# Myst

31 Hacker News commenters recommended Myst and 7 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 10 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Pioneering 1993 puzzle adventure that people still recommend for its atmosphere, music and sense of another world. Critics find it dated, thin and limited in actions by modern standards.

## Why people recommend it

- Immersive fantasy world and atmosphere (2 comments): "Myst ruled because you felt like you were in another world back then" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49224150)) "nostalgia, the fantasy environments, the music" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49229618))
- Nostalgia for a childhood favorite (4 comments): "Which suggests that nostalgia probably is a big part of why I still enjoy Myst." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49836512)) "I fondly remember Myst, Monkey Island and other puzzle games like that." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49514856)) "nostalgia, the fantasy environments, the music" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49229618))
- Strong story, graphics and music (2 comments): "Myst was impressive on multiple fronts, the story line, the graphics, thr music." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49375632)) "nostalgia, the fantasy environments, the music" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49229618))
- Puzzle discovery without dialogue (2 comments): "No dialog. No text. Just ... clicking and discovering the rest of the story." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50028345)) "I fondly remember Myst, Monkey Island and other puzzle games like that." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49514856))

## What people warn about

- Dated and thin by modern standards (2 comments): "the game is extremely thin by modern standards" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49224899)) "woefully out of date in a world where most games are immersive" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49224595))
- Overhyped and fails to live up (3 comments): "Myst was one of those super-hyped-up titles that failed to live up to its reputation" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49251647)) "I loathed Myst, so had avoided The Witness for the same reason you played it" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46318589)) "I am not sure Myst actually is a great game" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49223862))
- Limited range of actions (2 comments): "Myst is cool but is ultimately an adventure game, in comparison." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50116769)) "Much too limited range of actions." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49222407))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Sid Meier's Pirates!](https://hackerapproved.com/p/sid-meier-s-pirates.md): 61 recommend
- [Grim Fandango](https://hackerapproved.com/p/grim-fandango.md): 41 recommend
- [Monkey Island](https://hackerapproved.com/p/monkey-island.md): 29 recommend
- [Doki Doki Literature Club](https://hackerapproved.com/p/doki-doki-literature-club.md): 25 recommend
- [Thimbleweed Park](https://hackerapproved.com/p/thimbleweed-park.md): 20 recommend

## Where to get it

- [Visit the official site](https://cyan.com/)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Myst", https://hackerapproved.com/p/myst/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).