Comparison

The Past Within 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

The Past Within

Embark on a cooperative point-and-click adventure where players explore different time periods and dimensions. Work with a friend, communicating what you see to solve intricate puzzles and uncover mysteries. This unique experience requires both players to own the game and communicate externally.

Highlights
  • Co-op only gameplay
  • Explore past and future
  • Solve puzzles together
  • Two distinct perspectives (2D/3D)
  • Cross-platform play
  • Replayable with new solutions
Features
Read full description

Note: The Past Within is a co-op only game. Both players need to own a copy of the game on their own device (mobile, tablet or computer), as well as a way to communicate with each other. Play together with a friend or find a partner on our official Discord server! The past and future cannot be explored alone! Team up with a friend and piece together the mysteries surrounding Albert Vanderboom. Communicate what you see around you to help one another solve various puzzles and explore the worlds from different perspectives! The Past Within is the first co-op only point-and-click adventure set in the mysterious world of Rusty Lake. Features: ▪ A co-op experience Play together with a friend, one in The Past, the other in The Future. Work together to solve the puzzles and help Rose set her father’s plan in motion! ▪ Two worlds - Two perspectives Both players will experience their environments in two different dimensions: 2D as well as in 3D - a first-time experience in the Rusty Lake universe! ▪ Cross-platform As long as you can communicate with each other, you and your partner of choice can each play The Past Within on your preferred platform: Mac, PC and Nintendo Switch! ▪ Playtime & Replayability The game contains 2 chapters and has an average play-time of 2 hours. For the full experience, we recommend replaying the game from the other perspective. Plus you can use our replayability feature for a fresh start with new solutions to all puzzles.

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
Currently charting
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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

The Past Within4 screens
Parallel Experiment4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: The Past Within at 4.9 against Parallel Experiment's 3.3. The Past Within also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 57%) and ratings volume (7.2K vs 7). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

The Past Within 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

The Past Within holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Past Within has 7.2K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of The Past Within's written reviews are positive against 57% of Parallel Experiment's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The Past Within ships an update every 2 weeks, Parallel Experiment every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
The Past Within versus Parallel Experiment: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe Past WithinParallel Experiment
Price$2.99 — better$6.99
Rating4.9 (7.2K ratings) — better3.3 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews88.5% of reviews — better57.1% of reviews
Number of ratings7.2K — better7
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#2 — better#143
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.113.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size379 MB1.2 GB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperRusty LakeEleven Products Sp. z o.o.

Customer experience

The Past Within

All ratings7,180 ratings
Positive97.0%
Neutral1.2%
Negative1.7%
Written reviews531 reviews
Positive88.5%
Neutral6.2%
Negative5.3%

Parallel Experiment

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

Bugs and requests

The Past Within

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • No sound in the game
  • Crashes after Chapter 1 title screen
  • Downloading issues on some devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • More chapters/levels
  • Single-player mode option
  • Ability to switch roles/perspectives
  • Online/remote co-op functionality

Parallel Experiment

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

The Past Within

No in-app purchases

None

Parallel Experiment

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is The Past Within free?
The Past Within 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, The Past Within or Parallel Experiment?
The Past Within is rated higher. The Past Within averages 4.9 out of 5 from 7.2K ratings, while Parallel Experiment averages 3.3 from 7 ratings.
Do The Past Within or Parallel Experiment have ads?
Neither The Past Within nor Parallel Experiment shows ads.
Which is updated more often, The Past Within or Parallel Experiment?
The Past Within ships an update every 2 weeks, and Parallel Experiment every 3 weeks. Most recently, The Past Within was updated on October 15, 2026 and Parallel Experiment on October 10, 2026.
Which is more popular, The Past Within or Parallel Experiment?
The Past Within currently peaks at #2 in the App Store charts, and Parallel Experiment at #143. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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