We Were Here games in order: which should you play first?

Your partner can see the clue you need, but you cannot see their screen. That is the appeal of We Were Here: describing a strange shape or making sense of someone else's directions is part of solving the puzzle. Among co-op escape room games, this series makes the gap between your two perspectives central to the adventure.

For most first-time pairs on Steam, start with the original: it is free and gives you a compact introduction to that idea. If you would prefer a short, more playful outing, consider The FriendShip. You can also begin with a later game; following the series from the start is a choice, not homework.

The We Were Here games in release order

These are the original release years; some console versions arrived later:

1. We Were Here (2017). The first adventure in Castle Rock, with two players separated and relying on their radios.
2. We Were Here Too (2018). A standalone return to the castle, with different locations and clues for each partner.
3. We Were Here Together (2019). A rescue expedition that begins with both players at base camp before taking them through Antarctica and into the castle.
4. We Were Here Forever (2022). A larger escape adventure that reaches beyond the castle's prison into its surrounding world.
5. We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip (2023). A short, standalone spin-off built around a boat ride in an abandoned amusement park. It is a separate game, not DLC for Forever.
6. We Were Here Tomorrow (2026). Released on 20 October 2026, this adventure takes the pair into the retro-futuristic Norček facility, with a different tool for each explorer.

The main series runs from the original through Too, Together and Forever to Tomorrow. The FriendShip belongs to the separate Expeditions line, so it can fit anywhere in your play order. Each game stands on its own. Release order is our recommendation if you want to discover the connected story and recurring imagery as the series introduced them; it is not a promise that every game will be harder than the last.

Which one should you play first?

Start with We Were Here to find out whether you enjoy the core idea. Its free Steam version makes it an easy first recommendation. One player searches a more confined area while the other explores the castle, so you quickly discover what it feels like to depend on information you cannot check for yourself. Choose it for that focused introduction, rather than expecting every puzzle to be easy.

Choose The FriendShip for a short, self-contained outing. Its amusement-park setting gives the collaboration a more playful frame. The challenges grade your performance, which gives you a reason to compare what worked and try again. We would pick it when the attraction is sharing a few puzzles without beginning a longer castle adventure; you do not need to finish Forever first.

Choose Forever if you already want a longer escape-room campaign. It lets you begin without playing the earlier entries, and its journey from prison cells to the world outside gives the partnership a broader setting. It is our pick if you want to settle into a campaign together rather than sample the idea in one evening.

Together is also worth considering if exploring side by side appeals to you. You start in the same base camp and divide tasks before the adventure separates you more firmly. Tomorrow offers a different draw: a science-fiction mystery where your distinct tools matter alongside the clues you exchange. Pick it for that premise if it interests you more than the castle setting.

What each player brings to the puzzle

The interesting question is often not “Who knows the answer?” but “What does my partner need to know?” A description such as “the symbol on the left” only helps once you agree which way you are looking. Try describing a shape and its position separately, then ask your partner to repeat the detail that distinguishes it from the others. That gives you something specific to correct.

The original's unequal spaces make the division of information especially clear. Together adds shared exploration, while Tomorrow gives each player a distinct tool. Across those setups, the player holding a clue still has a problem to solve: working out which part matters and how it relates to the other side. Avoid assigning one of you a permanent “easy” job based on gaming experience.

If you want to understand the other perspective, replaying with the opposite role is a useful option. It reveals what your partner had to work with, although knowing the solution changes the challenge.

Does this kind of co-op suit you?

These are online adventures for exactly two players, with no solo or local split-screen mode. Each of you needs your own device, access to the same game, an internet connection and a microphone. Playing in the same room still means using separate screens.

The series supports cross-play, but platform availability differs. The original, Too and Together are on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch; Forever and The FriendShip are on PC, PlayStation and Xbox. Tomorrow is on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Make sure you choose an entry available on both of your devices.

Much of the pleasure comes from describing, listening and revising an idea together. If voice communication or reading visual clues presents an access barrier, check the specific game's options against your needs before committing to a campaign. An outside hint can also help you move past a sticking point: agree how much you want revealed, then look up only the puzzle you are on.

Planning your first session

Think of the original, Too and The FriendShip as the shorter outings. Together and Forever are longer commitments: the developer's rough estimates are 6-8 hours for Together and 12 or more for Forever. Your pace will depend on which puzzles click, so leave room to finish another day.

Test the in-game radios before getting absorbed in the puzzles. Keep paper nearby if you find it easier to sketch a layout than hold it in your head. When stopping, check your latest checkpoint and jot down the question you were trying to answer; that is more useful on your return than a page of unexplained symbols.

Our recommended starting point

Start with the original on Steam if you are curious about the series, then move to Too if you want to follow its development in release order. Choose The FriendShip if a short standalone trip sounds more inviting, or Forever if you already want a longer campaign. What matters is whether you both enjoy building an answer from two incomplete views. Once that clicks, you have a good reason to keep exploring.