18 Games Like Myst You Need to Try in 2026

Some of these picks shine with complicated riddles, others pull you in with deep stories, and a few just drop you into a mysterious universe with no map.

I’ve got you covered. I pulled together 18 titles that every Myst fan should try. Some classics, some fresh indies, and all of them will keep your curiosity burning.

Our Top Picks for Games Like Myst

There’s a special thrill when a game throws you into an unfamiliar place with no instructions, and that’s exactly the vibe these picks deliver. These are my top picks for games like Myst, the ones I always recommend first when someone asks me what to play next. They’ve got that mix of puzzle elements, atmosphere, and story that makes you lose track of time.

These are 5 standouts every Myst fan needs to check out:

Obduction

PUZZLE

From the creators of Myst, you wake in a strange alien world and uncover its secrets through exploration.

Quern: Undying Thoughts

PUZZLE

A puzzle-filled island where every logical riddle connects to the next.

The Eyes of Ara PUZZLE A gothic castle packed with secrets, hidden messages, and clever puzzles.

Good start, don’t you think? And there’s way more ahead. Keep scrolling for more games like Myst that will test your intelligence, pull you into wild stories, and surprise you at every turn.

18 Myst-Like Games to Discover in 2025

Alright, here’s the full list. I picked a mix of classics and newer titles that every puzzle fan should check out. Some lean on brainy setups, others on atmosphere, but all of them are worth a shot. How many of these games like Myst have you played?

Obduction

Best Sci-Fi Myst Successor

Our Score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S Creator/s Cyan Worlds (developer & publisher)

Average playtime 15–25 hours Metacritic score 76 (PC)

Obduction

• is one of those games
• that instantly feels familiar the second you boot it up. Made by Cyan Worlds, the same team behind
• Myst
• ,
• it drops you into a strange alien world without much explanation

. Your job? Explore every corner, read the clues scattered around, and slowly piece together the story through pure curiosity.

The gameplay is classic first-person exploration: no combat, no hand-holding, just you, the environment, and a ton of puzzles that reward patience.

The visuals are gorgeous: massive alien landscapes, eerie small towns, and little details that make the setting feel both surreal and believable, and having it on a great gaming monitor really brings the visuals to life.

What really hooks you is the feeling of isolation; it nails that “you against the mystery” vibe that Myst fans love.

Why we chose it

Obduction

is the successor to Myst. Few games manage to balance atmosphere, logic-based obstacles, and discovery as well as this one. If you’ve been craving that same slow-burn sense of wonder, this is the closest you’ll get without replaying Myst itself.

My verdict:

Obduction

captures the same magic of being lost in an unknown place where the only tools are your brain and patience. If you loved Myst’ s puzzles, you’ll feel right at home here.

What do players say?

notHiro ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ I really recommend this game, it’s awesome for anyone who liked Portal or Talos Principle.

The Talos Principle

Best Philosophical Puzzle Game

Our Score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch Creator/s Croteam (developer), Devolver Digital (publisher)

Average playtime 25–35 hours Metacritic score 88 (PC)

A digital landscape of ancient ruins and futuristic machines forms the backdrop of The Talos Principle. This is a game that constantly pushes you forward with interesting puzzles:

lasers to redirect, pressure plates to manage, drones to maneuver.

Each area acts like a self-contained project, where every piece must be aligned before you can move on. Some puzzles feel straightforward, but others become more demanding, asking for patience and close observation.

Beyond solving puzzles, what makes The Talos Principle stand out is how it threads philosophy into its design. Between obstacles, you’ll read texts and interact with terminals that question existence, consciousness, and the deeper meaning of humanity. It’s this balance of thoughtful reflection and interactive design that keeps it high among the best games in the genre.

Pro tip

Take your time exploring the optional areas. Many of them hide stars and secrets that expand on the experience and show remains of earlier civilizations.

My verdict:

If you want a cool but thoughtful experience, The Talos Principle delivers combining intricate puzzles with questions that will stay in your mind long after you finish.

What do players say?

