Myst was initially released as a non-VR game. While I have never played the original, I found the VR version immersive and engaging. Unlike other VR games, where you must solve puzzles to move from one environment or room to another, Myst starts you on an island. From there, you must visit four different ages, with each age representing a new environment and new challenges. There are no weapons or enemies. This is a pure puzzle-solving game.
I enjoy these types of VR experiences. I like to wander around and explore without constantly looking over my shoulders for would-be attackers. On the other hand, I’m not a fan of puzzles that require you to read the minds of the developers. I could not have finished this game without the aid of a walkthrough. There were a few puzzles that were impossible to solve without help. I estimate I needed help with about 20% of the puzzles, which is high.
The graphics were top-notch. The sound was appropriate and never intrusive. The one thing that would have made my experience more enjoyable would have been a better understanding of what I was supposed to do. I will provide that here so you won’t have to suffer through the same confusion as me.
As mentioned earlier, you must visit four different ages. The goal in each age is to retrieve the blue and red pages. Once you retrieve those pages, your next goal is to find a way back to the island to visit the next age. Before visiting an age, there are several puzzles that you must solve on the original Myst island. Had I better understood the structure outlined above, I could have shaved off several hours of wandering around aimlessly.
I played the game with my HP Reverb G2 VR headset, and it worked flawlessly. The same developer released a similar game called Riven, but I understand that my headset is not supported, which doesn’t make sense to me. I would play Riven if I could get my headset to work. If you’re looking for a puzzle-solving game with great graphics and atmosphere, Myst is for you.