Parallel Experiment
Our verdict
8/10
- Difficulty: Medium
- Players: 2
- Playtime: 4–8 h
Parallel Experiment is a two-player online co-op puzzle game from Eleven Puzzles and the second chapter of their Cryptic Killer series. Two noir detectives, Ally and Old Dog, are pulled into a serial killer's experiment and spend much of it separated, each seeing different clues the other needs. Both players need their own copy, but it runs cross-platform on PC, Mac, phone and tablet. It is built for pairs who like talking puzzles through, and several reviewers recommend it as a date-night game.
Players rate it very positively, at about 88% of 453 reviews. Reviewers call it a big step up from the first game in content, story and puzzle quality, with more than 80 puzzles that start gentle and get much harder near the end. Most pairs finished in four to eight hours over a few evenings. One tip from players: hidden tokens are missable, so look for them before leaving each level.
The late difficulty spike is real, and one reviewer found some puzzles vague or switching rules mid-way. A few pairs had server connection trouble. If you have a regular puzzle partner, it is an easy recommendation at this price.
Pros
- Split clues force real communication between both detectives
- 80+ puzzles with a clear ramp from easy to tough
- Cross-platform play across PC, Mac and mobile
Cons
- Both players need their own copy and voice chat
- Late puzzles spike sharply and some feel vague
- Missable tokens and occasional server connection issues
About
IMPORTANT: "Parallel Experiment" is a 2-player cooperative puzzle game with escape room-like elements. Each player must have their own copy on either mobile, tablet, PC or Mac (cross-platform play is supported).
In the game players take on the roles of two detectives who are often separated, each with different clues, and must work together to solve puzzles. Internet connection and voice communication are essential. Need a Player Two? Join our community on Discord! Find the link on the side of our Steam page.
Parallel Experiment is a noir-inspired adventure with a comic book art style, featuring detectives Ally and Old Dog. While following the trail of the dangerous Cryptic Killer, they suddenly become his targets and are now unwilling participants in his twisted experiment.
This is the second standalone chapter in the “Cryptic Killer” cooperative point-and-click puzzle game series. You can play Unboxing the Cryptic Killer first, if you want to learn more about our detectives and their nemesis, but Parallel Experiment can be enjoyed without prior knowledge.
KEY FEATURES
🔍 Two Player Co-Op
In Parallel Experiment, players must rely on their communication skills as they’re separated and must each discover unique clues that are vital for solving puzzles on the other end. Teamwork is essential to crack the Cryptic Killer’s codes.
🧩 Challenging Collaborative Puzzles
There are over 80 puzzles striking the perfect balance between challenging yet fair. But you're not facing them on your own! Communicate with your partner on how to best proceed, solve a puzzle on your end that unlocks the next step for them and discover a wide variety of puzzles from redirecting water flows, finding computer passwords and unlocking intricate locks, to deciphering cryptic ciphers, soldering electronic components, and even waking up a drunk!
🕹️ Two Can Play That Game
Looking for a break from the main investigation? Dive into a variety of retro-inspired mini-games designed with a fresh cooperative twist. Challenge each other to darts, Three in a Row, Match Three, Claw Machine, Push and Pull, and more. Think you know these classics? We’ve reinvented them for a whole new co-op experience
🗨️ Cooperative Dialogues
Uncover vital clues through collaborative conversations. NPCs respond dynamically to each player, offering new layers of interaction that only teamwork can unravel. Some conversations are puzzles in themselves that you need to solve together!
🖼️ A story told in panels
Our love for comic books shines in Parallel Experiment. Every cutscene is presented as a beautifully crafted comic book page, immersing you in a gripping, noir-inspired narrative.
How many pages did we create to tell the story? Almost 100 pages! Even we were surprised by how much it took, but every panel was worth it to deliver a story that keeps you on edge until the very last frame.
✍️ Draw on… Everything!
Every detective needs a notebook. In Parallel Experiment, players can jot down notes, sketch solutions, and interact with the environment in creative ways. But we all know what you're going to draw first…
🐒 Annoy Each Other
This is a key feature? Yes. Yes, it is.
Each level will have some way for players to annoy their co-op partner: knock on a window to distract them, poke them, make their screens shake. You already know you'll be doing this just by reading it, right?
Parallel Experiment has a variety of mind-twisting challenges that push the boundaries of cooperative puzzle design, offering situations never seen before in other games.
