Comparison

Tick Tock vs Parallel Experiment

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Tick Tock

An eerie cooperative puzzle adventure where two players are trapped in a mystical clockwork world. You must work together, sharing information across two devices, to solve complex puzzles and escape before time runs out. Requires each player to own a copy of the game.

Highlights
  • Two-player cooperative puzzle gameplay
  • Cross-platform play (mobile, Switch, PC/Mac)
  • Solve puzzles with incomplete information
  • Mystical clockwork world setting
  • Voice connection required for communication
  • Local and remote play options
Features
Read full description

Tick Tock: A Tale for Two is an eerie cooperative puzzle game for two players. Each player needs a copy of the game on their own mobile device (phone or tablet) to play. You can also play cross-platform with a Nintendo Switch or a computer (PC or Mac). Average playtime: 2.5h *** You and your friend are trapped in a mystical clockwork world. As time ebbs away you must solve increasingly complex puzzles to escape. Cooperation is key as neither of you have the full picture! Play on two devices, local or remotely, all you need is a voice connection. "perhaps one of the most clever game ideas I’ve ever seen." - TouchArcade "a spooky multiplayer puzzle game with a brilliant hook - that the game is played simultaneously on two screens, with half of the clues on one and half on the other." - EUROGAMER "a fantastic, beautiful game that can bring you closer to your friends and loved ones" - Coin-Drop Awards & Recognition: * Winner - Danish Games Awards (Best Debut, Best Emergent Experience) 2020 * Nominee - BAFTA Games Awards 2020 * Nominee - Nordic Game Awards 2020 * Winner- IndieCade (Cooperative Design) 2019 * Official Selection - AdventureX 2019 * Official Selection - Indie MEGABOOTH 2019 * Nominee - International Mobile Gaming Awards 2019 * Nominee - Ludicious 2019 * Official Selection - PAX 10 2018 * Official Selection - Leftfield Collection 2018 * Nominee - Play17 2017 * Nominee - Nordic Game 2017 * Official Selection - IndieCade Europe 2017 * Nominee - Amaze 2017 * Official Selection - Stugan 2016

About

Parallel Experiment

A cooperative puzzle game where two players, separated with different clues, must communicate to solve escape room-style challenges. Features a noir-inspired comic book art style and over 80 collaborative puzzles.

Highlights
  • Two Player Co-Op
  • Challenging Collaborative Puzzles
  • Retro-Inspired Mini-Games
  • Cooperative Dialogues
  • Comic Book Storytelling
  • In-Game Notebook for Notes
Features
Read full description

