The Past Within

Asymmetrical co-op: Is it the new hotness in multiplayer or just a gimmick? In these games each player plays on their own screen and all game instances run independently of one another. There’s no digital networking involved here – no Wi-Fi, LAN, or internet required. Instead, players make progress by discussing what they see on their screens and passing info back and forth. For example, secret codes in player one’s game unlock doors for player two; a recipe in one game instance allows the other player to brew a strange concoction; a diagram that’s nonsensical to one player provides vital clues to the other. Only by working together can players reach the end.

Developer Rusty Lake is renowned for their escape room games, so I was curious to see how well their formula would translate to co-op. Fans of their previous games will be happy to know that the distinct visual style and macabre themes have made the jump to multiplayer intact. The PG-13 horror and sparse line art are all accounted for, and even when the play area shifts between 2D and 3D the visuals retain their unique character. The story, likewise, is cryptically vague. One player is in the past; the other is in the future. Can they bridge the gap between the timelines? It’s not quite Edgar Allen Poe but as an impetus for a co-op adventure it suffices.

As for the puzzles, I found them to be well-designed and fair, evidenced by how infrequently my wife and I resorted to sneaking a peek at the other’s screen. Last time we played this type of game together (Tick Tock: A Tale for Two), we cheated more brazenly. While some players may feel The Past Within is too light on challenge, the relative ease makes it a great game to play with a partner who has less experience with video games.

The Past Within is a short game that will probably take you less than two hours to complete. If you want to extend the playtime, you can switch roles with your partner and play through the game again with remixed puzzles; this lets you experience the other side of the story without having to slog through the same codes you cracked before. Because why escape once when you can escape twice?