The Manhole: Masterpiece

Name: The Manhole: Masterpiece
Price: 2.99 USD
Rating: 2 (1 reviews)
Author: Cyan Worlds

By: Cyan Worlds

Family

Features & Capabilities

From the creators of Myst, The Manhole is a silly, delightful, interactive, busy-box-of-a-world that kids can explore and explore - finding something new around every corner.

This award-winning romp transports children to the fanciful world around, above, and beneath what appears to be just an average, everyday manhole. But there is much more than meets the eye - have tea with a rabbit, wake up a walrus, nibble biscuits with a dragon, hang with a penguin, boat with an elephant, speak French with a turtle, and much more!

First released in the 80s, the original version won rave reviews and numerous awards including "Best New Use of a Computer" from the Software Publishers Association. This Masterpiece Edition was produced in the 90s as a ground-up re-make of the original with meticulous computer-rendered scenes layered with delightful hand-rendered characters. There are over 30 original music compositions and scores of original sounds and voices.

User Growth & Download Statistics

App

By:

Cyan Worlds

Rating:

2.00

(1) 2.80

Version:

2.1 Last updated: 2026-05-21

Version code:

883115420

Creation date:

2010-08-04

Compatible devices:

Size:

88.06MB

Price:

2.99

URLs:

Website ,Privacy policy

Full description:

Source:

Apple Apps Store

Data ingested on:

2026-06-07

Compare stats and ranking:

Ranking

# 985,454 ▼ 594,838

For Developers

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Contact the developer

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Developed by:

Cyan Worlds

Apple Apps Store

https://apps.apple.com/au/app/the-manhole-masterpiece/id378038679

Website:

https://cyan.com/games/classic-cyan-games/

User Reviews

The Manhole: Masterpiece is celebrated for nostalgia, memorable music, updated visuals, and its role as a Cyan/Myst precursor, plus its family-friendly appeal. However, reviews cite recurring issues: inconsistent or absent sound on some devices, an aging port that lacks revisions and modern iPad optimization, and occasional critiques that the gameplay is light on puzzles or clear goals. Overall, it’s a nostalgic, shareable experience with notable retro charm, balanced by practical irritants for today’s players.

Pros

Strong nostalgia value: easy to relive childhood memories and share the experience with kids.
Music is consistently praised as a standout and highlight of the game.
Visually updated graphics that modernize the CD-ROM aesthetic for current devices.
Historical significance as a Cyan pioneer and a precursor to Myst, with fans appreciating the legacy and Cyan's continued support.
Family-friendly and enjoyable to play with children across generations.

Cons

Sound issues reported on multiple devices (audio may be missing or require headphones or a hardware toggle).
Aging/dated port: an early 90s title ported to iOS with no major revisions, and limited modern optimization (iPad support).
Limited engagement for some players due to few puzzles or unclear objectives, leading to a less interactive experience for certain users.

Recent reviews

If you loved this in the 1980s, it might be worth $2 to see it again. It was for me. I remember it used to take forever to go through the game and click on all the options (which were not always obvious.) Originally, this was created in HyperCard, the precursor to the links used in HTML. I imagine it was much slower in certain parts as it loaded from the 800k floppy disk, and in this version, it never seems to crash the computer. I’m sure it will be just as astonishing to play with this when I’m living in the retirement home.