IMPORTANT: "Parallel Experiment" is a 2-player cooperative puzzle game with escape room-like elements. Each player must have their own copy on either mobile, tablet, PC or Mac (cross-platform play is supported). In the game players take on the roles of two detectives who are often separated, each with different clues, and must work together to solve puzzles.  Internet connection and voice communication are essential. Need a Player Two? Join our community on Discord! ABOUT THE GAME Parallel Experiment is a noir-inspired adventure with a comic book art style, featuring detectives Ally and Old Dog. While following the trail of the dangerous Cryptic Killer, they suddenly become his targets and are now unwilling participants in his twisted experiment.  This is the second standalone chapter in the “Cryptic Killer” cooperative point-and-click puzzle game series. You can play Unboxing the Cryptic Killer first, if you want to learn more about our detectives and their nemesis, but Parallel Experiment can be enjoyed without prior knowledge. KEY FEATURES - Two Player Co-Op ​In Parallel Experiment, players must rely on their communication skills as they’re separated and must each discover unique clues that are vital for solving puzzles on the other end. Teamwork is essential to crack the Cryptic Killer’s codes. - Challenging Collaborative Puzzles ​There are over 80 puzzles striking the perfect balance between challenging yet fair. But you're not facing them on your own! Communicate with your partner on how to best proceed, solve a puzzle on your end that unlocks the next step for them and discover a wide variety of puzzles from redirecting water flows, finding computer passwords and unlocking intricate locks, to deciphering cryptic ciphers, soldering electronic components, and even waking up a drunk! - Two Can Play That Game ​Looking for a break from the main investigation? Dive into a variety of retro-inspired mini-games designed with a fresh cooperative twist. Challenge each other to darts, Three in a Row, Match Three, Claw Machine, Push and Pull, and more. Think you know these classics? We’ve reinvented them for a whole new co-op experience - Cooperative Dialogues ​Uncover vital clues through collaborative conversations. NPCs respond dynamically to each player, offering new layers of interaction that only teamwork can unravel. Some conversations are puzzles in themselves that you need to solve together! - A story told in panels Our love for comic books shines in Parallel Experiment. Every cutscene is presented as a beautifully crafted comic book page, immersing you in a gripping, noir-inspired narrative. How many pages did we create to tell the story? Almost 100 pages! Even we were surprised by how much it took, but every panel was worth it to deliver a story that keeps you on edge until the very last frame. - Draw on… Everything! ​Every detective needs a notebook. In Parallel Experiment, players can jot down notes, sketch solutions, and interact with the environment in creative ways. But we all know what you're going to draw first… - Annoy Each Other ​This is a key feature? Yes. Yes, it is. ​ ​Each level will have some way for players to annoy their co-op partner: knock on a window to distract them, poke them, make their screens shake. You already know you'll be doing this just by reading it, right? Parallel Experiment has a variety of mind-twisting challenges that push the boundaries of cooperative puzzle design, offering situations never seen before in other games.

Screenshots

Tick Tock4 screens
Parallel Experiment4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Tick Tock at 4.2 against Parallel Experiment's 3.3. Tick Tock also leads on ratings volume (290 vs 7) and price ($2.99 vs $6.99). Parallel Experiment's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Tick Tock costs $2.99 and Parallel Experiment $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Tick Tock holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tick Tock has 290 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Tick Tock's written reviews are positive against 57% of Parallel Experiment's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tick Tock ships an update every 6 weeks, Parallel Experiment every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Tick Tock versus Parallel Experiment: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTick TockParallel Experiment
Price$2.99 — better$6.99
Rating4.2 (290 ratings) — better3.3 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews70.4% of reviews — better57.1% of reviews
Number of ratings290 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#20 — better#92
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size949 MB1.2 GB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperOther Tales Interactive ApSEleven Products Sp. z o.o.

Customer experience

Tick Tock

All ratings290 ratings
Positive79.0%
Neutral4.8%
Negative16.2%
Written reviews311 reviews
Positive70.4%
Neutral8.0%
Negative21.5%

Parallel Experiment

All ratings7 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%

Bugs and requests

Tick Tock

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Occasional crashes or performance issues
  • Compatibility problems on older devices

Requested features

3 requests
  • More chapters and extended storyline
  • Ability to replay or revisit puzzles
  • Hint system or tutorial for new players

Parallel Experiment

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Tick Tock

No in-app purchases

None

Parallel Experiment

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Tick Tock free?
Tick Tock costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Parallel Experiment free?
Parallel Experiment costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Tick Tock or Parallel Experiment?
Tick Tock is rated higher. Tick Tock averages 4.2 out of 5 from 290 ratings, while Parallel Experiment averages 3.3 from 7 ratings.
Do Tick Tock or Parallel Experiment have ads?
Neither Tick Tock nor Parallel Experiment shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tick Tock or Parallel Experiment?
Tick Tock ships an update every 6 weeks, and Parallel Experiment every 3 weeks. Most recently, Tick Tock was updated on October 16, 2026 and Parallel Experiment on October 10, 2026.
Which is more popular, Tick Tock or Parallel Experiment?
Tick Tock currently peaks at #20 in the App Store charts, and Parallel Experiment at #92. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

Other comparisons