head to head

Riven: The Sequel to Myst cover artvsThe Longest Journey cover art

Riven: The Sequel to MystvsThe Longest Journey

Riven: The Sequel to Myst leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); The Longest Journey leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).

EXECUTION0 /10READS0 /10VARIANCE0 /10OPTIMIZATION9 /10
Riven: The Sequel to MystThe Longest Journey

Axis by axis

Execution0 vs 1

The Longest Journey leans harder on execution: Pure point-and-click with no time pressure

Reads0 vs 0

Even - both lean on reads about the same.

Variance0 vs 1

The Longest Journey leans harder on variance: Linear world states with essentially no hidden randomness

Optimization9 vs 8

Riven: The Sequel to Myst leans harder on optimization: pure logic-puzzle solving, walkthrough-solvable

Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.

full breakdown

Riven: The Sequel to Myst

full breakdown

The Longest Journey