Today, digital interactivity is at our fingertips, but back in the 1980s, HyperCard was one of the first tools that gave people the chance to create interactive, multimedia experiences. Developed by Apple’s Bill Atkinson, HyperCard emerged as an innovative software stack in 1985, originally called "Wildcard" before rebranding in 1986. HyperCard used a unique scripting language called HyperTalk and quickly became a hit in education and early multimedia design.

 

A pivotal example of HyperCard’s influence is Myst, a 1993 game by Rand and Robin Miller, published by Cyan Inc. and Broderbund. Myst became one of the first CD-ROM games, weaving video and audio into an interactive narrative. Players could explore "pages" as though flipping through a physical book, finding hotspots that added an immersive, choose-your-own-adventure style to the story. This interactive storytelling format inspired countless games and remains popular today on platforms like Steam, where fans can revisit classic styles in new titles.

 

HyperCard’s legacy continued in other software as well, influencing programs like Macromedia Director and eventually Flash, which powered early web animations and games. Today, tools like HTML5 and JavaScript have largely replaced Flash, simplifying interactive design and making it accessible without plugins.

 

While we now have simpler, more powerful tools, the creativity and sense of wonder fostered by early software like HyperCard are a nostalgic reminder of how far digital interaction has come—and perhaps what we've lost as big tech companies increasingly dictate what we see and experience online.