Comparison

Parallel Experiment vs Follow the meaning

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

Head to head
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.

About

Follow the meaning

Unravel a surreal mystery on a peculiar island town where citizens lose their memories after visiting the Hospital. Use wit and lateral thinking to uncover a sinister conspiracy, guided by local gossip and a point-and-click adventure.

Highlights
  • Hand-drawn art style
  • Surreal worldbuilding
  • Atmospheric soundtrack
  • Twisted mystery plot
  • Point-and-click gameplay
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

A desperate letter summons detective Paul Trilby to a peculiar island town, divided by a wall and ruled by a Hospital. Regular citizens get admitted and then return without their memories. A sinister conspiracy is afoot. Can you get to the bottom of this mystery? Use wit, curiosity and lateral thinking to puzzle your way towards a solution, helped by the local citizens you meet along the way. Remember that there is always a grain of truth in the local gossip. Follow the Meaning is a surreal, hand-drawn, point-and-click adventure inspired by classic titles like Samorost and the Rusty Lake series. Features ■ Hand-drawn art brings the offbeat world to life ■ Whimsical worldbuilding with a sinister undertone ■ Atmospheric soundtrack by Victor Butzelaar ■ A twisted mystery that awaits your diligent inspection ■ 1.5 hours average playtime

Screenshots

Parallel Experiment4 screens
Follow the meaning4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Follow the meaning at 4.3 against Parallel Experiment's 3.3. Follow the meaning also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks) and review sentiment (77% vs 57%). 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

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Follow the meaning holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Follow the meaning has 85 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of Parallel Experiment's written reviews are positive against 77% of Follow the meaning's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Parallel Experiment ships an update every 3 weeks, Follow the meaning daily. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Parallel Experiment versus Follow the meaning: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterParallel ExperimentFollow the meaning
Price$6.99$2.99 — better
Rating3.3 (7 ratings)4.3 (85 ratings) — better
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews76.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings785 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#189 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size1.2 GB286 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperEleven Products Sp. z o.o.Second Maze

Customer experience

Parallel Experiment

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

Follow the meaning

All ratings85 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral10.6%
Negative9.4%
Written reviews86 reviews
Positive76.7%
Neutral8.1%
Negative15.1%

Bugs and requests

Parallel Experiment

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Follow the meaning

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Game crashes on launch
  • Unresponsive controls
  • Localization issues with Italian dialogue

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to replay or revisit completed levels
  • More detailed instructions and guidance
  • Improved cat-finding mechanics

In-app purchases

None

Parallel Experiment

No in-app purchases

None

Follow the meaning

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Parallel Experiment free?
Parallel Experiment costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Follow the meaning free?
Follow the meaning costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Parallel Experiment or Follow the meaning?
Follow the meaning is rated higher. Parallel Experiment averages 3.3 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Follow the meaning averages 4.3 from 85 ratings.
Do Parallel Experiment or Follow the meaning have ads?
Neither Parallel Experiment nor Follow the meaning shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Parallel Experiment or Follow the meaning?
Parallel Experiment ships an update every 3 weeks, and Follow the meaning daily. Most recently, Parallel Experiment was updated on October 10, 2026 and Follow the meaning on October 19, 2026.

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