Riven
A classic first-person puzzle adventure game.
Where Riven comes up1 episode or test
- 1Meet a lockMade-up text, animal noises, cryptic numbers
- 2Pay close attentionStudy the language, sounds and numbers
- 3Take notesThe answer lives in the player's head
- 4Work out the answerNo key or ability needed
- 5Open the lock"I figured it out!" moment
From Game Maker's Toolkit
What was said about Riven
Riven locks progress behind player knowledge, not items. Riven presents its text in a made-up language and uses animal noises and a cryptic numbering system to open locks. Progress depends on what the player has worked out, not on a key or ability.
Game Maker's Toolkit groups Riven with Tunic, Outer Wilds and Chants of Senaar as 'Metroidbrainias'. Quote: "All of these things are locked not behind keys or abilities, but behind knowledge."
Knowledge keys force close attention and give an 'aha' moment. Because the answer lives in the player's head, players must pay close attention and take notes. The reward is the feeling of 'I figured it out!' instead of 'I found a key'.
The same source points to Tunic's manual-locked doors, Outer Wilds' cross-planet clues and La-Mulana's calendar and statues as other examples of the design.
What Makes a Game Feel Mysterious?
It presents its text in a made-up language and uses animal noises and a cryptic numbering system to open locks.
Riven locks progress behind player knowledge, not items. Riven presents its text in a made-up language and uses animal noises and a cryptic numbering system to open locks. Progress depends on what the player has worked out, not on a key or ability.
Game Maker's Toolkit groups Riven with Tunic, Outer Wilds and Chants of Senaar as 'Metroidbrainias'. Quote: "All of these things are locked not behind keys or abilities, but behind knowledge."
Knowledge keys force close attention and give an 'aha' moment. Because the answer lives in the player's head, players must pay close attention and take notes. The reward is the feeling of 'I figured it out!' instead of 'I found a key'.
The same source points to Tunic's manual-locked doors, Outer Wilds' cross-planet clues and La-Mulana's calendar and statues as other examples of the design.
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