Written by Chen Xi, PC & Console Requirements Specialist at Game Launch Hub
Riven System Requirements: PS5, PC, Mac & Xbox Series X|S Performance Guide
Riven is a ground-up remake of Cyan Worlds’ 1997 puzzle adventure classic, rebuilt in Unreal Engine with fully traversable 3D environments, ray-traced reflections, and optional PlayStation VR2 support. It launched on 19 May 2026 for PS5, PS VR2, Xbox Series X|S, and the Microsoft Store at $34.99, following its original PC release on 25 June 2024 via Steam. Performance-wise, this is a moderately demanding Unreal Engine title with a notably high CPU and RAM floor on PC, and it carries a Steam Deck Verified badge following dedicated optimisation work.
System Requirements
Minimum (Windows)
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit) |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 2700X (8-core, 16-thread) or Intel Core i5-7500 @ 3.40GHz |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 with 8 GB VRAM |
| VRAM | 8 GB |
| DirectX | Version 12 |
| Storage | 30 GB available space |
| Additional Notes | Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system. VR support confirmed. Ray tracing available on RTX and above GPUs for Windows. |
Source: Steam Support page for Riven, VGtimes, and GRAM.pl. Last verified: 29 September 2026.
What this means in practice: The minimum tier targets 1080p at 30 to 60 fps on low-to-medium settings. The Ryzen 7 2700X is a 2018 processor and the GTX 1070 is a 2016 upper-mid-range card, so this is hardware from roughly six to eight years ago. The 8 GB VRAM floor is the detail that matters most: a 4 GB or 6 GB card will not meet this specification, which is unusually high for a puzzle adventure. The 16 GB system RAM requirement is non-negotiable and appears at both tiers, reflecting the game’s fully traversable 3D environments and real-time rendering pipeline. The 30 GB install size is substantial for a puzzle game, though it reflects the remake’s high-resolution textures and expanded content.
Recommended (Windows)
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit) |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 3800X (8-core, 16-thread) or Intel Core i5-11500 |
| Memory (RAM) | 32 GB |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti with 11 GB VRAM |
| VRAM | 11 GB |
| DirectX | Version 12 |
| Storage | 30 GB available space |
| Additional Notes | Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system. |
Source: Steam Support page for Riven, PCGameBenchmark, and VGtimes. Last verified: 29 September 2026.
What this means in practice: The recommended tier targets 1440p at 60 fps on high settings, and the hardware request is genuinely demanding for a puzzle adventure. The Ryzen 7 3800X is a 2019 processor and the RX 6800 XT is a 2020 upper-mid-range card. The jump from 16 GB to 32 GB of RAM is one of the most significant memory increases I have seen for a game in this genre, and it reflects the game’s memory footprint when rendering fully 3D environments at higher resolutions. The 11 GB VRAM on the GTX 1080 Ti is the practical target for 1440p, and you will need a card with at least 8 GB to meet the minimum tier.
A Note on VRAM and System RAM
The 8 GB VRAM minimum and 32 GB system RAM recommendation tell a consistent story about the game’s Unreal Engine rendering pipeline. Riven is not a simple point-and-click slideshow like the 1997 original: it is a fully traversable 3D world with real-time lighting, dynamic water effects, and optional ray-traced reflections. The 8 GB VRAM floor is the hard GPU threshold: a 6 GB card will not meet the minimum specification. The 32 GB RAM recommendation is unusually high for a puzzle adventure and reflects the game’s asset streaming and memory management when navigating between Riven’s five interconnected islands. If you are running 16 GB, you meet the minimum, but you may encounter stuttering during transitions between areas.
macOS
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| OS | macOS 14.5 or later |
| Processor | Apple Silicon (M-series) required |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB minimum |
| Graphics | Apple Silicon integrated GPU (M1 or later) |
| VRAM | Shared with system memory |
| Storage | 30 GB available space |
| Additional Notes | Intel Macs are not supported. The game will not run on macOS versions lower than 14.5 and may crash on startup with an OS-level message. Ray tracing requires M3 or later chips. |
Source: Cyan’s official Mac support page, Cyan’s Legacy Titles 2.0 update announcement, and SteamDB’s supported systems data. Last verified: 29 September 2026.
