Which We Were Here Game to Play First? A Starter Guide

Start with the original We Were Here if you are unsure. Its official Steam page identifies it as the series' free pilot episode. That makes it our default starting point for a pair deciding whether describing clues through walkie-talkies sounds fun in practice. Choose We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip instead if you specifically want a smaller standalone introduction.

You do not have to finish earlier games before starting a later adventure. Arrange two players, separate devices, internet access and working microphones before worrying about series order.

We checked the official sources on October 26, 2026. These recommendations are editorial judgments about documented features, rather than hands-on reviews. We have not played these sessions or tested current connection reliability.

Which We Were Here game to play first: choose your route

Our recommendation is to agree on the kind of evening you want before choosing a title. Trying the format, following the story and committing to an appealing setting are different priorities. None requires buying the whole series immediately.

Why the original is our default recommendation

The developer's original-game page describes a Librarian confined to a small part of the castle and an Explorer roaming its halls. The players must explain their surroundings using their voices and walkie-talkies. That division makes the first game a useful way to discover whether your pair enjoys exchanging incomplete information.

The practical question is whether both people enjoy being needed for different reasons. One person may have information while the other can act on it. If you prefer examining the same object together, that separation could be a drawback. If explaining a symbol clearly feels like part of solving the puzzle, it is the attraction.

The original's Steam listing also describes an atmospheric thriller setting. Discuss that tone before starting; a free download alone is not a reason to choose an evening neither person wants. Our broader co-op puzzle games on Steam for two guide offers other teamwork formats.

Do you need to play the We Were Here games in order?

No. The developer's series FAQ says the games can be enjoyed in any order, while recommending release order for players interested in the overall story and progression. Its listed sequence is:

1. We Were Here
2. We Were Here Too
3. We Were Here Together
4. We Were Here Forever
5. We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip

That FAQ's sequence predates Tomorrow. The current Tomorrow Steam description confirms that the series consists of standalone online co-op adventures with connected stories. For a release-order route through the current lineup, continue to We Were Here Tomorrow after those five.

The FriendShip is a separate Expeditions adventure, rather than a required next chapter after Forever. You can use it as your introduction, then return to the original if you decide to follow the main series from its beginning. Avoid reading plot summaries merely to prepare: the official standalone guidance already answers the prerequisite question.

When should you start somewhere else?

Pick The FriendShip when the size of the introduction matters most. Its official page emphasizes a smaller experience built around communication, teamwork, trust and working toward a golden score. Our reason to choose it first is that focused premise; we are not claiming it is the easiest entry or promising a completion time.

Pick Forever if its setting is what persuaded both players. The developer describes Castle Rock and Rockbury, exploration, and moments when partners are separated or together. It is a reasonable first choice for a pair already drawn to that castle escape.

Pick Tomorrow if you prefer its facility mystery. The official page describes Norček Industries, two partners with walkie-talkies and distinct tools, and cooperation to uncover its secrets. Choosing that premise is a valid editorial reason to skip ahead; it is not evidence that its puzzles are easier or harder than the original's.

What do both players need before starting?

Plan for two separate setups. Total Mayhem Games' official Reddit FAQ explicitly says its games are online co-op only, with no local co-op. Two controllers connected to one computer are not the intended arrangement. Our local co-op versus online co-op guide explains that distinction.

For a Steam session, have each player install the same title on their own compatible computer and use their own account. Check that game's current system requirements on both machines; supporting the original does not establish that a computer supports every later entry.

Both the original and Tomorrow's Steam descriptions require a working PC-compatible microphone for each player. Tomorrow also explicitly requires an internet connection. Before beginning, test that both voices are audible, select the intended microphone and follow the game's voice prompts. The developer's FAQ recommends checking the microphone in another app and matching the device selected in the game.

Finally, agree on when to ask for hints and let each person finish describing a clue. Those are our preparation suggestions. The best first entry for your pair is one whose premise you both want, on equipment that lets both people participate fully.