We Were Here

About

"We Were Here" is a challenging cooperative first-person puzzle game. Players are trapped in a sinister castle and must communicate and solve puzzles to escape. Each player sees different parts of the castle, requiring effective teamwork and strategic thinking. With a focus on atmospheric exploration and immersive storytelling, "We Were Here" offers a unique experience for pairs of adventurous gamers.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 14,479 reviews

gameplay202 positive mentions

stability342 negative mentions

gameplay
612 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
5%
The gameplay of "We Were Here" is characterized by its unique cooperative mechanics, requiring players to communicate effectively to solve puzzles in an atmospheric setting. While the game offers engaging and innovative puzzle design, it suffers from technical issues, including bugs and frustrating mechanics, which can detract from the overall experience. Players can expect around 1-3 hours of gameplay, making it a short but enjoyable co-op adventure, particularly when played with a friend.
- “The gameplay in 'We Were Here' is very exciting and challenging.”
- “With its innovative gameplay mechanics, atmospheric setting, and mind-bending puzzles, 'We Were Here' offers an immersive and exhilarating gaming experience that's unlike anything else out there.”
- “The heart of 'We Were Here' lies in its cooperative puzzle-solving mechanics.”
- “The puzzles aren't necessarily challenging nor are they the kind that just make you fry your brain, so it's a great casual game that has about 1-2 hours of gameplay depending on how stuck you get on puzzles.”
- “The puzzle design is frustrating, and the last puzzle is one of the worst gameplay sequences I ever had to endure.”
- “Normally I write good reviews, but this game was anything but enjoyable. On top of the game-breaking bugs causing multiple resets, there were boring puzzles, lots of guesswork, and a lot of just repeating sections due to unexplained mechanics.”
story
534 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
60%
7%
The game's story is generally perceived as minimal and lacking depth, often taking a backseat to the cooperative puzzle-solving gameplay. While some players appreciate the intriguing atmosphere and hints of a larger narrative, many find the plot underwhelming or non-existent, with only basic elements introduced through puzzles and environmental storytelling. Overall, the focus on gameplay over narrative leaves players divided, with some enjoying the simplicity while others desire a more robust storyline.
- “A great adventure co-op game that uses partnership skills and tricky mind games to create a compelling and entertaining story as well as gameplay!”
- “The story is extremely interesting with a nice splash of horror.”
- “The story and presentation are rather minimalistic, but the atmosphere and gameplay make it a memorable experience.”
- “The game ends abruptly, without much backstory or reasoning.”
- “The story is as bare-boned as it can get, but the puzzles were interesting and engaging.”
- “The only thing I really wish the game had more was a motivating story, as I didn't really feel hooked onto the plot and doing the puzzles felt disconnected to the story.”
graphics
505 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
51%
6%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the charming art style and atmospheric design, which effectively enhances the gameplay experience. While some noted that the visuals can be basic or dated, especially for a free game, others highlighted that the graphics contribute positively to the overall immersion and puzzle-solving elements. However, several users reported graphical glitches and issues with readability at lower settings, which can detract from the experience.
- “The graphics are really good, and the amount of artistic effort put into this was also outstanding.”
- “The immersive atmosphere, enhanced by impressive visuals and hauntingly beautiful music, creates an atmosphere of tension and excitement that's hard to replicate in other co-op games.”
- “For a free game, the graphics and gameplay were pleasantly surprising, and the ending was very well done.”
- “The graphics are simple but effective in creating a spooky atmosphere.”
- “The graphics kept resetting at consistent times too (it was unloading/loading textures).”
- “If you have your graphics on a low setting, the text isn't readable and you get stuck in the game.”
atmosphere
450 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
32%
1%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience with haunting visuals and a captivating soundtrack. Players appreciate the blend of tension and mystery, which is complemented by clever puzzle design and cooperative gameplay mechanics. While some find the atmosphere to be slightly creepy rather than outright horror, it consistently contributes to a thrilling and engaging environment that keeps players on edge.
- “I love the eerie atmosphere and unique setting that keeps you on edge while unraveling the mystery.”
- “Visually, 'We Were Here' excels in creating a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is amazing and the puzzles are the correct difficulty.”
- “The atmosphere is kind of creepy though, the sound and the graphics will slowly build up some tension in mind.”
- “The atmosphere isn't too dark but still creepy with ghostly themes.”
- “The atmosphere, ambient noise, and music really do make this game feel scary as all hell.”
stability
344 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, such as unresponsive controls, visual issues, and game-breaking errors. While some users found the experience enjoyable despite these problems, many noted that the frequent technical issues made the game frustrating and at times unplayable. Overall, the consensus is that the game is too buggy to recommend without reservations, although its free status somewhat mitigates these concerns.
- “I encountered no glitches.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes.”
- “I experienced consistent performance throughout my playtime.”
- “The game is extremely buggy, confusing and unclear.”
- “Exceptionally buggy to the point of unplayability.”
- “The game has insane glitches that make it borderline unplayable, and right as we defeated one of the levels we were forced to restart because my partner died the second it was finished.”
replayability
306 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
59%
24%
The game's replayability is generally considered low, with many players noting that once the puzzles are solved, they lose their challenge and novelty. While there are two distinct roles (explorer and librarian) that offer slightly different experiences, most players feel that the limited variation in puzzle solutions and the short gameplay length (around 2-3 hours) significantly diminish the incentive to replay. Some players appreciate the opportunity to switch roles for a different perspective or to achieve completionist goals, but overall, the consensus is that the game is best enjoyed as a one-time experience.
- “The game has good replay value because each playthrough can be different depending on how you and your partner approach the puzzles.”
- “Replayability: multiple playthroughs are encouraged to experience both sides of the cooperative puzzle-solving dynamic.”
