The Past Within is a landmark achievement in cooperative gaming. Rusty Lake has taken their signature surreal, eerie atmosphere and split it across two perspectives—The Future and The Past. It is one of the most unique 'asymmetrical' puzzle experiences I have ever played.
Communication is the entire game. You aren't just solving puzzles on your screen; you are describing what you see to your partner so they can unlock a box on theirs. The way the two timelines interact is brilliant and often creepy. It’s a short experience, but the high quality of the puzzles and the sheer novelty of the format make it an absolute must-play for fans of the Room series or Rusty Lake's previous works. You will never look at a cubical box the same way again.
I usually despise multiplayer-only requirements, but Rusty Lake has managed to make it work here. The asymmetry is well-handled; you really do feel like you're working across dimensions. It maintains that unsettling, Lynchian atmosphere that the developers are known for.
It’s short—too short for the price, perhaps—but the quality of the puzzles is higher than almost anything else on the App Store. My only real gripe is that once you’ve done both sides, there’s zero reason to go back. It’s a one-and-done experience, but it’s a memorable one. Rare praise from me.
Performance: Flawless performance; the cross-device sync works perfectly.
Buy if: You have a dedicated partner and love atmospheric puzzles.
Skip if: You want to play solo or need more than 2 hours of content.
Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod
Version 1.4Mon May 06 2024
The Past Within - Update
To celebrate our 9-year anniversary as Rusty Lake, we’ve added a connection between Underground Blossom and The Past Within in the form of a secret mini-game. Check out our platforms to see how to establish a connection between The Past and The Future and unlock this secret mini-game in The Past Within.
Patch Notes 1.4
- New secret: A secret mini-game that can be accessed through information found in the latest Underground Blossom update!
- Small bug fixes
Thank you for your support!
Note: The Past Within is a co-op only game. Both players need to own a copy of the game on their own device (mobile, tablet or computer), as well as a way to communicate with each other. Play together with a friend or find a partner on our official Discord server!
The 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 the first co-op only point-and-click adventure set in the mysterious world of Rusty Lake.
Features:
▪ A co-op experience
Play together with a friend, one in The Past, the other in The Future. Work together to solve the puzzles and help Rose set her father’s plan in motion!
▪ Two worlds - Two perspectives
Both players will experience their environments in two different dimensions: 2D as well as in 3D - a first-time experience in the Rusty Lake universe!
▪ Cross-platform
As long as you can communicate with each other, you and your partner of choice can each play The Past Within on your preferred platform: Mac, PC and Nintendo Switch!
▪ Playtime & Replayability
The game contains 2 chapters and has an average play-time of 2 hours. For the full experience, we recommend replaying the game from the other perspective. Plus you can use our replayability feature for a fresh start with new solutions to all puzzles.
Requires iOS 13.1 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.Note: The Past Within is a co-op only game. Both players need to own a copy of the game on their own device (mobile, tablet or computer), as well as a way to communicate with each other. Play together with a friend or find a partner on our official Discord server!
The 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 the first co-op only point-and-click adventure set in the mysterious world of Rusty Lake.
Features:
▪ A co-op experience
Play together with a friend, one in The Past, the other in The Future. Work together to solve the puzzles and help Rose set her father’s plan in motion!
▪ Two worlds - Two perspectives
Both players will experience their environments in two different dimensions: 2D as well as in 3D - a first-time experience in the Rusty Lake universe!
▪ Cross-platform
As long as you can communicate with each other, you and your partner of choice can each play The Past Within on your preferred platform: Mac, PC and Nintendo Switch!
▪ Playtime & Replayability
The game contains 2 chapters and has an average play-time of 2 hours. For the full experience, we recommend replaying the game from the other perspective. Plus you can use our replayability feature for a fresh start with new solutions to all puzzles.
















The Past Within is the first co-op only adventure in the mysterious world of Rusty Lake. One player inhabits The Past, the other The Future. You must communicate with your partner to solve puzzles and help each other progress through different dimensions. Both players must own a copy of the game (or play on different devices) to experience the full story together.
First-of-its-kind co-op puzzle mechanic
Unsettling and immersive atmosphere
Cross-platform play (PC, Mobile, Console)
Deep lore within the Rusty Lake universe
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The game is designed to be played twice. After finishing as 'The Past,' swap roles with your partner to see the story from 'The Future' perspective and solve an entirely different set of puzzles.
No, The Past Within is designed strictly for two players. You will need a way to communicate with your partner (in person or via voice chat).