The hero's next task is to rescue Catherine, Atrus's wife, from Gehn's clutches. Gehn has taken over Riven, a world that has collapsed under his rule. He holds Catherine hostage, hoping her son will restore the book link and set him free. Atrus asks the Stranger to travel to Riven and find a way to rescue Catherine.
Riven: The Sequel to Myst is an action-adventure game that follows in the footsteps of its predecessor in gameplay style, controls, and visual presentation. The game world is presented as a series of computer-generated still screens, allowing players to explore it using a point-and-click interface. Interaction with the environment is possible only when highlighted as a "hot spot", and is performed by simple clicking. Players will encounter many puzzles, which rarely involve inventory items, but rather require an understanding and manipulation of the complex environments and machinery within the game world.