We Were Here

We Were Here is a two-player escape room game about navigating an abandoned castle with the help of your partner. It is the first episode in a series of co-op puzzle games that share the same title. Developed as a student project and released for free, it has introduced countless players to the world of collaborative, virtual escape rooms.

Each player needs to run the game on their own device and connect online. You will also need a working microphone. We Were Here plays asymmetrically, meaning here that the players will be confronted with different situations and communicate over their mic, and they should never be able to look at each other’s screen directly. To begin the game, you can either create your own room and have a partner join you afterwards, or you could join a random room and play with a stranger. You can also choose either one of two roles: Librarian or Explorer.

Once you’ve joined another player, a short animation will set the scene. You play as two adventurers trapped in a castle surrounded by snow. Though you are separated from each other by mysterious circumstances, you’ll find two walkie-talkies to communicate. Only one player can speak at a time. This means you’ll have to refrain from talking over each other, or risk missing key information.

While the Librarian dwells in a large room where clues and helpful tools are scattered, the Explorer goes through a series of puzzle chambers with specific actions to perform. Often, it might not be clear how objects can be used until the Explorer has come across the related puzzle. Both players should describe what they see to each other, working together to overcome the obstacles.

Some puzzle chambers have time limits or additional challenges that add tension to the game. In certain chambers, it’s even possible for players to die. There are some light horror elements, including creepy imagery and clues written in blood. But fumbling with communication over the walkie-talkies introduces chaos and fun to the experience.

This description was written by Cay Macres.