Cyan

Cyan Worlds is an American video game developer based in Mead, Washington, founded by brothers Rand and Robyn Miller in 1987. Originally called Cyan, the studio created Myst in 1993, which became the best-selling PC game in history at the time. The studio is still active today as Cyan Worlds.

Cyan Worlds Key Games

Myst (1993)

A first-person point-and-click adventure set on a mysterious island full of puzzles and interconnected ages to explore. Shipped on CD-ROM using pre-rendered 3D graphics that looked extraordinary for 1993. Sold over six million copies and was the best-selling PC game for years. Established an entire genre of atmosphere-driven puzzle adventures.

Riven: The Sequel to Myst (1997)

More ambitious and more challenging than Myst, shipping across five CD-ROMs. The puzzles were deeper, the world more fully realized. Many fans consider it the best game in the series. Sold over four million copies.

Obduction (2016) and Firmament (2023)

After years focusing on Myst, Cyan developed two original games. Obduction was a spiritual successor to Myst. Firmament was built for both VR and standard play. Both received positive reception from fans of the original games.

The Legacy

Cyan Worlds made two of the defining games of the CD-ROM era. Myst and Riven shaped how people think about puzzle-driven exploration games. Their influence can be seen in The Witness and other atmospheric puzzle adventures made decades later.