DLCThe Past Within SoundtrackLoading store offers
The Past Within
The Past Within is built around a shared puzzle session: one player explores the past, the other the future, and both trade observations to move forward. At ≈ $2.54 from 
GOG, consider whether you and a partner are ready to play together, since solo play is not an option.
Each player needs a copy and a way to communicate. Steam players report 94% positive across 14,732 reviews; the game's two-player setup is the key practical detail when deciding whether to buy now. The offer activates on DRM-Free, and the listed interface languages include Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese-Brazil, Russian, Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Spanish-Latin America, Romanian, Finnish, and Ukrainian, which can help you and your partner coordinate the session.
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Price History
Past 36 months · Updated dailyHistorical Low~ $1.792025-12Current Low Across Stores~ $5.99Steamvs. Historical Low+235%
Prices cover Steam and 39 authorized stores; only legitimate offers are counted. The chart shows weekly market-wide lows and Steam's official price across the past 36 months.
DLC
01About The Past Within
In The Past Within, one player explores the past while the other investigates the future, and each must describe their discoveries so they can solve puzzles together. This co-op-only point-and-click adventure unfolds across two chapters and presents its worlds in both 2D and 3D. Steam players: 94% positive from 14,732 reviews. Steam PC interface languages include Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese-Brazil, Russian, Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Spanish-Latin America, Romanian, Finnish, and Ukrainian. Released November 2, 2022.
Credits
Composer
Victor Butzelaar
Developer
Rusty Lake
Publisher
Rusty Lake
Lowest recorded in 36 months
$1.792025-12-09 · SteamBase game · same records as the chart above; USD history, not a regional Steam low.Language support
| Language | Interface | Subtitles | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese | Yes | Yes | — |
| Traditional Chinese | Yes | Yes | — |
| English | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Show 20 more languages
| Language | Interface | Subtitles | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| French | Yes | Yes | — |
| Italian | Yes | Yes | — |
| German | Yes | Yes | — |
| Spanish | Yes | Yes | — |
| Czech | Yes | Yes | — |
| Danish | Yes | Yes | — |
| Dutch | Yes | Yes | — |
| Japanese | Yes | Yes | — |
| Korean | Yes | Yes | — |
| Polish | Yes | Yes | — |
| Portuguese-Brazil | Yes | Yes | — |
| Russian | Yes | Yes | — |
| Swedish | Yes | Yes | — |
| Turkish | Yes | Yes | — |
| Vietnamese | Yes | Yes | — |
| Portuguese | Yes | Yes | — |
| Spanish-Latin America | Yes | Yes | — |
| Romanian | Yes | Yes | — |
| Finnish | Yes | Yes | — |
| Ukrainian | Yes | Yes | — |
Steam PC edition data · 2026-10-18
02Before you buy
Two players, two copies
The Steam PC game is co-op only, and each player needs their own copy. You will also need a way to communicate while playing.
Different perspectives
One player takes the past and the other the future; sharing observations is central to solving the puzzles. The two players explore in 2D and 3D perspectives.
Language support
Steam PC lists English audio, with subtitles in English and other supported interface languages.
03Frequently asked questions
Can I play The Past Within alone?
No. It is designed for two players cooperating from separate perspectives.
What is the story about?
The players investigate mysteries surrounding Albert Vanderboom and help Rose set her father's plan in motion.
Can players use different platforms?
The description says partners can play on their preferred platform as long as they can communicate. This page covers the Steam PC version.
How many chapters are there?
The game description says it contains two chapters.
Popular Steam reviews
Native-language selection · 10 reviewsSelected helpful reviews in this language show both recommendations and criticisms. This selection does not represent the overall positive rating; opinions reflect the version reviewed.
