In recent years, the expectation of remasters has changed. If developers release a polished and shinier version of the original, many people will, unfairly, call it lazy. No, nowadays, not only does it need to look better, but people expect new features and content. Cyan Worlds appears to be aware of this with the upcoming remaster of Riven.
If you’re unfamiliar with Riven, it’s a puzzler that launched in 1997. It proved popular, but even so, I’d understand if you haven’t heard of it. Despite commercial success, it’s not at the forefront of gaming culture as much as its predecessor, Myst. Yeah, I figured you’d know that one.
Rebuilt from the ground up
Myst received its own fancy remake in 2020 and now it’s Riven’s turn to get some deserved love. Much like its predecessor, the Riven boasts 3D environments you can explore. The team has recreated all the game’s models, and it’s fair to say it looks fantastic. Take a look at any of the screenshots I’ve included here and I think you’ll agree.
But, as I said at the top, a fresh coat of paint isn’t sufficient anymore. Even if it’s a stunning upgrade like this one, players expect more in 2024. While the change to explorable 3D environments might impress – or kill nostalgia – for those who played the original, a modern player coming to Riven for the first time won’t bat an eyelid.
Cyan Worlds understands this and has promised that aside from looking beautiful, Riven’s remake will bring new content. That means you can expect extra puzzles alongside a more in-depth story. Admittedly, those are fairly vague claims, but it shows that the developers understand you have to go more than the extra mile with a remake these days. Whether they have remains a question mark until release.
Riven has a VR mode for those wanting to get up close and personal
In 1997, Riven received praise as a technical marvel, something Cyan Worlds seemingly values. As such, with the upcoming remake, they have opted to include a VR mode. While undoubtedly a niche, including a VR option, clearly shows a love of tech. Particularly since it’s included with the knowledge most people won’t have access to the kit.
So, we’ve got this far without saying what Riven’s about, beyond stating it’s a puzzler. Let’s fix that, shall we? It sees you traveling to a world ruled by a man who thinks he’s a god. There are plenty of mysteries to solve there, like why Riven is on the verge of collapse and the true identity of the citizens you come across.
It’s a journey that takes you through various locales, including jungles, caverns, and the giant structures that loom over you. Gameplay-wise, as I’ve mentioned, it’s a puzzler, so you can expect to tinker with the things you find in order to progress to new areas as the game’s mysteries slowly unravel.
If Riven sounds like your kind of puzzler, you can Wishlist it now on Steam ahead of its release on 25th June.
Thank you for reading this article. For more interesting coverage of all things indie games, be sure to check out the links below.
- Into Indie Games Homepage
- Best Indie Games of 2024
- Botany Manor Review
- Nine Sols Walkthrough – Part 1
- Still Wakes the Deep sees The Chinese Room return to in-your-face horror
