Any chance for a mode that allows you to play this game solo?

[Mutant Overlord]

Basically a player would have a switch button between present and past or something.
Or just simple allow this game to be played in Steam remote play.

[Jef]

From the FAQ:

Is there a single-player mode?
No, The Past Within is designed to be a co-op experience: everything from the puzzles to the story aims to create a sense of accomplishment through working together. The challenging design process of The Past Within lead to creating a two-player game and unfortunately simply adding a singleplayer function would not work as we’ve explained more elaborately in the Devlogs on our blog[blog.rustylake.com] and on Steam. Don't worry though, we are working on more single-player games at the moment: you might have seen a teaser with a metro...

[Sugar]

Yes, you can play alone! Just need two devices and two copies of game.

And from FAQ:

Can I play by myself on 2 different devices?
As you can see in our demo, the entire game was designed as a co-op experience and playing the game by yourself on two devices will greatly diminish the enjoyment. We strongly recommend playing with a friend or joining our Discord[www.discord.gg] to pair with another Rusty Lake fan for maximum enjoyment.

[Mutant Overlord]

Diminish the enjoyment? Ok, I guess I deserve 0 enjoyment from this game because I did want to play it but I won't purchase two copies just for that.. I could use Steam remote play at least but Store page says its not also allowed so I guess screw me lol
Sigh, I am just gonna wait for their next game.

[Stuntkojima]

Originally posted by Mutant Overlord:

Diminish the enjoyment? Ok, I guess I deserve 0 enjoyment from this game because I did want to play it but I won't purchase two copies just for that.. I could use Steam remote play at least but Store page says its not also allowed so I guess screw me lol
Sigh, I am just gonna wait for their next game.

Do you have an android device? That's how you could play it.

[Zap Rosdower]

Originally posted by Crash:

Yes, you can play alone! Just need two devices and two copies of game.

And from FAQ:

Can I play by myself on 2 different devices?
As you can see in our demo, the entire game was designed as a co-op experience and playing the game by yourself on two devices will greatly diminish the enjoyment. We strongly recommend playing with a friend or joining our Discord[www.discord.gg] to pair with another Rusty Lake fan for maximum enjoyment.

I'm very unhappy I can't play the latest Rusty Lake game because of this extremely player unfriendly design decision, but there is absolutely no way I'm jumping thru those kinds of hoops to try to play it. Frankly, I'm much closer just deciding "F the Rusty Lake team" and stop buying any of their games from here on out. I'm not there yet, but this long time fan is done with them if this doesn't end up being a one time mistake.

[Watkins Sleuth]

For those that really want to play this game solo. Here is the easiest way.

First launch the steam version of the game. When it loads up click on the gear icon on the top right and turn off full screen.

In the steam menu right click on the "Past Within" in your steam library and click properties in the drop down menu. In this new menu click the tab on the left called "local files" and then the button called "Browse".

In the newly opened window you will be in the directory for the game. Double click "The Past Within" to run a second version of the game on the same computer. You can now play both windowed versions on the same monitor if you want or on different monitors if you have it. When you click on one window the other one will be paused.

Have fun all.

[Mutant Overlord]

Originally posted by Zap Rosdower:

Originally posted by Crash:

Yes, you can play alone! Just need two devices and two copies of game.

And from FAQ:

I'm very unhappy I can't play the latest Rusty Lake game because of this extremely player unfriendly design decision, but there is absolutely no way I'm jumping thru those kinds of hoops to try to play it. Frankly, I'm much closer just deciding "F the Rusty Lake team" and stop buying any of their games from here on out. I'm not there yet, but this long time fan is done with them if this doesn't end up being a one time mistake.

" I'm much closer just deciding "F the Rusty Lake team" and stop buying any of their games from here on out. "
Whoah, buddy. Aren't you going a bit too close to the sun ?

[Mutant Overlord]

Originally posted by Watkins Sleuth:

For those that really want to play this game solo. Here is the easiest way.

