Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 69 | 9 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 95% | 89 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 76 | 12 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 94% | 89 | 50 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 142 reviews sampled · 134 total reviews in window · weighted 47.6 up / 2.8 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (12)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 80
“The Past Within is an intricate and extremely well designed puzzler which will scratch the itch of escape room devotees and fans of Rusty Lake's kooky series alike. The co-op only limitation may put some off, but this is a treat for those who are looking for a different kind of gaming experience.”
read full review ↗ - 79
“While it has an unconventional means of supporting co-op play (you need to play with a copy on 2 different devices), it delivers nicely”
read full review ↗ - 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.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“An imaginative co-op experience that demands communication and teamwork, and conjures something memorable and unique as a result.”
read full review ↗ - 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.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The Past Within was a lovely surprise. I’m not the biggest fan of point-and-click games these days, but by adding a co-op spin and playing with two great fellow gamers, I found myself hooked on the experience. This is exactly what I love about indie developers. While they certainly lack the budget, it’s here where we see innovation in gaming. The Past Within is well worth purchasing, even if you must buy an extra copy for a friend to experience. While the experience is short, it will likely stay in your gaming memories for many years to come”
read full review ↗ - 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.”
read full review ↗ - 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.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“The Past Within is a fun co-op game that is really fun, and that is mainly due to the unique gameplay. Graphically it is not very high, but the difference between 2D and 3D of the Past and the Future just does its job. Especially fans of Rusty Lake's previous games will immediately recognize the style. Although not all puzzles are equally brilliant, it is still fun to solve them together. Do you have an hour or two of free time left and would you like to do your own escape room on the couch with a friend? Then get The Past Within for a few euros and start puzzling quickly!”
read full review ↗ - 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.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Rusty Lake is smart enough to keep things brief. [Issue#378, p.114]”
- 80
“The Past Within surrounds us with its dark fantasy to create this cooperative puzzle game.”
read full review ↗
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Screen RantPatch history
- New The Past Within Secret Update Live Now!Apr 20, 2024
- The Past Within - Update 7.8.0.0Apr 20, 2024
- The Past Within - Update 7.6.0.1Mar 21, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- The Past Within - Update 7.4.0.0Nov 25, 2022
- The Past Within - Update 7.3.0.0Nov 17, 2022
- The Past Within - Update 7.2.1.0Nov 7, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- The Past Within - Patch Notes 7.1.0.0Nov 4, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- The Past Within goes to Gamescom [Update]Jul 28, 2022