The Past Within Review – A Brilliant & Haunting Time-Twisting Co-Op Puzzle Adventure – 4/5

The Past Within – At a Glance

✅ Best For: Players who enjoy communication-based puzzles and immersive mystery-solving with a partner.

• Player Count: 2 players (online or local with two devices)
• Platforms: PC, Switch, iOS, Android, macOS, Switch
• Playtime: ~2–3 hours per playthrough
• Genre: Asymmetric Puzzle, Mystery, Co-op
• Difficulty: Moderate – requires clear communication and observation
• Strategy Level: High – teamwork, deduction, and coordination are key
• Our Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

The Past Within – Official Trailer

🌟 Review Summary

The Past Within offers one of the most original co-op puzzle experiences we’ve played. Taking place across two timelines—past and future—it forces you and your partner to describe what you see, solve puzzles together, and slowly unravel a mysterious story from two perspectives. It’s an immersive game built on trust, curiosity, and a whole lot of talking.

🧩 Gameplay & Difficulty – 3.5/5

Each player is locked into their own timeline, either in the past or the future. You’ll see completely different environments and interact with different objects, but every puzzle is connected. We found ourselves constantly asking, “What do you see?” or “Can you try this?” The puzzles are clever and satisfying, though they do occasionally require some trial and error. You absolutely need a partner willing to talk things out.

One of the things we didn’t like is that we didn’t feel that it was made with gamepads in mind. For example, to get to a certain button on the in-game console, we had to hold down the joystick for a while to get there (instead of perhaps snapping there), which slowed down the game and negatively impacted the experience.

👫 Co-op Experience – 5/5

This is one of the most communication-heavy games we’ve ever played—and that’s a good thing. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the same room or across the world; the experience feels equally immersive. We each played on our respective Switch in the same room (without seeing each other’s screens) and the sense of collaboration and mutual discovery was incredibly rewarding. Every solution feels earned..

🧠 Story & Character Progression – 4/5

The game slowly unveils the mystery of a man named Albert Vanderboom and the strange happenings surrounding his life and experiments. The atmosphere is eerie and mysterious, with just enough storytelling to keep us hooked without overexplaining. You’ll uncover creepy clues, cryptic notes, and spooky audio cues that build tension without jumpscares.

🎨 Visuals & Audio – 4/5

The art style is distinctive—moody, hand-crafted, and filled with little details. It reminded us of a gothic storybook. The sound design is subtle but effective, especially when things start to click between timelines. We especially liked how the environments shift as you solve puzzles.

Image credit: Screenshot from The Past Within, © Rusty Lake. Source: rustylake.com

🕹️ Replayability – 3/5

While the story stays the same, you can switch roles (past and future) for a slightly different experience. It’s definitely worth replaying once with the roles reversed, but beyond that, it’s a one-and-done game. Fortunately, it’s memorable enough to justify a couple of plays.

✅ Pros

• Asymmetric gameplay makes both roles feel unique
• Fantastic communication-based puzzles
• Strong atmosphere and intriguing mystery
• Cross-platform and easy to set up

❌ Cons

• Minimal replay value after both roles are played
• Some puzzles may be unclear without repeated trial-and-error
• Requires a chat setup (no in-game voice or text)

🧾 Final Verdict – 4/5

The Past Within is one of the most inventive co-op puzzle games out there. It’s short, smart, and demands real teamwork. If you and a friend (or partner) love solving mysteries together, this is a must-play. Just make sure your mics—and your patience—are ready.

🎮 If You Enjoyed This…

We found that this game felt very similar to Tick Tock: A Tale for Two, which we liked as well.