First launch the steam version of the game. When it loads up click on the gear icon on the top right and turn off full screen.

In the steam menu right click on the "Past Within" in your steam library and click properties in the drop down menu. In this new menu click the tab on the left called "local files" and then the button called "Browse".

In the newly opened window you will be in the directory for the game. Double click "The Past Within" to run a second version of the game on the same computer. You can now play both windowed versions on the same monitor if you want or on different monitors if you have it. When you click on one window the other one will be paused.

Have fun all.

Yeah thats cool but developer could just simple allow Steam Remote play feature for this game.
This way a person like me could play with a friend who doesn't own the game because he doesn't want to own game OR said person could play the solo with additional Steam account for free.

[Jef]

Steam Remote play doesnt work like that, Remote play is more like Couch Coop, this game requires two different screens for it to make sense.

Via Remote Play both players would be looking at the same screen

[chipperMDW]

Originally posted by Crash:

Yes, you can play alone! Just need two devices and two copies of game.

One problem with buying the game twice to play solo is that it sends the developers the message that you are two customers who are ok with the forced co-op model. If you're someone who insists on playing solo, that's probably the opposite of the message you'd like to send.

Not to mention that you shouldn't have to pay double to supposedly "greatly diminish the enjoyment."

Originally posted by Watkins Sleuth:

For those that really want to play this game solo. Here is the easiest way.

Thank you. I tried this with the demo, but it doesn't seem to allow running two concurrent instances. Can you confirm that this does not work with the demo? ('Cuz if it is supposed to work that way the demo and doesn't work that way on my system for whatever reason, then I'd be wary of it also not working for me with the actual game.)

[Stuntkojima]

Originally posted by chipperMDW:

Originally posted by Crash:

Yes, you can play alone! Just need two devices and two copies of game.

One problem with buying the game twice to play solo is that it sends the developers the message that you are two customers who are ok with the forced co-op model. If you're someone who insists on playing solo, that's probably the opposite of the message you'd like to send.

Not to mention that you shouldn't have to pay double to supposedly "greatly diminish the enjoyment."

Originally posted by Watkins Sleuth:

For those that really want to play this game solo. Here is the easiest way.

Thank you. I tried this with the demo, but it doesn't seem to allow running two concurrent instances. Can you confirm that this does not work with the demo? ('Cuz if it is supposed to work that way the demo and doesn't work that way on my system for whatever reason, then I'd be wary of it also not working for me with the actual game.)

You can refund the game if it doesn't work

[Obsidrian]

Also so disappointed :(

[Fr. Bella van SØrensalt]

I've played through the game within two hours on two different operating screens on the same monitor in window-mode. One game started from steam and the second from the harddrive in the game folder with the exe.

But it seems that the achievements are locked or bugged.
Ingame I unlocked a few, but not even one is unlocked on steam itself.

[N.G.]

Originally posted by BK,DFr. BeLLa VAN SØrensalt:

But it seems that the achievements are locked or bugged.

it is necessary to reset achievements in the game before the second playthrough. Then it's okay to fall out in steam. I had this problem too

[HackerJack]

Originally posted by Mutant Overlord:

Diminish the enjoyment? Ok, I guess I deserve 0 enjoyment from this game because I did want to play it but I won't purchase two copies just for that.. I could use Steam remote play at least but Store page says its not also allowed so I guess screw me lol
Sigh, I am just gonna wait for their next game.

I agree, it's a thoughtless decision by the Rusty Lake team, many of us play their games as it allows us to feel a personal connection with the story and run it t our on pace. They are obviously also very unusual games with a convoluted lore and I can say for certain that none of my gaming friends have any interest in them let alone playing a coop version. Sure I could match up with some rando via discord or something but surely the point of coop i to play with someone you have a connection to.

I appreciate it is their decision to make the game this way, it is after all their art, but it is clearly going to put off a reasonable portion of those who have been supporting them from the start and I hope they realise this.