MysteryPuzzles

Myst

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From £29.99 Cyan Worlds Meta Quest SteamVR PS VR2 (new 2026) ▼ See Riven for sequel
Cyan Worlds • Remake of the 1993 original • Quest 2020 • PC 2021 • PS5 and PS VR2 2026 • VR + flatscreen

Myst

The legendary 1993 puzzle masterpiece rebuilt for VR. Explore Myst Island and its Ages, unravel a story of family betrayal, and solve intricate puzzles in the game that defined the adventure genre. 88% positive on Steam from over 2,200 reviews, and now on PlayStation VR2 too.

Developer: Cyan Worlds
Released: Quest Dec 2020 • PC Aug 2021 • PS5 / PS VR2 May 2026
Price: £31.49 Steam • £29.99 PlayStation • $34.99 Quest (often on sale)
Also: Flatscreen PC/Mac • Multiple endings • Randomise puzzles option
8.0
/10
XR School Score
Recommended
The best gateway to the Myst series — beautiful in VR, 88% positive Steam • Note: Riven (2024) is the stronger recommendation for experienced puzzle players
88% Steam Positive 2,222 reviews • Very Positive
Quest + Steam + PS VR2 + PC/Mac
Overview

Myst is one of the most important games ever made. Released in 1993 by Cyan Worlds, it was the best-selling PC game of the 1990s, invented a genre, and introduced the idea that a game could tell a story through environmental observation rather than text or cutscenes. The remake, first released on Quest in December 2020 and on PC in August 2021, is Cyan's latest reinvention: a full 3D rebuild that plays in both VR and flatscreen, with support for multiple endings (new in this version) and an optional puzzle randomisation mode for replay.

The premise is deceptively simple. You arrive on Myst Island, an abandoned place filled with machines, books, and two brothers — Sirrus and Achenar — trapped in books, each claiming the other is responsible for killing their father Atrus. The world is yours to explore. There is no inventory, no combat, no guided objectives. You observe, deduce, and operate mechanisms to open new areas and gather the scattered pages that might free the brothers — or not. Every puzzle solution comes from paying careful attention to the island itself.

In VR: A Different Kind of Presence Playing Myst on a flat screen is beautiful. Playing it in VR is something else. The island exists around you at physical scale: the mechanical clock tower looms above; the water ripples below the dock; the library feels genuinely enclosed and musty. Cyan built a VR-first version alongside the flatscreen version rather than retrofitting, which means the VR experience was considered from the design stage. PCMag gave it 4.5/5 and called it "the best way to play Myst — especially in VR." 6DOF Reviews gave it a 9 (as a declared Myst fan).

The remake adds two significant features beyond graphical rebuilding: multiple endings (the original had only one canonical ending) and the ability to randomise puzzle solutions for replay. A photo mode allows capturing puzzle clues for reference — genuinely useful in VR where note-taking is awkward. The game also remains available on flatscreen PC and Mac, meaning schools without VR headsets can still access it.

New in 2026: Myst on PS5 and PS VR2

On 19 May 2026 Cyan released Myst, alongside its sequel Riven, on PlayStation 5 with full PlayStation VR2 support. These are not cut down ports of the Quest version but the full PC versions adapted for PlayStation hardware. Like the other versions, the PS5 release plays both in VR and on a normal TV with the DualSense controller, which makes it an easy option for families who already own a PS5.

On a standard PS5 you can choose ray traced reflections at 30 frames per second, or switch them off for a smoother 60. The PS5 Pro adds better view distance, foliage, textures and shading, and in VR it raises the rendering resolution, which makes the many books, notes and puzzle clues easier to read. In the UK it costs £29.99 on the PlayStation Store.