- “The puzzles are randomised each time and you can switch between the two roles, so there's lots of replay value.”
- “One negative I have (which is mostly unavoidable I think) is that the game has almost no replay value due to the fact that you'll know the answers to the puzzles after you play through once.”
- “The lack of additional content or alternate paths limits the replayability.”
- “Unfortunately, no replay value because the puzzles do not change much.”
music
201 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
53%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, creating a haunting and immersive experience that complements the gameplay. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's emotional depth and its role in building tension, although some note issues with volume levels that can overshadow important sound cues. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's eerie ambiance and engaging puzzle-solving experience.
- “The immersive atmosphere, enhanced by impressive visuals and hauntingly beautiful music, creates an atmosphere of tension and excitement that's hard to replicate in other co-op games.”
- “The soundtrack perfectly fit in with the rest of the game's atmosphere, and made it that much more immersive.”
- “This game is a perfect work of art, it has a beautiful soundtrack and captivating visuals.”
- “Music: I don't remember much music, oddly enough... probably because we spent the whole time communicating!”
- “The music is way too loud even at 2%, hiding the sound of the chain when it comes to the map reveal.”
- “The music can get a bit repetitive, especially when you're trying to think.”
humor
187 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in this game is a standout feature, with players frequently describing their experiences as hilarious, especially when playing with friends. The cooperative nature of the game leads to amusing miscommunications and creative descriptions of symbols, resulting in laughter and memorable moments. Overall, the blend of humor and challenge, along with some creepy elements, makes for a uniquely entertaining experience that players highly recommend.
- “I dive into this cooperative adventure with my buddy, and it’s hilarious: I'm yelling riddles into a walkie-talkie like a panicked adventurer, while they’re getting lost in a castle that feels like a medieval IKEA.”
- “We quickly came up with hilarious names for the symbols and both had moments of getting creeped out by that goddam marionette.”
- “The game is very funny, I had a great time playing this with my friend.”
- “The deep: (annoyed) not funny.”
- “Really not funny.”
grinding
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
30%
66%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the lack of checkpoints and the repetitive nature of certain puzzles. Many reviews highlight that while some puzzles are enjoyable, they often become overly time-consuming and annoying, detracting from the overall experience. Bugs and design flaws further exacerbate the grind, making it feel more like a chore than a challenge.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “Minor grinding.”
- “Since there are few checkpoints, you have to redo puzzles you've already completed, which is extremely tedious.”
- “The puzzles themselves were quite bland and disappointing, with the 'walking through the coloured gates one' being so tedious because of all the walking back and forth.”
- “It starts off very fun and has good bosses and a fast way to get to them but later on it becomes very tedious and frustrating as the bosses start to become dumb and unfair and you have to spend a while through a gimmicky version of Legend of Zelda which adds nothing to the game just to get back to the boss and die in a matter of seconds, this makes it hard to beat bosses as the long walk time adds to the anger of dying.”
optimization
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
41%
34%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, bugs, and lag, particularly on lower-end systems. While some users managed to run the game smoothly on decent hardware, others experienced frustrating frame rate drops and crashes, indicating that overall optimization is lacking. Despite its fun gameplay and engaging puzzles, the game's technical performance detracts from the experience for many players.
- “The game runs smoothly on my PC without any major issues.”
- “Performance-wise, the game does not take much to run at all. I use a $200 potato and was able to run the game on medium graphics, with 60 fps, and the game still looked amazing.”
- “Excellent game to pass one evening with a friend: runs smoothly and pretty quick to finish.”
- “This game is extremely buggy and poorly optimized.”
- “The concept seems beautiful, but the game feels poorly optimized as it randomly freezes, with alt+F4 being the only solution.”
- “Even on the lowest setting and lowest resolution, you're lucky to get above 40fps average, which is odd because you get about the same frame rate on the absolute highest settings.”
emotional
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players expressing feelings of sadness and attachment, particularly towards the game's ending, which often leads to tears and heartfelt moments. Players report experiencing a range of emotions, from joy to heartbreak, especially when playing with friends or partners, highlighting the game's ability to create deep emotional connections through its narrative and cooperative gameplay. Overall, the game is described as a touching and impactful experience that resonates long after completion.
- “My friend and I cried manly tears at the end of the game.”
- “The ending had me emotional; getting left behind alone was hard, but my friend having to leave me was even harder.”
- “An amazing, well thought out puzzle game with a heart-wrenching end!”
monetization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
71%
The monetization aspect of the game is primarily focused on being a free experience with minimal ads, mainly promoting a paid sequel. Players appreciate the lack of intrusive advertisements and in-game purchases, viewing it more as a creative advertisement for the full game rather than a typical free-to-play model. Overall, the game is well-received for its fun gameplay and clever design without the burden of aggressive monetization tactics.
- “Creativity 100/10 - I must give the developers a round of applause for the creativity in that game, both in the puzzles and also in the achievements. They were really funny and much more than what I expected from a free-to-play co-op game with no in-game purchases.”
- “No advertisement spam of any kind... will you survive?”
- “This one is free, but it did not serve as a good advertisement for the paid experiences at all.”
- “I feel this is an advertising platform for this genre - but competed, very well presented and designed.”
- “Is an advertisement for the real game though.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is highlighted through charming character designs that resonate with players, creating emotional connections. The combination of engaging puzzles and anxiety-inducing threats enhances the overall experience, making certain characters particularly memorable.
- “Nice puzzles, a bit of anxiety-inducing threats, and very cute character designs.”
- “I fell in love with a certain character design you will meet.”