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Choose Escape Academy if you want the flexibility to play alone, solve escape-room challenges locally with a friend, or play online. Choose the original We Were Here if you specifically want an online, two-player adventure in which each person sees different information and must describe it clearly to the other. The deciding questions are whether solo or couch play matters, how much voice coordination you enjoy, and whether your two platforms are compatible.
The short answer
These games are both cooperative puzzle adventures, but they are built around different social formats.
- Escape Academy: the more flexible option. Its official game page says it can be played in single-player or cooperatively with a friend, either locally or online. The game uses handcrafted escape-room challenges in a colorful school setting.
- We Were Here: the more specialized option. It is designed for two players online. One player is the Librarian and the other is the Explorer; they are separated in a castle, receive different information, and must explain what they know through voice communication.
If you are buying one game without knowing exactly how you will play, Escape Academy is the safer choice because it supports solo and local play as well as online co-op. If both players are committed to an online session and enjoy talking through incomplete information, We Were Here offers the clearer, more focused version of that experience.
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How the two games differ
| Decision factor | Escape Academy | We Were Here (original) |
|---|---|---|
| Solo play | Yes. The official site explicitly says it is playable alone. | The official description presents it as a cooperative adventure for two and does not list a solo mode. |
| Player arrangement | One player or two-player co-op. | Exactly two cooperative roles: Librarian and Explorer. |
| Local play | Supported, including local split-screen co-op. | The official description centers on online two-player play rather than couch co-op. |
| Online play | Supported for two-player co-op. | Core format; the two players are separated and communicate remotely. |
| Puzzle information | Presented as escape-room challenges; the official material does not require every puzzle to use asymmetric information. | Asymmetric by design: each player has information the other needs. |
| Communication | Useful for co-op, but local play is available when both people are in the same room. | Essential. Players describe what they see and coordinate actions using voice communication. |
| Listed platforms | PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Epic Games Store. | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch; the official page states that cross-platform play is supported. |
| Setting | A colorful escape-room school. | A frozen-wasteland and castle premise. |
The table describes the original We Were Here, not later entries in that series. Store listings and platform support can change, so confirm the exact edition and device combination before paying.
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What playing Escape Academy is like
Solo flexibility
Escape Academy is the better fit when your second player is not always available. The official site explicitly presents the game as playable in single-player, so you can begin alone and return to co-op later rather than arranging every session around another person. This is its biggest structural advantage over We Were Here.
Local and online co-op
The official description supports playing with a friend locally or online. Steam lists single-player, online co-op, shared/split-screen co-op, and cross-platform multiplayer features. For a household that wants to sit on one screen, that local option matters: you can point at the same display, talk naturally, and avoid the audio setup required by a remote session.
Online co-op is useful when the two players are in different places. Because the game is presented as an escape-room experience rather than a fixed two-role communication test, it is a more forgiving choice for pairs who want to discuss clues together without one player necessarily being locked away from the other.
Escape-room structure
The official game material describes handcrafted escape-room challenges. That framing tells you what kind of problem solving to expect: look for clues, interpret them, and combine observations to progress. It does not establish a specific puzzle count, completion time, difficulty curve, or hands-on performance result, so those details should not be treated as fixed specifications.
Who benefits most
- Players who sometimes play alone and sometimes with a friend.
- Couples, families, or roommates who want local co-op.
- Friends who want online co-op but do not want every puzzle to depend on a strict information split.
- Groups comparing an escape-room theme with a darker, more communication-intensive adventure.
What playing We Were Here is like
Two roles with different information
We Were Here is built around a deliberate information gap. The official page describes one player as the Librarian, confined to a secluded part of the castle, while the Explorer moves through the halls and guides them. Neither role is simply watching the other person solve the same puzzle; each player must contribute what they can see or understand.
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Voice communication is part of the puzzle
Total Mayhem Games describes the central mechanic this way: “Every room challenges your wits and ability to communicate clearly, work together and think outside of the box, using only your voice and a walkie-talkie.” That is not merely a recommendation to use chat. Describing symbols, positions, routes, and relationships accurately is one of the actions needed to solve the rooms.
A headset with a microphone is an optional practical accessory for an online session because clear voice communication is central. It is not established as a requirement, and no particular model is necessary. Players can use whatever voice setup their platform supports, provided both people can hear and speak reliably.
A committed two-player format
The official page presents the original game as a cooperative adventure for two and does not advertise a single-player mode. It is therefore a poor match if you want to play independently or if your partner may frequently cancel. It is a strong match when both players are available and enjoy explaining partial information rather than seeing the entire puzzle together.
Who benefits most
- Two friends who can stay in a voice conversation for the whole session.
- Players who enjoy asymmetric design, where each person has a different view of the problem.
- Pairs who want teamwork and communication to be the main challenge, not an optional convenience.
- Players attracted to a frozen-wasteland and castle atmosphere rather than a colorful school setting.
Choose by the way you will actually play
If you may play alone
Pick Escape Academy. Its official description explicitly includes single-player. We Were Here’s official description does not provide a solo mode, so buying it for solo use would conflict with the format the developer describes.
If you need couch co-op
Pick Escape Academy. Its official material supports local co-op, and Steam identifies shared/split-screen co-op. The original We Were Here page focuses on two players separated in an online adventure and does not establish local split-screen support.
