Eventually, some of those aesthetic ideas helped fuel the story's development, at the same time that the story development helped fuel additional aesthetic ideas. So it all came together simultaneously. The original Myst has several claims to fame, not only is it one of the most popular computer games ever but it also attracted a lot of new players to computer game playing as well as a high percentage of women. But I can identify certain strengths in the product that, when combined with the state of the industry in 1993, seemed to promote mass popularity. First and foremost are the beautiful, safe, surreal worlds.
People love to see new places, especially ones that are eerily familiar.
MYST took the player to these locales, and let them explore at their own leisure, certainly a departure from most games. Another strength was the challenging puzzles. Puzzle balance is a very difficult task, and hats off to Cyan for creating a variety of intriguing challenges using observation, logic, and even sound. Very simply, it is about family. A struggle between a father and his sons.