Ranking Every Elevator in the Myst Series

I've had this idea for over five years and the upcoming Riven remake propelled me to finally make it.
0:00 Intro
2:33 35) Steam Puzzle Elevator
5:03 34) Fulcrum Puzzle Platform
7:05 33) Pressure Plate Elevator
8:10 32) Bubble Wand Puzzle Platform
9:16 31) Golden Dome Elevator
11:39 30) Leaf Elevator
12:58 29) Telescope Chair Elevator
13:49 28) Great Shaft Elevator #2
14:30 27) Great Shaft Elevator #1
15:26 26) Hexagonal Elevator
16:38 25) Topography Elevator
17:30 24) Rail Elevator
18:48 23) Observatory Elevator
20:48 22) Platform Elevator
21:34 21) Fortress Rotation Elevator
23:37 20) Canyon Elevator
24:27 19) Rime Elevator
26:02 18) Channelwood Elevator #2
27:21 17) Channelwood Elevator #1
28:14 16) Channelwood Elevator #3
29:02 15) Arena Elevator
30:04 14) Peg Puzzle Elevator
31:16 13) Amulet Elevator
33:05 12) Fog Elevator
34:31 11) Lava Platform
35:48 10) Leather Chair Elevator
37:23 9) Fireplace Elevator
38:31 8) Shipwreck Elevator
40:10 7) Prison Elevator
42:20 6) Spider Chair Elevator
45:42 5) Watchtower Elevator
48:16 4) Tower Elevator
50:45 3) Wahrk Idol Elevator
53:51 2) Tree Elevator
57:27 1) Golden Elevator
1:00:25 Conclusion

[@hbomberguy]

I'm so glad someone else has thought about this

[@LittleWeevil]

Please make a Myst franchise is genius video pleasepleaseplease

[@StreetSurfersAlex]

Of all the things I expected from this video with close to 2300 views - a comment from hbomberguy wasn't on my list

[@perrincalzada9131]

this feels like the type of video I’d find you commenting on lmao

[@teejayburger2136]

​@@LittleWeevil he made a patreon exclusive myst video that was really good

[@patjohbra]

"Why would I ever watch an hour long video about elevators in the Myst series???" - Me, an hour ago

[@scottw6704]

OK, that made me spit coffee. Accurate.

[@Divector8]

I can't believe I watched the whole thing... Who am I kidding, I'm a Myst turbo nerd. Of course I watched the whole thing, and a good thing it was.

[@dustingarner3571]

Thank you for enjoying! Being a Myst turbo-nerd is a very enriching lifestyle

[@BarkleyBCooltimes]

thank you algorithm for showing me this.

[@arcaears]

Never thought about the sheer volume of elevators in these games. Love this!

[@dustingarner3571]

I think about it too much

[@thepurpleriv]

This might be the nerdiest piece of myst fan content I've seen in ~25 years of online fandom :) I love it though, the way you present it all is really engaging and fun!

[@dustingarner3571]

That is such an honor. Thank you for enjoying!

[@thepurpleriv]

Thanks for making it! Would love to see an update or add-on for the Riven Remake too :)

[@MiaSteinberg]

Amazing how you made an entire video just for my Myst fangirl ass, personally ❤

[@dustingarner3571]

Any time! ❤

[@Jogwheel]

This is quality content! :-)

[@FiveaceAttorney]

hey let me get the aux "this isn't the elevators again is it?" ... maybe

[@TheJacklikesvideos]

i have a fondness for phrases i'm confident have never been spoken before, such as "unlike the fulcrum puzzle i discussed two elevators ago..."

[@scottw6704]

I remember buying my first computer in 1997, getting to understand the internet and getting hooked on AOL (and the chat rooms) but I wondered what else was out there. I went to the local computer store to get some sort of program on CD-ROM (Microsoft Office, I think) and saw this selection of games. I've always liked logic puzzles, deductive reasoning, exploring and drawing maps of places I've been, and enjoyed reading mysteries, trying to solve the puzzles before the protagonist in the novel. I saw the cover of "Myst" and it sounded just my speed, didn't seem like a game where I'd have to shoot everything into oblivion. A little island with interesting little places to explore. I never imagined there would be a sequel, but when I discovered that Riven existed, my imaginative world completely opened up. Now 27 years later, here I am watching an analysis of the elevators in the whole series. The Millers' collective minds have been my solace all these years. When Earth gets to be too much for me, I go to the realms of Myst...

