Choose Riven (1997)
Choose Riven (1997) if it's the newer release (2010) and ships with the modern feature baseline. 1,011 Steam reviews back the pick.
Riven (1997) vs The Manhole: Masterpiece Edition
Riven (1997) and The Manhole: Masterpiece Edition both land in Adventure, Casual on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Adventure, Casual on Steam. The Manhole: Masterpiece Edition (1994) is 16 years older than Riven (1997) (2010). Riven (1997) scores higher on Steam reviews (89.8% positive) than The Manhole: Masterpiece Edition (75% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose The Manhole: Masterpiece Edition
Choose The Manhole: Masterpiece Edition if it's currently about 70% cheaper on the Steam Store. The Manhole: Masterpiece Edition launched in 1994.
Both Riven (1997) and The Manhole: Masterpiece Edition sit in Adventure and Casual on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Riven (1997) |  The Manhole: Masterpiece Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2010 | 1994 |
| Genres | Adventure, Casual | Adventure, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 5.99 USD | 1.79 USD |
| Steam reviews | 89.8% positive (1,011 reviews) | 75% positive (40 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Cyan Worlds, Inc. | Cyan Worlds, Inc. |
Side by side
- Both share Adventure, Casual on Steam.
- The Manhole: Masterpiece Edition (1994) is 16 years older than Riven (1997) (2010).
- Riven (1997) scores higher on Steam reviews (89.8% positive) than The Manhole: Masterpiece Edition (75% positive).
- The Manhole: Masterpiece Edition is currently ~70% cheaper on Steam than Riven (1997) (1.79 USD vs. 5.99 USD).
- Riven (1997) is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; The Manhole: Masterpiece Edition has no Deck rating yet.
Riven (1997) vs The Manhole: Masterpiece Edition — FAQ
- Should I play Riven (1997) or The Manhole: Masterpiece Edition first?
- If you want chronology, The Manhole: Masterpiece Edition (1994) came out before Riven (1997) (2010). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Riven (1997) and The Manhole: Masterpiece Edition similar?
- They overlap on Adventure, Casual on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Does Riven (1997) run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Riven (1997) is rated Deck Verified by Valve. The Manhole: Masterpiece Edition doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.