What order to play the We Were Here series before Tomorrow: free entries, story continuity, lengths and the best path for new co-op pairs.
Which We Were Here Game to Play First? Series Order
New to the franchise with Tomorrow launching October 20? Start with the free 2017 original, then decide. Every entry tells a self-contained story, so there is no required order — but there is a smart order, and it costs nothing to begin.
Total Mayhem Games' series spans five releases and more than 15 million players since 2017. This page maps all of them: what each game is, how long it takes, what it costs, and the two play paths we recommend depending on how much time you have before launch.
Every Series Game
| Game | Year | Price | Length | Role in the series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| We Were Here | 2017 | Free | 2–4 hours | Pilot episode; the zero-cost trial |
| We Were Here Too | 2018 | Paid (budget) | 4–6 hours | Second chapter; deeper asymmetric puzzles |
| We Were Here Together | 2019 | Paid (budget) | 5–8 hours | Third entry; larger environments |
| We Were Here Forever | 2022 | Paid (budget) | 10–15 hours | Biggest entry; six chapters, the modern peak |
| Expeditions: The FriendShip | 2023 | Free | Shorter spin-off | Free co-op spin-off; 8M+ downloads |
| We Were Here Tomorrow | 2026 | $19.99 | 8–15 h (est.) | Fifth entry; retro-future reboot of the formula |
The commercial footprint is remarkable for an indie co-op niche: the three paid games sold almost 5 million units on Steam, and the free FriendShip spin-off passed 8 million downloads within months. Tomorrow inherits that entire audience — and its puzzle design lineage.
Official source: Studio background (Total Mayhem Games) Official source: Franchise sales analysis
Recommended Path A: The Full Run (4+ Weeks)
If launch is a month or more away, play in release order: the free original, Too, Together, Forever, then Tomorrow. Release order is story order, puzzle complexity ramps naturally, and you arrive at Tomorrow fluent in the series' communication language. Total time is roughly 25–35 hours across all entries — a serious but rewarding co-op project, and every hour trains the exact skills Tomorrow demands.
Recommended Path B: The Shortcut (One Week)
Short on time? Play the free original (one evening, zero cost) and then Forever (the biggest, most modern entry). Skip Too and Together for now — they are good games, but the original teaches the loop and Forever teaches the scale. Then walk into Tomorrow on October 20 fully prepared. The FriendShip spin-off is a fun free dessert for after.
| Time available | Play | Skip for now |
|---|---|---|
| One evening | We Were Here (free) | Everything else |
| One week | Free original + Forever | Too, Together, FriendShip |
| One month+ | All five in release order | Nothing |
Do Earlier Games Spoil Tomorrow?
No — and the reverse is also safe. Tomorrow's premise (amnesiac Explorers, a new facility, a new antagonist) is deliberately newcomer-friendly; the developers describe it as an accessible introduction for new players alongside a nostalgic return for veterans. Earlier games add resonance — the "fellow Explorers" you set out to rescue carry more weight if you know who was lost — but never prerequisites. Continuity notes live in story explained.
Tomorrow requires a committed duo. The free 2017 game is a two-hour compatibility test: if you and your partner enjoy describing symbols to each other at midnight, you have your launch pair. If it frustrates you both, better to learn that free than at $19.99 each.
About the Studio
Total Mayhem Games is an independent studio based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, grown to 40+ developers since the 2017 debut. Tomorrow is its long-awaited fifth entry and its first current-generation-only release — no PS4, Xbox One, or Switch versions — signaling the series' biggest technical step forward. Platform detail is in crossplay and platforms.
Official source: We Were Here series on Wikipedia
FAQ
Do I need to play earlier We Were Here games first?
No. Every entry is self-contained, and Tomorrow is the most newcomer-friendly starting point. Earlier games add context, not requirements.
Which game is free?
Two: the 2017 original We Were Here and the 2023 FriendShip spin-off. Start with the original — it teaches the co-op loop the whole series uses.
What is the best order to play them in?
Release order: 2017 original, Too, Together, Forever, then Tomorrow. Short on time? Original plus Forever covers the essentials.
How long is the whole series?
Roughly 25–35 hours for the four main entries plus the spin-off, depending on your pair. Individual lengths are in how long to beat.
Related Guides
- Story and setting explained — where Tomorrow fits in continuity.
- How long to beat — Tomorrow's estimated length.
- Price and editions — what Tomorrow costs for two players.
- Demo guide — the April preview of the opening.
More We Were Here Tomorrow Wiki Guides
We Were Here Tomorrow achievements: Steam achievements confirmed, full list unannounced. What we know, series achievement style, and launch tracking.
Asymmetric co-op explained: split areas, split information, unique tools and walkie-talkie teamwork. How Tomorrow's two-player design actually plays.
The two Explorers in We Were Here Tomorrow: orange and red suits, walkie-talkies, unique tools and distinct abilities. Character guide, spoiler-free.
Yes, We Were Here Tomorrow has full crossplay across Steam, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. How cross-platform co-op works and what to know before launch.
The April 2026 We Were Here Tomorrow demo: what it contained, the three Norcek puzzles, and why it is no longer available. Honest demo recap.
We Were Here Tomorrow FAQ: release date, price, crossplay, solo, co-op setup, PC specs, languages, story and series order — quick verified answers.
All 16 supported languages in We Were Here Tomorrow: interface, full audio and subtitles per language, including Chinese, Japanese and Spanish.
Who is Norcek Industries and who is the Director in We Were Here Tomorrow? Every confirmed fact about the facility and its owner, spoiler-free.