New gameplay for the Riven remake is finally here so we can get a feel for what it will be like to wander Riven once again
It is finally time for us all to have a look and experience some of the gameplay that is on the way with the Riven remake. Odd that we had so many other things to look at before now, but Cyan Worlds has finally shared this into the world and we can see how they are bringing this world back to life. All in a nice little showcase of rebuilding the Riven world in the Unreal Engine 5 and getting it to a place where we will want to play it on VR with our PC. Along with the chance to play it in the flat screen option for those who cannot handle the VR setting or do not have the funds to pick up the hardware of it all. That is at least nice.
As you will see in the gameplay for the Riven remake, it will be a lot of looking around, exploring, and flipping switches again in the game. Not overly surprising as they were trying to keep as faithful as possible but make it look like a real place we were exploring. That is where the new game engine comes in and picks everything up. This is more of a highlight of the new 3D spaces that they have been able to build for us out there and to bring the Riven world to life. Have a look at it all. Do not expect much in the way of high action but take in the beauty and wonder that the world will bring to us all. That is the bigger focus of all of this, for sure.
Riven — Remake Gameplay
Cyan Worlds thrilled fans with the first official gameplay reveal of the Riven remake, showcasing a new take on exploration and mobility for the 1997 hit, now fully realized in 3D. Utilizing Unreal Engine 5, the team has rebuilt the game’s environments and iconic puzzles from the ground up, from the intricate rotating room to the mysterious imager cage. Both old adventurers and new players will marvel at this revamped piece of the D’ni Empire, which offers the magic of the original with the gameplay and polish you’ve come to expect from modern puzzle adventures. Riven is coming to VR and flatscreen platforms, including Macs with Apple silicon and Windows systems later this year.
Riven will also preserve original voice performances by John Keston (Gehn), Christine Steel (Nelah), Vicente Ramos (Gehn’s guard), and Kate Vita (Keta), with John Keston’s performance in particular serving as an homage to the late actor who brought Gehn to life in the original Riven and sadly passed away in 2020. John is beloved in the Myst and Riven communities, and Cyan Worlds hopes the game’s remake will introduce a new generation of gamers to his historic performance.
Riven is a modern remake of 1997’s monster hit Riven: The Sequel To Myst, and a love letter to the classic narrative-driven puzzle games of the ‘90s. When exploring the decaying age of Riven, Cyan Worlds wants the player to feel like an archeologist, slowly unraveling the many mysteries of the D’ni and Rivenese mythologies. Through careful exploration of Riven’s five enigmatic islands, players will uncover clues, decipher foreign languages, and immerse themselves in the game’s intricate lore. Riven encourages players to lose themselves in its world and find solutions to the game’s puzzles through careful and profound reflection, examination, and contemplation of the environment.
I am still not sold on why this version of Riven needed to be in VR, but it is what it is. Given that we will be looking through many portholes and across vast space, I can see that being an appeal, but none of this feels like we need to be truly immersed like that. I could be wrong and I am also not the biggest fan of the original Riven game. So, this is not a game made just for me but more a fun experience to behold if and when I may choose to dive on in. I will say that it is nice that they are keeping the original voice talent in the mix as best they can. I was curious if they were going to shake that up and make the fans freak out by changing the slightest thing.
Where do you stand for the Riven remake after seeing this gameplay and will it be something you have to play? Is it odd that they are going with a VR version or should that be a standard in many games that take the first-person view? Will there be some kind of new action tossed in or will this one stick the guns of being more of a puzzle and exploration adventure? Wander down to the comment section to discuss it all and let the world know what you are thinking. We will have more for the Riven remake in the future, so please keep on checking in for all of those updates and the many others we will have on the site.