Customer Reviews (100)

Carlos Lopez • 2025-03-31T00:20:15.806Z

awesome

Dirk Bezuidenhout • 2025-03-30T17:20:47.199Z

Very fun

Alex Xanthopoulos • 2025-03-27T23:18:09.660Z

very good game but kinda of small in my opinion

Summary of Key Insights

  • The Past Within enjoys overwhelmingly positive sentiment, with a very high percentage of 5-star reviews. The core gameplay mechanic of cooperative puzzle-solving is highly praised, particularly when played with partners, family members, or friends.
  • A significant weakness mentioned by several users is the game's short length, which leads to a feeling of lacking replay value for some. Some users also expressed a desire for more challenging puzzles.
  • The unique cross-platform co-op experience is a major draw, and the Rusty Lake universe setting is appreciated by existing fans.
  • Overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, reflected in the high average rating.

Quantitative Metrics:

  • Overall Rating: Highly positive based on the score distribution.
  • Score Distribution:
    • 5-star: 84%
    • 4-star: 9%
    • 3-star: 3%
    • 2-star: 1%
    • 1-star: 3%

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 100 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not specified, assuming recent reviews.
  • Analysis Methods: Sentiment analysis based on review text, keyword extraction to identify common themes (e.g., "short," "fun," "co-op"), and manual review of individual comments.

Key User Pain Points

  • Short Length: This is the most frequently mentioned negative aspect. Users feel the game is too short for the price, leading to disappointment and a desire for more content.
  • Puzzle Difficulty: Some users found the puzzles too easy or too similar between the two perspectives (Past/Future), reducing the challenge and replayability.
  • Control Issues (Future Perspective): One user mentioned difficulty navigating the Future perspective in Chapter 2 due to control issues, specifically leaving screens.
  • Flickering/Flashing: One user found the constant flashing and flickering distracting and potentially problematic.
  • Co-op Requirement: While intended, one user rated the game 1-star because it is co-op only, suggesting a misunderstanding or dislike of this core feature.

Frequently Requested Features

  • More Content/Longer Game: The overwhelming majority of requests are for more levels, chapters, or a longer overall game experience.
  • More Difficult Puzzles: Some users want more challenging puzzles to increase engagement and replayability.
  • More Co-op Games: Users specifically request more co-op puzzle games from Rusty Lake in the future.
  • Part 2/Sequel: A few users explicitly asked for a sequel or continuation of the story.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Fun and Engaging Co-op Experience: The core co-op gameplay is highly praised. Users enjoyed playing with friends, family, and partners. Communication and teamwork are highlighted as key aspects of the fun.
  • Unique Concept and Gameplay: The Past/Future perspectives and cross-platform play are seen as innovative and refreshing.
  • Well-Written Story and Interesting Lore: The Rusty Lake universe and storyline are appreciated, particularly by existing fans.
  • Good Puzzles: While some found them too easy, many users enjoyed the puzzles and found them well-designed.
  • Excellent Quality and Design: Users praised the graphics, details, and overall quality of the game.
  • Creepy/Suspenseful Atmosphere: Many found the game's creepy and suspenseful atmosphere enjoyable.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Content Expansion: Develop additional chapters or levels to address the widespread complaint about the game's short length. This is crucial for improving user satisfaction and perceived value.
  • Puzzle Difficulty Adjustment: Introduce options for different difficulty levels or design more complex and varied puzzles, especially for the second playthrough.

Medium Priority:

  • Control Improvements: Address the control issues reported in the Future perspective, potentially by adding a dedicated "back" button or improving navigation.
  • Accessibility Options: Consider adding options to reduce or eliminate flashing/flickering effects for users sensitive to these visuals.

Low Priority:

  • Clarify Co-op Requirement: While the game is designed as co-op, make the requirement even more prominent in the app description and onboarding process to avoid confusion.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Co-op Puzzle Game Platform: A platform dedicated to co-op puzzle games with cross-platform support, allowing players to easily find partners and play together.
  • Rusty Lake Subscription Service: A subscription service offering access to all Rusty Lake games and future content, addressing the desire for more content from the developer.
  • AI Puzzle Partner: An AI companion for co-op puzzle games that can provide hints or play as the second player for solo players (though this would detract from the core experience).

Trends and Observations

  • Strong Community: The Rusty Lake fanbase is very engaged and passionate about the games.
  • Emphasis on Social Play: The reviews consistently highlight the social aspect of playing with others, emphasizing the importance of communication and teamwork.
  • No significant language preferences detected: Reviews are written in English and Spanish, and Portuguese, indicating a global audience.

Conclusion

The Past Within is a highly successful co-op puzzle game with a strong positive reception. The main weakness is its short length, which should be addressed with content expansions. Focus on maintaining the quality of puzzles and the engaging co-op experience that users love. Overall, the game is a strong example of co-op puzzle design and has a loyal fanbase.

Overall Recommendation: Prioritize content expansion and puzzle difficulty adjustments to further enhance user satisfaction and replayability.

Original App Link

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.RustyLake.ThePastWithin