# The Past Within vs Parallel Experiment

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Past Within | Parallel Experiment |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$2.99** | $6.99 |
| Rating | **[4.9 (7.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-past-within/id1642601792/reviews)** | [3.3 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parallel-experiment/id6477541914/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7.2K** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **88.5% of reviews** | 57.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#2** | #176 |
| Size | 379 MB | 1.2 GB |
| Requires iOS | 13.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Rusty Lake](https://appshunter.io/developer/979777164) | [Eleven Products Sp. z o.o.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1040907730) |

## What reviewers say

### The Past Within

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-past-within/id1642601792)

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Paid · Puzzle, #4 Top Paid · Adventure, #33 Top Paid · Games, #48 Top Paid (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun co-op experience
- 🤝 Excellent for bonding with friends/family
- 🎨 Beautiful graphics and art style
- 🕹️ Clever and challenging puzzles
- 🔗 Ties in well with Rusty Lake universe

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕰️ Game is too short
- 💬 Requires communication with another player
- 🐛 Some technical issues like no sound or crashes
- 🤔 Puzzles can be one-sided for one player

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### Parallel Experiment

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/parallel-experiment/id6477541914)

**Currently charting:** #176 Top Paid · Puzzle (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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 #176. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*