In my opinion, the Myst series is the best adventure game series out there today. Basically, each game features special books called linking books that serves as portals to different worlds, or Ages. There are two aspects of the games that appeal to me, as well as other fans. The most important (for me) is the exploration of these highly realistic worlds - taking in the sounds, the scenery, the wildlife, and the ambience of each one. It is amazing to me how immersive and realistic the worlds are, and that is due to the incredible graphics (even in 1993, when the original game was released). The second one is the puzzles. Each Age contains puzzles that require math, logic/reasoning, and/or analytical skills to solve, and many of them involve pushing buttons, pulling levers, turning wheels, or figuring out a sequence of numbers or symbols to progress. I love the Ah HA! moments that come when I've figured out a tough puzzle.
If any of you have played any of the games, and want to discuss them, or if you're hopelessly stuck somewhere in one of the games, this is the thread to do so. I hope to find other people to share my love for these games with.
There are five games in the series:
Myst (released in 1993)
Riven: The Sequel to Myst (released in 1997)
Myst III: Exile (released in 2001)
Myst IV: Revelation (released in 2004)
Myst V: End of Ages (released in 2005)