What this means in practice: The macOS version is Apple Silicon only, requiring an M1 chip or later and macOS 14.5 Sonoma as a hard floor. Cyan Worlds has confirmed that “if you are on an Intel Mac, or on a MacOS version lower than 14.5, the game will not run and may crash on startup with an OS-level message.” This is a strict requirement that excludes all Intel-based Macs, including high-end models like the 2019 Mac Pro. The game runs natively on Apple Silicon, and ray tracing support requires an M3 chip or later, running through the Metal 3 RHI. If you own an M1 or M2 Mac, you can play Riven without ray tracing. If you own an M3 or later, you get the full visual feature set.
Xbox Series X|S
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Firmware | Latest Xbox system software |
| Storage | Not specified on the Xbox Store listing; PC version requires 30 GB |
| Performance | 4K Ultra HD, HDR10, 60 fps+, Ray Tracing, Spatial Sound, Optimised for Xbox Series XS |
| Additional Notes | Xbox Play Anywhere supported and certified. Ray tracing on/off toggle via Performance mode checkbox. Xbox does not support VR. |
Source: the Xbox Store listing, Cyan’s official console launch announcement, and Impulse Gamer. Last verified: 29 September 2026.
What this means in practice: The Xbox Series X|S version supports 4K Ultra HD, HDR10, 60 fps+, ray tracing, and Spatial Sound, and it is Optimised for Xbox Series X|S. The Xbox Play Anywhere support means a digital purchase grants access on both console and Windows PC, with cloud saves carrying progress between them. Ray tracing can be toggled on or off via the Performance mode checkbox. Note that Xbox does not support VR, so the PS VR2 experience is exclusive to PlayStation. The Xbox Series S version is also available and supports the same feature set at a lower resolution.
PlayStation 5
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Firmware | Latest PS5 system software |
| Storage | 23.18 GB (digital download, per PSPrices) |
| Performance Mode | 60 fps with screen-space reflections and dynamic resolution scaling |
| Ray Tracing Mode | 30 fps locked with ray-traced reflections enabled |
| Power Saver Mode | Supported. Reduces base resolution and locks to 30 fps to lower energy consumption. |
| PS VR2 | Optional. Supports sitting, standing, and roomscale play styles. |
| PS5 Pro Enhanced | Yes. Better view distance, foliage, textures, post-processing, shading, and higher base render resolution in VR and Performance Mode. |
| Additional Notes | HDR and 4K supported. TSR upscaling implemented. Multi-language support including French, German, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, and both Simplified and Traditional Chinese. |
Source: PlayStation Store listing, PlayStation Blog announcement, Cyan’s official PS5 feature list, and PSPrices file size data. Last verified: 29 September 2026.
What this means in practice: The 23.18 GB download size is the most important practical number here, and it is notably larger than the 10.04 GB of the original PlayStation 1 version available through the Classics Catalog. The Performance Mode targets 60 fps with screen-space reflections and dynamic resolution scaling, while enabling Ray Tracing Mode locks the frame rate to 30 fps and limits ray tracing to flatscreen play only. The PS5 Pro enhancements are meaningful: Cyan has confirmed better view distance, foliage density, textures, post-processing, and shading in flatscreen mode, plus higher base render resolution in VR and when Performance Mode is enabled. The game uses tweaked Unreal Engine TSR upscaling on both PS5 and PS5 Pro. The PS VR2 support includes sitting, standing, and roomscale play styles, with optional PS VR2 Sense controller haptics. The Power Saver Mode is a welcome addition for players who want to reduce energy consumption.
Steam Deck
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Compatibility | Verified (Valve’s highest rating). Confirmed by CheckMyDeck and Steam Deck HQ. |
| Performance | Runs natively on SteamOS. The game’s default configuration performs well on Steam Deck. |
| Additional Notes | The game does not default to external Bluetooth or USB controllers on Deck and may require manually switching the active controller via the Quick Access Menu. The 30 GB install size will consume a significant portion of the Deck’s internal storage. |
Source: CheckMyDeck’s Steam Deck compatibility page, Steam Deck HQ’s update coverage, and the Steam Community announcement. Last verified: 29 September 2026.
