Hello, Retrorod.
None of the Myst games are DOS based; Myst Masterpiece and Riven are running via ScummVM.

For games which do use DOS, Gog employs the use of DOSbox. I personally use Dosbox Staging, which is a modernized version of it which drags the program kicking and screaming into the modern age.

The original Myst game from 1993 exists only on CD-ROM, and it has ugly 8-bit graphics. You can find the CD on Ebay or whatever. It won't run on today's PC, of course. It can be run, however, if you install Windows 3.1 within DOSBox (which is a headache to do), and install the game within Win3.1, because that is the Windows version that works best with the original game.

"Myst: Masterpiece Edition" was made in 2000, and it updated the game to 24-bit graphics. This is the version currently sold at GOG. It used to have problems working on modern PCs too. That's why ScummVM was later added to make it work.

The original realMyst came out in 2000, and was once sold at GOG. But it has since been replaced with realMyst: Masterpiece Edition that came out in 2014.

To think that almost 30 years ago the original Myst actually had everyone's mind blown! Today it looks like one of those retro pixel-art games.

Myst Win: https://archive.org/details/myst_20210903
Myst Mac: https://archive.org/details/myst_20200226

Heh, looks like it got taken down. :)

1) realMyst (1.11) still run more or less perfectly in compatibility mode on my win10 laptop from last year. Generally Plasma engine games seem to have aged relatively well compatibility-wise. The only one I've ever had any major problems running on newer computers has been Myst V (which uses the more graphically complicated Plasma 2.1). Uru and Myst V which also use Plasma are still sold on Gog.

2) No elements of the plot or lore has been changed between realMyst and realMyst ME. The only plot changes between newer Myst and the original Myst was the inclusion of Rime (which was removed again in the 2021 version anyways) and of Ti'ana's grave (which has been in all new versions since realMyst). Some of the lore surrounding Uru (and to a lesser extent Myst IV) do contradict with the events of Myst, but none of that is reflected in any version of Myst.

Hi guys,
I am sorry but I am a bit lost here as a Myst newbie.
I am looking at the store and there is the Myst-2021 and Myst Masterpiece edition-1999.
I look at the Myst 25th Anniversary Collection and there is Myst Masterpiece Edition (1993) and that's it, no Myst.

So which is which exactly? Which one to play?

That doesn't really help but so; there is the original 1993 Myst, not sold here supposedly but Myst 25th Anniversary Collection contains a game from 1993 but is a typo then? Myst Masterpiece Edition (1993)?
Then there is the 1999 masterpiece edition remake.
and then 2021 version, yet another remake.

And then there is the realmyst masterpiece edition too. I think which is another remake of a game with free movement which is a remake of the original in turn.

So which one is the best entry for the series? 1999 edition, 2021? real myst?

I suspect that different people will give you different answers to that. Some will prefer to have the game in its original form; others might enjoy the free movement of RealMyst; still others might want to see Myst with the best graphics; and so on.

What I'd suggest to to look at the features of each and decide what you feel is most likely to contribute to your enjoyment.

(And perhaps those more familiar than I with the various versions might list some of their qualities in order to help you decide.)

I'm a little late to the party, but here goes.

Myst - 1993
This is the one to play if you want the “original” Myst experience. Currently not available digitally anywhere.
Released for win3.1 with 8-bit 256 color graphics on cd-rom.


Myst: Masterpiece Edition - 1999
This is the one you can get on GOG. It’s basically the same as the original with added features like: better sound quality, 24-bit graphics and a built-in hint system. The 24-bit graphics upgrade doesn't make a big difference, you'd have to see them side by side to tell the difference and even then you'd have to look close.


realMyst - 2000
This is an overhaul of Myst in real-time rendered 3D (with Glide support). It is the first to include the bonus Rime Age (level). It has time of day and environmental effects e.g. rain, fog, day/night cycles.

This is my favorite 3D Myst. I think it captures the environments and general setting better than the newer remakes. The down side is it can be buggy on modern systems and is more prone to crashing. Also the controls may not be to your liking.


realMyst: Masterpiece Edition – 2014
A remake of realMyst in the unity engine. This is the worst version to play, just skip this one and move on. It looks better than it plays.

New features:
• Added flashlight allows for dark nights or dark area exploration
• Graphic features bloom, blur, and depth of field
• Hot key shows original Myst image for quick nostalgic comparison


Myst – 2020
This is the best looking version (currently), except for one thing. They replaced the FMV actors with 3D rendered models, frankly the 3d models look terrible, but (again) they added an option for the original FMV (turned off by default). The FMV this has it’s drawbacks too, because this is the first version to support VR. And as you might guess a FMV video looks pretty flat in VR. But they mostly get around that because of how the videos are displayed (in books, or projected).

Also they added option for puzzle randomization, for those that have already played the game to death. They left out the Rime age (which was only in the 2 previous entries). They added a few other changes as well, but I can’t remember it off the top of my head. I don’t think this version has day/night cycles or weather effects (but don’t quote me on that).


TLDR:
For a new Myst player. I’d probably recommend Myst 2020 with FMV turned on.
If you want a more authentic experience go with Myst: Masterpiece Edition, it’s my overall favorite version.