Comparison

Parallel Experiment vs Broken Sword

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
Currently charting
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

Broken Sword

Embark on a globe-spanning adventure as George Stobbart and Nico Collard, unraveling ancient mysteries and thwarting a dark conspiracy. Explore re-imagined locations, solve ingenious puzzles, and experience a remastered classic with full voice acting and stunning visuals.

Highlights
  • Story-driven puzzles
  • Re-imagined locations
  • Fully voice-acted
  • Unlockable achievements
  • Full HD remaster
  • Works offline
  • One-time purchase
Features
Read full description

Leap into a thrilling adventure with Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged! The million-selling, multi-award-winning classic that defined a genre is back—beautifully enhanced and fully remastered for mobile. Step into the shoes of intrepid American George Stobbart, as he and fearless journalist Nico Collard are swept into a mysterious journey of intrigue and jeopardy. From the cafés of Paris to long-forgotten temples in Syria, from shadowy alleys in Spain to underground crypts in Ireland, guide George on a globe-spanning adventure, exploring exotic locations, solving ancient mysteries, and thwarting a dark conspiracy to reveal the secret truths of the Knights Templar. FEATURES - Solve ingenious story-driven puzzles - Explore beautifully re-imagined locations across Europe and the Middle East - Fully voice-acted with unforgettable characters and dialogue - Unlock achievements that reward both progress and creativity as you play - Remastered in stunning Full HD with enhanced audio - Original soundtrack by acclaimed composer Barrington Pheloung - Works completely offline - One-time purchase - No ads, no in-app purchases - iCloud save support Whether it’s your first time or a return to an old favorite, this is the ultimate way to experience one of gaming’s greatest adventures. Based on the original game from 1996—never before on the App Store! Differences from the 2010 Director’s Cut: - Paris in the Fall – return of the classic intro - Play George Stobbart – exclusively from his perspective - Full HD – repainted backgrounds & sprites - Toggle feature – switch back to original 1996 graphics - Play your way – touch, controller, and mouse support - Consequences – careful out there, George!

Screenshots

Parallel Experiment4 screens
Broken Sword4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Broken Sword at 4.6 against Parallel Experiment's 3.3. Broken Sword also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks) and review sentiment (78% vs 57%). Parallel Experiment's advantage is chart position (#159 vs unranked) and price ($6.99 vs $8.99). 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 Broken Sword $8.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Broken Sword holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Broken Sword has 73 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 78% of Broken Sword's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Parallel Experiment ships an update every 3 weeks, Broken Sword daily. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Parallel Experiment versus Broken Sword: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterParallel ExperimentBroken Sword
Price$6.99 — better$8.99
Rating3.3 (7 ratings)4.6 (73 ratings) — better
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews77.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings773 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#159 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size1.2 GB1.4 GB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperEleven Products Sp. z o.o.Revolution

Customer experience

Parallel Experiment

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

Broken Sword

All ratings73 ratings
Positive89.0%
Neutral2.7%
Negative8.2%
Written reviews76 reviews
Positive77.6%
Neutral6.6%
Negative15.8%

Bugs and requests

Parallel Experiment

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Broken Sword

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Character freezing and inability to move
  • Crashes after short gameplay sessions

Requested features

2 requests
  • Manual save option
  • Cloud save functionality

In-app purchases

None

Parallel Experiment

No in-app purchases

None

Broken Sword

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Parallel Experiment free?
Parallel Experiment costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Broken Sword free?
Broken Sword costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Parallel Experiment or Broken Sword?
Broken Sword is rated higher. Parallel Experiment averages 3.3 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Broken Sword averages 4.6 from 73 ratings.
Do Parallel Experiment or Broken Sword have ads?
Neither Parallel Experiment nor Broken Sword shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Parallel Experiment or Broken Sword?
Parallel Experiment ships an update every 3 weeks, and Broken Sword daily. Most recently, Parallel Experiment was updated on October 10, 2026 and Broken Sword on October 14, 2026.

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