Why This Matters for Schools and Families Until now, VR Myst needed a Meta Quest or a gaming PC. PS VR2 brings it to a third, widely owned platform, and because the same game also runs flatscreen on PS5, Xbox, PC and Mac, a class can share one set of puzzles whatever hardware pupils have at home. The puzzles, story and multiple endings are identical across every version.
Myst vs. Riven: Which to Choose?
Myst is the Gateway. Riven (2024) is the Deeper Experience. Both are available at similar prices, and since May 2026 both are also on PS5 and PS VR2. Riven is the sequel and is widely considered the more sophisticated and challenging game. But Riven requires no prior Myst knowledge to play, and many puzzle-focused teachers may ask: which should I get? The honest answer depends on your students. Myst is shorter (5-6 hours vs 20-40 for Riven), more accessible, and a gentler introduction to the Cyan style of environmental puzzle-solving. Riven is harder, longer, has no hints, and scored higher on this site (9.0 vs 8.0). For students new to this style of game, Myst first. For confident, self-directed older students: go directly to Riven.
Curriculum Value
Logical deduction
8.5
Narrative / English
7.8
VR immersion
8.0
Accessibility (new players)
7.8
KS4+ suitability
8.2
Age and Difficulty Context Myst is appropriate for KS3 upwards but works best with older, self-directed students. It has no explicit violence or inappropriate content (rated Everyone by ESRB). The puzzles are genuinely challenging and have no in-game hint system — though the 2021 version's photo mode helps with note-taking in VR. For younger KS3 students, allowing collaborative solving is advisable. The randomised puzzle option means the game retains challenge on a second playthrough.
What Critics Say
PCMag4.5/5
"This is the best way to play Myst — especially in VR. At nearly 30 years old, Myst remains a remarkable experience, made all the more accessible and enthralling in this modern iteration."
6DOF Reviews9/10
"I'm a massive fan of Myst. The VR version is the leather-bound special edition the series deserves. In virtual reality, the puzzle box still confounds, even as it shows its age."
PC GamerMixed
"Myst, no matter how it looks in 2021, feels pretty outdated. In VR it's nice to see Myst from a new perspective, but the world remains mostly static — it still feels more like a painting of a place than an actual place."
Steam user (verified)88% Positive
"Myst is my favorite game of all time. Playing it in VR makes it even better. The island is beautiful at scale and the puzzles feel more natural to interact with using controllers than a mouse."
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths
  • 88% Steam positive from 2,222 reviews
  • Cyan Worlds — original creators — built VR mode from the design stage
  • Multiple endings (new in the remake) add discussion value
  • Puzzle randomisation for replay
  • Photo mode for capturing clues in VR
  • Available on Quest, SteamVR and PS VR2, plus flatscreen PC, Mac, PS5 and Xbox
  • Everyone-rated — KS3 and above
  • Frequently on sale significantly below list price
Considerations
  • 30-year-old game design — some mechanics feel dated
  • No in-game hint system
  • PC Gamer: world feels static compared to newer VR games
  • Riven (2024) is the stronger recommendation for experienced puzzle players
  • Shorter than Riven: 5-6 hours for most players
From £29.99
Meta Quest • SteamVR • PS VR2 • Flatscreen PC, Mac, PS5, Xbox
Get on Meta Quest → Get on Steam → Get on PlayStation →
Quick Facts
Developer
Cyan Worlds
Price
£31.49 Steam • £29.99 PlayStation • $34.99 Quest (often on sale)
Released
Quest Dec 2020 • PC Aug 2021 • PS5 / PS VR2 19 May 2026
Platforms
Meta Quest • SteamVR • PS VR2 • Flatscreen PC, Mac, PS5, Xbox
Duration
5-6 hours
Steam
88% positive (2,222 reviews)
Meta Quest
4.1/5 (about 1,200 ratings)
Metacritic
78
New features
Multiple endings • Randomised puzzles • Photo mode
Age Rating
Everyone
Original
Myst, 1993, Cyan Worlds
Verdict
One of the most important games ever made, available in VR and on flatscreen at the same price. The remake adds multiple endings, puzzle randomisation, and a photo mode that genuinely helps VR players take notes. 88% positive on Steam, and since May 2026 it is on PS VR2 too, so far more schools and families with a PlayStation can now try it. Beautiful in VR at physical scale. For new students to the Myst series, this is the ideal entry point. For experienced, self-directed older students seeking the deeper challenge, go directly to Riven (2024), which scored higher on this site. Either way, Cyan Worlds' puzzle design remains remarkable and the series deserves its legendary status.

Gareth Griffiths

Gareth Griffiths is a scientist and the founder of World of Teaching, a free library of over 1,000 teacher made PowerPoints. He set up The XR School to help teachers, schools and parents find virtual and augmented reality apps that genuinely help young people learn, and to give an honest view of what each app teaches, which headsets it needs and what it costs.