[@maddy8594]

I have loved the Myst games for my entire life, and it's nice to see a breakdown of one of the most interesting facets of their design. Also, I agree with you that Riven still looks absolutely gorgeous.

[@n-razm]

I had the exact same problem with the steam elevator in Myst 3. It feels so validating to hear someone else complain about such a specific thing lol.

[@hydrogen-8]

the great shaft and k'veer are two different places - k'veer is a building in d'ni, while the great shaft is part of the path from the d'ni to the surface :o

[@SleepyBear_SB]

Informative, creative, visionary, beautiful, innovative. Truly this is a work of art, keep up the good work.

[@dustingarner3571]

Thank you so much!

[@RavenMethil]

What a wonderful nerdy video I loved to put an hour in! In defence of the Seam Puzzle Elevator: The lever looks different than the other two levers, as it has this additional metal rod/handle at the side. So there is at least somewhat of a hint, that it might work differently.

[@SardonicSays]

Wonderful all around! Though I would argue that the Bird from Edanna is effectively an elevator, in that it takes a person from one predefined location to another predefined location, mostly vertically. Similar to the leaf but grander and with more of a path. It's kind of mindblowing the level of detail the ages are written to if you think about it. Or rather if you believe the worlds exist before they are connected via linking book out there in the Myst multiverse, how vast the multiverse must be to have this kind of required interaction be a natural consequence of random evolution, then cherrypicked by writing the linking book with something written along the lines of "There must be a bird that carries a cage from the lowest part of the gigantic tree, to its nest in the upper reaches". It's a deep shame we haven't seen these kinds of things explored more fully in the Myst universe. It's an ocean of possibility if you think about it.

[@rodlavery509]

It is pretty remarkable how much better Riven is than every other game in the series. The original was magic and excellent design, but then the sequel somehow managed to dramatically surpass it. Then 3 was enjoyable but perfunctory and stupid, 4 was a bit confused but passionately THE MOST, and 5 was what would result if you asked Gehn to make a video game.

[@dustingarner3571]

I don't understand how a game can be as good as Riven. Every time I think about it, it just feels like too much of a real place/story to possible have been created. That being said, despite its flaws, I absolutely love Exile. I consider it my favorite in the series, just because Riven transcends my ranked list of the games. Replaying Revelation infuriates me due to how long it takes to move around and interact with things. I played 5 for the first time just to make this video, and it just felt so different from anything else in the series that I don't even know what to do with it in my head. I completely agree that it feels like Gehn made it.

[@NthDegree256]

"a bit confused but passionately THE MOST" is the best description I've heard of Myst 4 yet.

[@Mystery_Tramp]

This video really elevated my mood.

[@Cykelero]

Loving the video, and seeing all these cool elevators. Also loving some of your memorable quotes! “Next is another elevator from Spire: the fog elevator. I named it as such because it travels through the fog.”

[@Cykelero]

Also love the “only elevator in the series that X” variations. Only plant elevator, only horizontally-moving elevator, only hexagonal/triangular elevator, etc. Very tempted to rank *these*, now.

[@davidtavernas3167]

I don't know anything about Myst, but this is a really COOL video!

[@NthDegree256]

The elevators in the Great Shaft rank pretty highly for me because the location is straight out of one of the Myst novels, The Book of Ti'ana, which spends some time on the Shaft's troubled and controversial construction - seeing it brought to life on screen almost a decade later was a wonderful surprise! Myst V unfortunately is much more of a sequel to Uru than to any of the other numbered Myst games, as it picks up both plot threads and literal repurposed Ages originally created for Uru. Uru can be kind of a pain to play, especially with some of the physics-based puzzles, but it has some incredible Ages that really feel like Cyan was firing on all cylinders (as well as its own assortment of locations that first appeared in the novels.) I'd say it's worth the effort, if you can find the time.

[@LBetsy326]

I had no idea i needed this but this is amazing! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@onschin]

Wow! Love the ranking and all the additional comments and context. Very well produced, thank you. Would love to see more!

[@dustingarner3571]

Thank you for watching!

[@craigm5713]

Finally someone did it. Always wondered no-one rated the elevators in myst. Thank god.

