65
The Past Within offers a nice co-op idea of two players trying to solve a big mystery in a time loop. It has a great technical state, atmosphere, and original puzzles. However, it still falls down flat due to the pure fact that I saw a game like this before. Just in a little different but better and cheaper form.
70
If you and a friend or partner are into this cosy niche corner of gaming and are happy to spend an afternoon burning your brains together, The Past Within is a must play. Mostly because it’s good, but also sort of because there aren’t many other options that you likely haven’t already exhausted. If I could get my way, I’d be playing new games just like this weekly. But the sad truth is they’re a rarity, and we should cherish them when they’re here. So make sure to get comfortable, grab a relaxing drink, and hang out with your ally on a discord chat or over the phone. There’s no rush, no time limits or anything. Just enjoy what makes these types of teamwork-focused games so special by spending time with someone you care about and you’re sure to have a great time.
85
We’ve been wanting to see more co-op puzzle titles and The Past Within is a fantastic entry to the genre. Smart pacing and an interesting premise and set-up make for an evening well spent with a friend.
8
The Past Within blew me away with its co-op twist. Playing with my best friend on Discord using my laptop, this premium point-and-click adventure was a 3-hour blast. Rusty Lake’s first multiplayer game has one player in the past, another in the future, solving puzzles to uncover Albert Vanderboom’s legacy. It’s a bold shift that **** art blends 2D and 3D, with creepy labs and glowing cubes. The past’s sepia tones contrast the future’s neon, and details like a skeletal hand freaked me out. The eerie soundtrack, with pulsing beats, amped our tension; we laughed nervously at a loud sting. Puzzles need communication—one player describes a symbol, the other inputs it. A cube-alignment puzzle had me stuck until we yelled “Turn it left!” PC controls are crisp, but voice chat is a **** story’s lighter than Roots but ties to Vanderboom lore. Solo play is possible, but co-op shines. We replayed for a secret ending, adding an hour. It’s short for the price, and some puzzles feel repetitive. The Past Within gets an 8.5/10—a fresh, fun Rusty Lake experiment for co-op gamers. Grab a friend and dive in.
7
The Past Within good game to play with a friend of girlfriend in the evening.
8
I played it with my fiance. We spent almost 3 days to finish it and it was a very nice experience. Prepare your self for the "you are not able to explain it" . Suggested for long-distance relationship - friendship ( you will need discord or an easy phone call because the game does not support in game voice chat with another person )
The Past Within
Released On:
Nov 2, 2022
Metascore
Mixed or Average
68
User score
Mixed or Average
7.3
My Score
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Metascore
Mixed or Average
43% Positive
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
57% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Nov 14, 2022
85
We’ve been wanting to see more co-op puzzle titles and The Past Within is a fantastic entry to the genre. Smart pacing and an interesting premise and set-up make for an evening well spent with a friend.
Nov 8, 2022
80
The Past Within surrounds us with its dark fantasy to create this cooperative puzzle game.
User score
Mixed or Average
45% Positive
20 Ratings
20 Ratings
52% Mixed
23 Ratings
23 Ratings
2% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
May 12, 2025
8
The Past Within blew me away with its co-op twist. Playing with my best friend on Discord using my laptop, this premium point-and-click adventure was a 3-hour blast. Rusty Lake’s first multiplayer game has one player in the past, another in the future, solving puzzles to uncover Albert Vanderboom’s legacy. It’s a bold shift that **** art blends 2D and 3D, with creepy labs and glowing cubes. The past’s sepia tones contrast the future’s neon, and details like a skeletal hand freaked me out. The eerie soundtrack, with pulsing beats, amped our tension; we laughed nervously at a loud sting. Puzzles need communication—one player describes a symbol, the other inputs it. A cube-alignment puzzle had me stuck until we yelled “Turn it left!” PC controls are crisp, but voice chat is a **** story’s lighter than Roots but ties to Vanderboom lore. Solo play is possible, but co-op shines. We replayed for a secret ending, adding an hour. It’s short for the price, and some puzzles feel repetitive. The Past Within gets an 8.5/10—a fresh, fun Rusty Lake experiment for co-op gamers. Grab a friend and dive in.
Jun 11, 2024
8
I played it with my fiance. We spent almost 3 days to finish it and it was a very nice experience. Prepare your self for the "you are not able to explain it" . Suggested for long-distance relationship - friendship ( you will need discord or an easy phone call because the game does not support in game voice chat with another person )
Nov 2, 2022
80
A short, sharp cooperative puzzler with a fun time-spanning twist. The Past Within sees Rusty Lake go all out to make the purest kind of cooperative experience possible, and ends up doing a fine job.
Nov 14, 2022
70
If you and a friend or partner are into this cosy niche corner of gaming and are happy to spend an afternoon burning your brains together, The Past Within is a must play. Mostly because it’s good, but also sort of because there aren’t many other options that you likely haven’t already exhausted. If I could get my way, I’d be playing new games just like this weekly. But the sad truth is they’re a rarity, and we should cherish them when they’re here. So make sure to get comfortable, grab a relaxing drink, and hang out with your ally on a discord chat or over the phone. There’s no rush, no time limits or anything. Just enjoy what makes these types of teamwork-focused games so special by spending time with someone you care about and you’re sure to have a great time.
Jan 12, 2023
65
The Past Within offers a nice co-op idea of two players trying to solve a big mystery in a time loop. It has a great technical state, atmosphere, and original puzzles. However, it still falls down flat due to the pure fact that I saw a game like this before. Just in a little different but better and cheaper form.
Nov 2, 2022
50
Though Rusty Lake: The Past Within has many of the same themes of a horror video game, it's not an outright scary title. Its cartoony graphics make sure that nothing ever gets too disturbing, and some moments meant to be spooky actually look quite silly, but the game's soundtrack does a good job of setting a generally eerie tone throughout. The Past Within is quite short, with its two chapters clocking in at about two hours total, although there is some replayability to be had via the ability to choose between "Butterfly" or "Bee" mode, which changes the answers to the puzzles. Overall, at the price of only a few dollars, Rusty Lake: The Past Within will likely be a worthwhile enough experience for long-time fans of the series, but players not familiar with the story or those seeking a challenge should look elsewhere.
Nov 26, 2022
7
simple but interest puzzle game based on cooperation of two players by voice. whole game is kinda short and some of puzzles (probably all of them) is to easy, also its useful to note that visually part is interest interlacement of 2D and 3D points of view. the last thing that disapointment that author offer to switch roles or pick another root after beating the game for changing puzzles but probably it no big difference beetwen them so one playthrough will be enough to see all aspects of the game.
Nov 15, 2022
6
It's a good idea, but it has flaws. I think the puzzles weren't too difficult and weren't fun. We couldn't go further than writing code and password. I thought Rusty Lake would put up nicer puzzles. It was still a good experience but lagging behind other Rusty Lake games.
SummaryThe 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 a multiplayer point-and-click adventure by the creators o... Read More
Platforms:
- PC
- Nintendo Switch
- iOS (iPhone/iPad)
Initial Release Date:Nov 2, 2022
Developer:
Publisher:
