Parallel Lab

Parallel Lab is a two-player cooperative puzzle game with escape-room elements. You play as detectives Ally and Old Dog, who are often separated and must share distinct clues to solve puzzles together. While pursuing the dangerous Cryptic Killer, they become his targets and unwilling participants in his twisted experiment.

Story and presentation

This noir-inspired adventure is the second standalone chapter in the Cryptic Killer cooperative point-and-click puzzle series. It can be played without prior knowledge of the series; Unboxing the Cryptic Killer is an earlier chapter that introduces the detectives and their nemesis. Cutscenes appear as comic-book pages, with almost 100 pages telling the story.

Solve puzzles together

Each player discovers clues needed to solve puzzles on the other player's side, so communication and teamwork are essential. The game contains over 80 puzzles, including redirecting water flows, finding computer passwords, opening intricate locks, deciphering ciphers, soldering electronic components and waking up a drunk. Some steps one player completes unlock the next step for their partner.

You can take notes, sketch solutions and interact with the environment in creative ways. NPCs respond dynamically to each player, and some conversations are puzzles that you solve together. Levels also give players ways to bother their partner, such as knocking on a window to distract them, poking them or shaking their screen.

Cooperative mini-games

The game includes retro-inspired mini-games with cooperative twists, including:

• Darts
• Three in a Row
• Match Three
• Claw Machine
• Push and Pull