RecommendedSteam player
I am the cheap ass friend :)Show moreShow less
3.2 hours at review511 people found this helpful
Received for free
Not recommendedSteam player
I really like the rusty lake series and I played each game multiple times. I had to say that I am a little disappointed with this one. Pros: 1. Sound design is awesome as always. I preferred music from the white door but this one is still great. 2. The environment is doing its job perfectly. I really got spooked a few times. 3. The 3D part is pretty cool and also new experience for old rusty lake players. 4. I had fun with my partner. I like that we need to communicate to solve puzzles. 5. My partner has never played rusty lake series and he did enjoyed the game and won't complain about it. Mixed: The multi player part isn't synced or connected which I don't really care. It's not a priority for me at least. It's just a bit confusing when the game tell both of you to do something at exactly the same time. Cons: 1. The play time is really short even compared with other rusty lake games. I finished the game with my partner for about one hour (butterfly mode). We bought the game for a 40% discount so 3.5$ each so I won't complain too much. However, if I bought this at full price, I'd feel a bit more disappointed. 2. The play time would be fine with me if there are more puzzles and story elements in the game. On the contrary, the puzzles are quite simple. Most of the story we already know from past games. Maybe I missed some lore but I feel like there isn't much to say about the story. 3. Some of the puzzles are simply redundant. There are multiple puzzles that are just letting you repeat the same instruction times and times again, which isn't really fun. It can be a little frustrating. 4. There's not much point in trying both modes to be honest. Both butterfly and bee has same puzzles only, of course, you get a bee or a butterfly model. The answers may change sequence but it's really the same thing. My partner and I finished both mode in 2 hours. 5. The 3D part is cool but I have to be honest, I'm not that impressed. Different games (the room for example) have done similar things before. It's not bad but it's not impressive enough to let me ignore the previous points. Overall, I don't think I would recommend this game to a new player at this moment. My partner didn't complain about it and think it's okay. But he did say he probably wouldn't buy this if I didn't want to play it (I gifted him one). If you really really do love the rusty lake lore and want to dive deep into the details, sure this game isn't that bad. I just think there are too few features that attract new players or returning players who love puzzles and would like to know how the story develops. I also wouldn't recommend buying this one at full price. Two or three dollars for me is more acceptable than 6 dollars. I have to say I'm a bit disappointed and I did expected more from the rusty lake series.Show moreShow less
2.5 hours at review186 people found this helpful
RecommendedSteam player
Game is a great way to spend $6, or $12 if you got a cheap ass friendShow moreShow less
3.2 hours at review502 people found this helpful
Not recommendedSteam player
Too short and simple. One run is 1 hour, there are 4 repetitive combinations of game-play for achievements.Show moreShow less
1.4 hours at review34 people found this helpful
RecommendedSteam player
I got yelled by my fianceShow moreShow less
2.3 hours at review113 people found this helpful
Not recommendedSteam player
I'm a fan of the Rusty lake series and have played them since they were f2P on Kongregate. The game is good with fun puzzles and the classic creepy ambiance. but it is far too short for the price. Me and my wife finished a playthrough in 70 min which is not much entertainment time/ money. If the game didn't require booth to have a copy the price would have been fair.Show moreShow less
1.3 hours at review32 people found this helpful
RecommendedSteam player
This game is all about proper communication with your partner. you can spend much longer hours to figure things out or find ways to get each others message across. I highly recommend it and it's worth streaming/recording if you wish to do so and show the world how much of an idiot you both are in communications.Show moreShow less
3.5 hours at review105 people found this helpful
Not recommendedSteam player
This game is way too easy (and boring) compared to other Rusty Lake titles. Have you tried finishing a puzzle game simply by following a step-by-step guide? That's what this game feels like. When you need to solve a "puzzle" (e.g. enter a code) in this game, you can, and must, get the solution from your cooperator. The solution isn't hidden behind any real puzzle, instead it's basically "right there". All the other person needs to do is to send it to you. I finished this game with my friend in one and a half hour and not a single moment was spent on actual "thinking" -- we were simply passing information back and forth all the time.Show moreShow less
1.6 hours at review32 people found this helpful
RecommendedSteam player
Nobody will read my review, so I'll just say I'm gay.Show moreShow less
1.9 hours at review95 people found this helpful
Not recommendedSteam player
Definitely a good and macabre story but the puzzles were pretty lame. I don't even think a single one was more complicated than just reading the obvious code to your partner and wait for them to enter it. So it was a fun experience but it was very bad puzzle game.Show moreShow less
1.7 hours at review30 people found this helpful
Source: original Steam user reviews. Helpful votes are an archived snapshot, not live data. Last collected: 08/15/2026.