[@Zet237yt]

I have never played a Myst game. After watching this video, I am eager to play them one day.

[@chrismolnar4584]

You are in for a wild ride my friend

[@TheJacklikesvideos]

i recommend the originals. prerendered stills and live action FMV hold up much better than modern engine models and rendering.

[@Zet237yt]

@@TheJacklikesvideos It seems today you can only get the Masterpiece Edition (easily). Would you say that it does a good job of transmitting an authentic original experience?

[@MattGiuca]

Incredible analysis. I love how you took such a goofy concept and made a real deep look at gameplay/story overlap and character moments. From memory, there are only about 4 elevators in the whole of Uru and I don't think any are particularly interesting. There's one (Gahreesen) that I would notably put at the bottom of the entire series because in the multiplayer version it had a tendency to dump you into the floor and force you to start the whole age from scratch, repeatedly until it luckily worked every so often.

[@zazander732]

This is the kinda content we need right now. Thank you.

[@bruce1947]

Nice video! Brings back so many memories. Riven's golden elevator remains one of my favorite moments in gaming history.

[@diamondlanguage]

Engaging, interesting, and fun! Yep, I watched the whole thing and would do it again

[@Ultracity6060]

Not surprised my two favorites are in the top three (fire hydrant easter egg?), and the sing-song squeak of the door to the watchtower elevator is forever burned in my memory. But disqualifying the wahrk gallows right out the gate? Heartless!

[@robertobryk4989]

IIRC the balance puzzle in Amateria told you whether you were too heavy or too light, and thus allowed it to be used to figure out the weight ratio in something like 2 or 3 tries.

[@Dachusblot]

I think you forgot one: the twisty plant elevator in Edanna!

[@dustingarner3571]

While I did see that one being referred to as an elevator in some places online, I considered it more of a staircase (or maybe a spiral elevator). While it does lift you up without you having to walk, there's no platform that is rising along with you. It kind of just shuttles you up. I guess the case could be made, but I didn't think it fit my definition well enough.

[@sambinder329]

love how they took the crater island - golden dome walkway entirely out in the remake.

[@mastermaniac1911]

Riven is one of the best games ever made. Easily at least number five on my personal favorite games list. For reasons.

[@NuminosX]

All hail the almighty algorithm! Dunno how I got here, but this is some quality content : )

[@mitchellradspinner4491]

now this is good content

[@keiyakins]

Time for you to play Uru, I think. It has... between four and ten elevators depending on how you count some edge cases in Kadish Tolesa. Two in Gahreesen, one in Teledahn, zero to six in Kadish Tolesa (I'd say one, personally), one in Er'cana. There's also Jalak which is entirely elevator but it's Jalak lol.

[@vektheartist]

I was wondering where the classic Myst Observatory Tower elevator would go! Discovering that one was very satisfying along with the tree elevator. Now you have to do one with all the rides/vehicles. I personally would put the classic Selenetic Mazerunner at #1 as long as the ride is I love some of twists and turns and the speeds it goes towards the end😂🙌🏾🔥

[@epicfox567]

Genius content. Do more Myst and Cyan content

[@rhinctus]

got so excited seeing this video suggested, really good!!

[@StreetSurfersAlex]

This is great!

[@boldspiritgamestudio]

Putting the Amulet Elevator at 13 instead of top 3 or even top 1 is a crime against humanity. More seriously, amazing video, well done! As a huge Myst fan, I love that there's so much personality and mysticism even down to the elevators. People who don't know the series must think of us as crazy hahaha, to be able to make a compelling 1 hour video about them.

[@TheZampa]

Here after finishing the Riven Remake and I'll have to say, it's so great to be back in the series! Exile was my favourite game, because it was the first one I got to play and somehow understood what was going on.

[@adamgryu]

It's about time!!

[@NSMike87]

By the way, in the Tree elevator in Myst, you don't have to use the button once you turn the gas off. The tree will descend below ground on its own, because the boiler is no longer generating the pressure needed to raise the tree.

[@dustingarner3571]

Thank you for the information! I think I just got excited and pressed the button thinking I needed to

[@t71513]

Technically the Golden Dome Elevator is two different elevators that run on a single track

[@vabvaab]

FINALLY

[@alasanof]

Most of these elevators feel like dangerous safety violations. I'm sure each of these have injured someone at least once.

