realMyst: Masterpiece Edition (Switch) Review

Jun 17, 2020

The classics are given their mantle for a reason. They endure through the ages, remaining relevant well past their contemporaries and showing us the sources of inspiration still present in games of today. Myst is one such classic, a name so synonymous with games and adventures that it was an essential part of growing up in the 90s, and is still iconic to this day. It has been remade and updated multiple times, both to remain accessible on newer platforms, and to present the game as it was originally envisioned by the Miller brothers. realMyst: Masterpiece Edition is the current terminus of that path of the game’s evolution; a fully-realized 3D world with improved textures, effects, and music, navigable in first person. Originally released in 2014, it is arguably the definitive way to play Myst, and now to ensure it is as widely available as possible, it’s available on Switch. For a game that came out six years ago, you’d be forgiven for assuming it would be a cakewalk for the Switch to play, but the reality is that this feels like a step backward into time in the wrong way.