Parallel Experiment [PC] | REVIEW

Puzzle fans looking for a fresh co-op challenge certainly have something intriguing in Parallel Experiment. Designed exclusively for online two-player co-op action (you’ll need a co-op partner here but the cross-platform support with mobile users helps), this point-and-click adventure blends escape room mechanics with a dark, supernatural crime story, tasking players with thinking, communicating, and collaborating as they take on the twisted mind of a serial killer.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Parallel Experiment is a co-operative point-and-click puzzle game that challenges two players to solve a string of increasingly bizarre mysteries tied to a serial killer known as the Cryptic Killer. The story aims high, delving into supernatural and psychological territory, but while these themes are intriguing in theory, I found myself largely uninterested in the narrative. The delivery, mostly through textboxes and comic-book-style panels, was serviceable, but I was far more engaged by the puzzles than by the plot and found that it could get a little convoluted by the end. Being able to alternate dialogue options with your co-op partner can make it interesting (especially in the game’s ‘good cop, bad cop’ scenario), but I was never fully invested.

While the game features full voiceovers, there was a peculiar mix of accents that often kicked in mid-speech that just felt a little jarring. Some performances were strong and help bring a cinematic edge to tense moments, but others just felt uneven, making it harder to get fully immersed in the narrative. The main characters themselves – detectives Ally Abernathy and Steven ‘Old Dog’ Kowalski – are likable enough protagonists and have an endearing relationship, but at the same time, I felt like I was simply going through the motions in a lot of their interactions with other characters.

“While not without flaws, Parallel Experiment delivers a smart and engaging co-operative experience that thrives on its inventive puzzle design and dynamic teamwork.“

Visually, Parallel Experiment takes a comic-inspired approach, with the environments (especially the dark corners of Krakow and the killer’s twisted lairs) the real standout – atmospheric, moody, and full of detail. I wasn’t as big of a fan of the character models and their animations didn’t always land, but they’re serviceable enough (even IF Ally looked a bit like Pennywise the Clown in one particular side-scrolling sequence involving elevators). Still, the game’s art direction serves the gameplay well, and the setting is consistently compelling to explore.

What truly shines in Parallel Experiment is the puzzle design. There’s a rich variety of challenges that kept the experience engaging from start to finish, from intricate escape-room setups to logic puzzles, decoding visual patterns, and even quirky tasks like mixing cocktails for a demon-like patron… the game constantly introduces new ideas. You’ll go from tricking a parrot into revealing a pattern of lights to unravelling an elevator code hidden in paintings, and every puzzle feels deliberately crafted and rewarding to solve.

Check out some screenshots down below:

The mix of gameplay perspectives also adds to the variety, with players switching between first-person point-and-clicking, side-scrolling sections, and even top-down layouts. There are even mini-games like darts to get stuck into, whilst optional puzzles tied to collectible tokens provide satisfying detours for players willing to explore. That said, the top-down and side-scrolling sequences are guilty of feeling a little slow and clunky, and the controls during these segments can become more frustrating than fun – especially when you’ve already figured out a solution and just need to slog through the execution. It’s never a game-breaker, but it did become noticeable towards the back end of the game.

There’s no doubting that Parallel Experiment’s greatest strength comes with how it embraces co-op play. Communication is essential as puzzles often involve separate clues that only make sense when pieced together across both players’ screens, with this asynchronous design encouraging teamwork throughout. I appreciated how some puzzles naturally played to our different strengths too – my partner tackled the top-down maze puzzle with ease as I wandered aimlessly, while I handled the gear-based tile puzzle that left him completely stumped. That balance made victories feel like shared accomplishments, and simply working together as a team was as satisfying as solving the puzzles themselves. It’s a credit to the game’s puzzle design and shows that Parallel Experiment is a mighty fine example of teamwork making the dream work.

Developer: Eleven Puzzles
Publisher: Eleven Puzzles
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed)
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2012320/Parallel_Experiment/