Lazyade ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Outer Wilds is an incredible, one-of-a-kind experience.

Ether One [Best Emotional Memory Adventure]

• Our Score
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• ★
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• ★
• ☆
• ★
• ☆
• ★
• ☆
• ★
• ☆
• ★
• ☆
• ★
• ☆
• ★
• ☆
• ★
• ☆
• ★
• PC, PS4
• Creator/s

White Paper Games (developer & publisher)

Average playtime 6–10 hours Metacritic score 76 (PC)

This first-person game places you inside the fragile mind of a dementia patient, where memories are fragmented into puzzles you must piece back together. Instead of traditional levels, you explore reconstructed environments: abandoned houses, offices, and rooms filled with objects that carry traces of the past. Every discovery brings you closer to restoring what was lost.

The beauty of

Ether One

lies in its dual approach: you can progress by following the main route or dive deeper into optional puzzles that unlock more information about the patient’s life. It’s less about difficulty and more about empathy, using exploration to connect you emotionally with the setting. That mix of accessibility and depth has kept it remembered among the best games in the narrative puzzle niche, alongside bigger names like Riven or Myst-like classics.

Why we chose it

Few puzzle adventures tackle themes as sensitive as memory loss while still keeping the experience engaging and heartfelt.

My verdict:

Ether One

proves that puzzles don’t always have to be about complexity. Sometimes they’re about the weight of human experiences hidden in every place you explore.

What do players say?

LordCrispen ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ I was very satisfied with the ending… it felt artful and daring.

Lost at Sea

Best Emotional Island Journey

Our Score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ PC, Xbox Series X/S Creator/s Studio Fizbin (developer), Headup Games (publisher)

Average playtime 3–5 hours Metacritic score 68 (PC)

This reflective game places you on a surreal island, where scattered objects act as anchors to forgotten moments. As you walk across beaches, forests, and cliffs by the sea, each object you interact with unravels a fragment of life: childhood, love, loss, and everything in between. It’s less about riddles and more about piecing together an emotional map of what it means to live and age.

The minimal art style works perfectly here, stripping the environment down to symbols that keep the focus on memory and emotion. It’s not a traditional puzzler, but it shares that reflective vibe you see in narrative exploration games, focusing less on riddles and more on emotional impact. So yeah, fans of the best interactive story games will find a familiar emotional pull here.

Pro tip

Play this in a quiet setting with headphones. The sound design and gentle atmosphere hit much harder that way.

My verdict:

Lost at Sea

isn’t about difficult puzzles, it’s about confronting memories. If you’re open to a slower pace, it’s a moving experience that leaves a mark.

What do players say?

Scrutinizer9 ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Still a landmark—time mechanics and design ideas feel timeless.

Darkestville Castle

Best Comedic Point-and-Click Adventure

Our Score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch Creator/s Epic Llama (developer), Buka Entertainment (publisher)

Average playtime 8–10 hours Metacritic score 75 (PC)

If you’ve got a soft spot for old-school point-and-click games,

Darkestville Castle

feels like a love letter to the classics, but with a wicked sense of humor. You play as Cid, a mischievous demon who turns everyday situations into chaotic misadventures. Instead of grim dungeons, you’ll be roaming through quirky towns, spooky mansions, and the occasional trip to hell, meeting bizarre characters that keep the mood light and ridiculous.

The hand-drawn visuals give it that Saturday morning cartoon energy, while the dialogue is packed with snarky jokes and absurd twists. It’s the kind of experience that scratches the same itch as Myst-like adventures or even the satirical edge of cult hits like Riven, but without taking itself too seriously. Every interaction feels like another small bit of comic relief layered on top of the gothic setting.

Pro tip

Take your time to click on everything. Half the fun comes from Cid’s sarcastic one-liners hidden in random objects.

My verdict:

For anyone craving a comedic twist on classic adventure design,

Darkestville Castle

is a hilarious ride worth taking. It proves things don’t always need to be serious. Sometimes, laughter is the best hook to keep you clicking.