone added by Sciere. SEGA Saturn added by Kohler 86. Windows Mobile added by Kabushi. Macintosh added by Terok Nor. PlayStation added by Grant McLellan. Amiga added by Syed GJ. 3DO, Jaguar added by quizzley7.
Additional contributors: Jeanne, Guy Chapman, Havoc Crow, Parf, Ms. Tea, Zeppin, Patrick Bregger, Plok, FatherJack, Evolyzer.
Game added March 29, 2000. Last modified October 7, 2024.