[@jadegecko]

53:50 let's not forget the little kid in the jungle, probably the worst jumpscare in the series

[@keiyakins]

There's... at least two new elevators in Riven 2024. (The gallows is one one of them)

[@indnwkybrd]

Do you have to push the button to ride the tree elevator on Myst Island down to the room with the Channelwood book? I don't remember doing that; I would always just turn the gas completely off, then run out behind the cabin & hop on when it got to ground level & let it take me the rest of the way down.

[@hecosean]

Curious about if the Riven Remake recently released, the trapeze elevator might qualify now. It now has a platform you get on. Which might make it meet your criteria.

[@Ava_Hofmann]

i think i would put the channelwood elevators lower than you did, purely due to the fact that--unlike most elevators in these games--you have to manually close the door to these elevators in order for them to work. that detailed caused me problems similar to what you experienced with the steam puzzle elevator when i played through myst.

[@Derpmind]

Conclusion: Riven!

[@ironmagma]

I've been a Myst fan for decades and some of these didn't even register as elevators.

[@keiyakins]

The Great Shaft is not in K'veer... its miles and miles away. In fact it might actually be closer to Tomahna than K'veer!

[@Ephisus]

I guess you and I can be buds.

[@TheJacklikesvideos]

peak internet

[@FransLebin]

Gehn's Great Golden Elevator has always been weird to me. Sure it's pretty, but why is is so extravagent? Why is the inside of it so shabby looking?

[@Wrincewind.]

The note you made about the Amateira Fulcrum Puzzle being one of only 2 puzzles that needed information from another age - What about the Selentic age tram-ride? while you /can/ brute-force it, the puzzle relies on you learning the sounds for north/south/east/west from the Mechanical Age's Fortress Rotation Simulation.

[@dustingarner3571]

You are completely right, that one slipped my mind. It's even more egregious because you can't go back to Myst or Mechanical unless you've solved the puzzle. I think a lot of people just end up mapping it out.

[@Dachusblot]

You also need information from Spire and Haven to solve a couple of the last puzzles in Serenia, if I recall correctly.

[@dustingarner3571]

​@@Dachusblot That's true too. I think I didn't think of those because it always felt to me that it's assumed you go to Spire and Haven before you go to Serenia, though I guess it's theoretically possible to go to Serenia first.

[@Cykelero]

To me, the Selenetic maze puzzle *also* teaches you what the sounds mean. IIRC, on the first move, you can only go north; and so you learn the associated sound. Then you can choose between north, south or west; but you came from the south, and the sound is different, so you learn the sound for west. And so on! Though there's certainly an argument to be made that you might completely miss that the sounds mean something, and learning them on Mechanical is the nicer way to go about solving the maze.

[@dastrubinator]

You don't need to learn the sounds from mechanical. At the first few stops there is only one direction to go so you can deduce which directions go to which sounds. Dead ends help you deduce the other sounds.

[@zachcepeda]

1 hour 3 minutes 32 seconds of my life lost, never to be regained

[@dustingarner3571]

Good

[@TheJacklikesvideos]

strong disagree with your definition of "good puzzle design" and the steam puzzle elevator. subverting mechanical expectations is what makes MYST puzzles a good challenge. it reminds me of the levers in the clocktower 221 combo puzzle where the measure of intelligence is how long it takes you to figure out you're not pulling the lever correctly leaving the puzzle unsolvable. if you could swear you've got it powered but it isn't working, you should try using it differently. similarly with your next complaint about relevant information being elsewhere. typically these puzzles are solvable on their own, but much easier if you pay attention to things in other areas. this rewards paying attention and holistic thinking. consider the directional chimes used in both the fortress and minecart. the minecart is designed well so it can be navigated and solved even if you haven't been to the fortress. but if you do them in the other order, it essentially shortcuts you through the minecart by saving you the process of deductive logic, but only if you pay attention.

[@TheJacklikesvideos]

but i definitely understand the emotional scarring and personal grudge of the particular puzzles that you get hung up on.

[@pedazodeboludo]

Would kill for a remaster of Myst III: Exile... not likely to happen though. But man, riding the marble coaster in VR would be amazing!

[@jenbanim]

I thought you were supposed to brute force the Ameteria weight puzzle solution 🫠