Cyan just canceled its next Myst-adjacent project, sharing only a haunting preview clip and a note about the studio’s future direction. That leaves the 2021 Myst remake and Riven remake as the newest official entries in the series. If you’ve replayed both and want the same “quiet island, strange machines, no hand-holding” feeling, PC has a small but strong shortlist of first-person puzzle adventures. Here are seven we can recommend without reservation.
What to look for in a Myst-alike
The genre is narrow. The stuff that actually matters:
- First-person exploration. You need to walk the world yourself.
- Environmental puzzles. Solutions come from observation, not inventory tetris.
- No combat. Or combat so light it’s not the point.
- Text-free clues. The best of the genre use symbols, mechanics, and diagrams instead of dialogue.
- Reasonable length. Six to twenty hours. Shorter is fine. Longer feels padded.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riven (2024 remake) | Direct Myst sequel remade | PC, Mac | No | $34.99 |
| Obduction | Cyan’s Myst successor | PC, Mac | No | $29.99 |
| The Witness | Logic-puzzle island | PC, Mac | No | $39.99 |
| Return of the Obra Dinn | Deductive mystery | PC, Mac, consoles | No | $19.99 |
| The Eyes of Ara | Puzzle box castle | PC, Mac, mobile | No | $14.99 |
| Outer Wilds | Physics-based puzzle sci-fi | PC, consoles | No | $24.99 |
| Blue Prince | Roguelite mansion puzzles | PC, consoles | No | $29.99 |
The picks
1. Riven (2024 remake) – Best for direct-line Myst fans
Riven got the same full 3D remake treatment as Myst 2021, and if you’re here because you loved the recent Myst, this is the obvious next step. Same team, same engine, richer world. The 2024 version keeps the original puzzle design but modernizes navigation and adds VR support.
Where it falls short: Steep entry point if you haven’t played Myst first. Some puzzles remain famously abstract.
Pricing:
- Free: No demo.
- Paid: $34.99 base. VR support included.
Platforms: Windows, macOS. Meta Quest supported.
Download: Steam · GOG · Cyan official site
Bottom line: The obvious “what next” after finishing Myst.
2. Obduction – Best Cyan alternative
Obduction is Cyan’s original 2016 successor to Myst. Same first-person exploration, same “lost in a strange land” premise, but a fresh universe and story. If you liked Myst’s tone but want something new to explore, Obduction is where to go.
Where it falls short: Load times on Windows are longer than they should be, and one puzzle relies on a real-time in-game clock that annoys some players.
Pricing:
- Free: No demo.
- Paid: $29.99 base. Under $10 on regular Steam sales.
Platforms: Windows, macOS. VR support.
Bottom line: The best pick that isn’t Myst or Riven themselves.
3. The Witness – Best pure puzzle design
The Witness is Jonathan Blow’s answer to Myst. An abandoned island, hundreds of line-drawing puzzles, and no dialogue. The joy is that the same puzzle mechanic gets reinvented in twenty different ways as you cross the map. It respects your intelligence without being cruel.
Where it falls short: The environmental audio-log puzzles annoy some players. The “true ending” is hidden behind extremely obscure logic.
Pricing:
- Free: No demo.
- Paid: $39.99 base. Often $15-$20 on sale.
Platforms: Windows, macOS.
Download: Steam · GOG · Epic Games Store
Bottom line: The other Mount Rushmore entry in this genre. Play both.
4. Return of the Obra Dinn – Best deductive mystery
Return of the Obra Dinn puts you on a mysteriously abandoned merchant ship in 1807. Your job is to identify the fate of all 60 crew members using a pocket watch that reveals their final moments. The art style is one-of-a-kind (dithered 1-bit black-and-white), and the logic system is as elegant as anything since Myst.
Where it falls short: The visual style is polarizing. Some find it too stark.
Pricing:
- Free: No demo.
- Paid: $19.99 base. Often under $10.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, PS4/5, Xbox, Switch.
Bottom line: The most narratively satisfying single game on this list.
5. The Eyes of Ara – Best classic puzzle-box style
The Eyes of Ara is the game closest to the original 1993 Myst format: a first-person exploration of a huge castle full of secret rooms, mechanical puzzles, and hidden runes. Made by 100 Stones Interactive, a genuinely small studio, it has more heart than budget and it works.
Where it falls short: Character animations, when they appear, are stiff. Sound design is quiet.
Pricing:
- Free: No demo.
- Paid: $14.99 base. $5 or less on regular sales.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
Bottom line: The best-value pick. Genuine spiritual heir at a fraction of the price.
6. Outer Wilds – Best for exploration puzzle
Outer Wilds takes the “small solar system, weird machines, quiet mystery” formula and rebuilds it as a physics-based sci-fi puzzle box. Every planet has secrets. Time loops matter. The ending is one of the most talked-about in modern PC gaming.
Where it falls short: Motion sickness for some players. Steep learning curve on the ship controls.
Pricing:
- Free: No demo.
- Paid: $24.99 base. Echoes of the Eye DLC $14.99 extra.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, PS4/5, Xbox, Switch.
Download: Steam · GOG · Epic Games Store
Bottom line: Buy this if you loved the “aha moment” pacing of Myst more than the pure puzzle-solving.
7. Blue Prince – Best modern twist
Blue Prince is the newest entry, blending Myst-style puzzles with a rogue-lite mansion layout that shuffles every run. Rooms carry puzzles that unlock long-term progression. It’s less linear than Myst, more procedural, and one of 2025’s most-praised puzzle releases.
Where it falls short: Random room draws can gate the same puzzle for hours. Some players bounce off the roguelite framing.
Pricing:
- Free: No demo.
- Paid: $29.99 base.
Platforms: Windows, PS5, Xbox Series.
Download: Steam · Xbox / Microsoft Store
Bottom line: The pick for players who want a puzzle game with modern replayability.
How to pick the right one
Play Riven next if you’re coming straight off Myst.
Play Obduction if you want new Cyan worlds without waiting.
Play The Witness for the tightest puzzle design ever made in this genre.
Play Return of the Obra Dinn for the best story-through-puzzle experience.
Play Outer Wilds if you loved Myst’s sense of “there’s something bigger here” more than the puzzles themselves.
Play The Eyes of Ara if you want the exact same 1993 vibe at a low price.
Play Blue Prince if you’re up for a modern reinvention of the genre.
FAQ
What is the best game like Myst? Riven and The Witness are the two most-recommended. Riven if you want direct-line successor. The Witness if you want the purest puzzle design.
Are there any free games like Myst? Not directly, but The Talos Principle occasionally goes free on Epic Games Store and shares much of Myst’s “puzzles as environment” DNA. Otherwise all the picks on this list are paid.
What is the newest Myst-like game? Blue Prince (2025) is the most recent major release. It reinvents the genre with roguelite pacing but keeps the environmental-puzzle core.
Can I play Myst on Steam Deck? Yes. The 2021 remake, Riven remake, and Obduction all run well on Steam Deck. Return of the Obra Dinn and The Witness are Deck Verified.
Is Cyan making another Myst game? Cyan recently canceled its next project and shared a haunting preview instead. The studio has hinted at future ambitions but no new mainline Myst-series title has been announced.