What this means in practice: Riven carries a Steam Deck Verified badge, Valve’s highest compatibility rating. CheckMyDeck confirms: “Valve’s testing indicates that Riven is verified on Steam Deck. This game is fully functional on Steam Deck, and works great with the built-in controls and display.” The path to verification was deliberate: Steam Deck HQ reported that the 1.3.0 patch included two specific fixes for the handheld, including changing text that was “too generic for calling out face buttons” that prevented Verified certification. The update also added performance improvements, lighting and animation fixes, and over 400 art fixes. The one caveat is that the game does not default to external controllers and may require manual switching via the Quick Access Menu. If you own a Steam Deck and enjoy puzzle adventures, this is a comfortable portable experience.
Price, Editions, and Content
Riven is priced at $34.99 on all platforms, with a 20 percent launch discount for PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass subscribers through 26 May 2026. The game supports VR on PS VR2 and SteamVR (PC), with the flatscreen and VR versions included in the same purchase. It takes roughly 9 hours to complete the main story, with 11.5 hours for main plus extras and 12.5 hours for completionists. The game holds an ESRB Everyone 10+ rating.
Reception and Review Scores
Riven holds a “Very Positive” rating on Steam and an 83 Metacritic score on PS5. Push Square reported the PS5 release, and ScreenRant confirmed the console launch. The game has been praised for its faithful yet expanded remake of the 1997 classic, with new puzzles, expanded story content, and modernised visuals. Cyan Worlds described it as “a deeper story, new captivating visuals, and a journey that stays true to the original release while also expanding on Riven’s breathtaking world.”
Final Verdict: Can Your Setup Run Riven?
Riven is a moderately demanding Unreal Engine title with a notably high CPU and RAM floor on PC. The minimum spec asks for a Ryzen 7 2700X, 16 GB of RAM, and a GTX 1070 or RX 5700 XT with 8 GB of VRAM, which is hardware from 2016-2018. The 8 GB VRAM floor is the hard GPU threshold: a 6 GB card will not meet the specification. The 16 GB RAM requirement is non-negotiable at both tiers.
The recommended tier asks for a Ryzen 7 3800X, 32 GB of RAM, and an RX 6800 XT or GTX 1080 Ti for 1440p at 60 fps. The jump from 16 GB to 32 GB of RAM is one of the most significant memory increases for a puzzle adventure, and it reflects the game’s fully 3D environments and real-time rendering. If you have a gaming PC from the last four to five years with an 8 GB GPU and 16 GB of RAM, you meet the minimum. If you have 32 GB and an RX 6800 XT-class GPU, you meet the recommended tier.
On Mac, the game requires Apple Silicon (M1 or later) and macOS 14.5, with no Intel Mac support. Ray tracing requires an M3 chip or later. On Xbox Series X|S, the game supports 4K, HDR10, 60 fps+, ray tracing, and Xbox Play Anywhere. On PS5, the game supports 60 fps in Performance Mode, 30 fps in Ray Tracing Mode, PS VR2, and PS5 Pro enhancements. On Steam Deck, the game is Verified and runs natively on SteamOS.
Specs and performance may be revised by Cyan Worlds in future patches, and the developer has already released multiple updates since the original PC launch in June 2024. This article reflects the Steam Support page, Steam store page, PlayStation Store listing, PlayStation Blog announcement, Xbox Store listing, Cyan’s official console launch announcement and Mac support page, SteamDB’s supported systems data, CheckMyDeck’s Steam Deck compatibility page, Steam Deck HQ’s update coverage, VGtimes, GRAM.pl, PCGameBenchmark, and verified outlet reports as of 29 September 2026. Chen Xi verifies all specifications by checking official store pages and dating each table; no numbers in this article are estimated or inferred.