Riven (1997) similar games & best alternatives

Riven (1997) - riven-1997_1.avif
Riven (1997) - riven-1997_2.avif
Riven (1997) - riven-1997_3.avif
Riven (1997) - riven-1997_4.avif
Riven (1997) - riven-1997_5.avif
Riven (1997) - riven-1997_6.avif

Riven (1997)

2010

Should you play it?

Released in 1997 as the original sequel to Myst, one of the best-selling puzzle adventure games of all time. Prepare to enter a world "torn asunder" by timeless, unresolved conflicts -- a world of incomparable beauty, intrigue, and betrayal.

What works

  • Immersive and detailed worldbuilding
  • Challenging and rewarding puzzles
  • Strong narrative and atmosphere
  • Classic and influential adventure game
  • Runs on modern systems with patches

Things to keep in mind

  • Low resolution and dated graphics
  • Some puzzles can be obscure or frustrating
  • Slow pacing and backtracking
  • Technical issues on some systems
  • Lack of modern conveniences like autosave

What to play next

Top picks

Games that feels the closest overall

  • Myst III: Exile

  • Meridian 157: Chapter 3

  • Obduction

  • The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2

  • Darkarta: A Broken Heart's Quest Collector's Edition

  • Myst

Less thrilling

Games that feels like Riven (1997) but with less suspense and thrill

  • Firmament

  • realMyst: Masterpiece Edition

  • XING: The Land Beyond

  • Haven Moon

  • Lost Lands: The Four Horsemen Collector's Edition

  • Syberia

More survival-focused

Games that feels like Riven (1997) but with a stronger survival pressure

  • Return to Mysterious Island

  • Doorways: Holy Mountains of Flesh

  • The Shore

  • The Dig®

  • J.U.L.I.A.: Among the Stars

  • Monolith

Choose your own criteria ->

Similarity map

How to compare these games

Compare nearby games

Each card is a nearby game on the similarity map, compared with Riven (1997). Swipe sideways to move between games. Titles already listed in What to play next are left out.

  • Cover and title: open that game’s page.
  • What works / keep in mind: the same highlights as the desktop comparison panel.
  • Bars: the main motivational differences versus this game.
How to use the graph

Similarity map

Each dot is a game placed from its motivation profile relative to this page’s game. Direction shows which motivation differs most; distance along that axis shows how large the gap is.

  • Purple star: this page’s game at the centre — everything is relative to it.
  • Direction: each axis is a main motivational difference vs this game (e.g. more / less competitive).
  • Distance on an axis: how large that difference is (ring scales show +/− points).
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot to preview that game in the panel on the right; click to keep that comparison.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom.

How to read the map This is a polar difference map: direction = which motivation differs, and distance = how much (same units as the sidebar deltas).

Swipe to compare nearby games with Riven (1997). These titles are not in What to play next.

Riven (1997): Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Violence, Survival, Fellowship, Intimacy. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Survival, Violence, Expression.

Last update: 21/08/2026