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If you want a remote communication test
Pick We Were Here. The Librarian and Explorer roles, separated locations, and different information make verbal coordination central rather than incidental.
If your group wants a more flexible first purchase
Pick Escape Academy. It covers solo, local, and online situations. That flexibility reduces the chance that the game will sit unused because the second player is unavailable or cannot join remotely.
If both players use different platforms
Check the exact store listings for both devices before purchasing either title. The official Escape Academy page lists PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One and Series X|S, Steam, and Epic Games Store. The official We Were Here page lists PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch and says cross-platform gameplay is supported. Those broad statements do not identify every possible platform-to-platform pairing, account requirement, or edition restriction.
Platform and purchase checks
Escape Academy checklist
- Identify the platform on which you will play: PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, Steam, or Epic Games Store.
- If playing online, confirm that both players are using editions and services that can join one another.
- If playing locally, verify that the chosen platform and edition expose the shared or split-screen mode listed by Steam or the relevant store.
- Review the current store page for the base game, DLC, and any bundle. Steam lists DLC and an edition bundle, but prices and sale status change.
We Were Here checklist
- Confirm that both players have access to a supported device: PC, PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch.
- Check the current store or support information for the exact two-platform pairing. “Cross-platform” is a broad statement and does not prove that every pair of devices can connect.
- Arrange a voice channel and test both microphones before starting. The game’s official description makes communication part of solving the rooms.
- Verify the current edition and purchase terms for both players. The reviewed official information does not establish whether every storefront configuration requires one copy or two.
Cost, editions, and what is not established
| Question | What is established | What you must verify |
|---|---|---|
| Current price | Not stated by the reviewed official material. | Price, currency, taxes, discounts, and sale dates on your platform’s current store page. |
| Sale terms | Not fixed; Steam’s offers can change. | Whether a promotion applies to the base game, DLC, or bundle you intend to buy. |
| Number of copies for online play | Not established for every storefront configuration. | The store’s multiplayer and family-sharing rules for your two accounts. |
| DLC and bundles | Steam lists DLC and an edition bundle for Escape Academy. | Which content is included in each edition and whether both players need matching content. |
| Cross-platform pairings | We Were Here’s official page states cross-platform gameplay; Escape Academy’s listed platforms include PC and consoles. | The exact pairing, edition, account, and service requirements for your devices. |
Do not use the historical player figure as a purchasing or popularity guarantee. A May 31, 2023 announcement from 5th Planet Games A/S reported more than one million Escape Academy players across all platforms since release. That is a cumulative historical audience figure, not a current active-player count, sales total, or comparison with We Were Here. The reviewed material does not provide a directly comparable published player count or sales figure for We Were Here.
How to prepare for a good co-op session
Preparation for Escape Academy
- Decide whether you will use local or online co-op before launching, because the communication setup is different.
- For local play, place both players where the display and controls are comfortable and agree on how to share input.
- For online play, establish a voice channel even though the game does not make asymmetric communication its defining rule; discussing clues is still the practical way to cooperate.
- If one player may be absent, start with the knowledge that the game can also be played alone.
Preparation for We Were Here
- Use a reliable voice setup and test volume before entering a room.
- Describe information in a repeatable order: location first, then shape or symbol, then color, number, direction, or relationship.
- Ask the other player to repeat critical details before acting. This reduces errors caused by similar symbols or misunderstood positions.
- Keep both players involved. The Librarian and Explorer are different roles, but the official premise treats communication and teamwork as shared responsibilities.
Communication techniques for We Were Here
Use stable names for objects
Do not rely on “the thing on the left” if the other player cannot see your layout. Agree on short names for symbols or landmarks and keep using the same names. If a room contains several similar objects, add a distinguishing feature such as color, position, or shape.
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Separate observation from instruction
First state what is visible; then state what you think should happen. For example, “I see three vertical symbols, with the circular one in the middle” is easier to verify than “Press the middle one.” This approach fits a game in which the two players do not share the same information.
Confirm changes
After an action, say what changed and whether the expected result appeared. If nothing changed, report that immediately instead of repeating an uncertain sequence. Clear status updates prevent one player from solving a stale version of the puzzle.
Manage the conversation
Give the other person time to finish describing a room. Interruptions are especially costly when a solution depends on a sequence, orientation, or exact symbol order. The game’s official wording makes clear communication a core skill, so conversation discipline is part of effective play.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common mismatch cases
“We bought We Were Here, but one person wants to play alone.”
The original game is described as a two-player cooperative adventure and does not advertise solo play. If solo access is a requirement, Escape Academy is the supported alternative among these two.
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“We expected We Were Here to work on every cross-platform combination.”
The official page says cross-platform gameplay is supported, but that is not a complete compatibility matrix. Check the current store or support page for the exact two devices and editions before assuming the connection will work.
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“We want to play in the same room.”
Escape Academy is the safer choice because local co-op is explicitly supported. The original We Were Here description is organized around two separated online roles and does not establish couch co-op.
“We want an intense communication challenge, but one player keeps revealing the whole solution.”
Agree to describe only what each person can legitimately observe in their role. The appeal of We Were Here comes from combining partial information; announcing a complete solution removes the central teamwork challenge.
“The store price or bundle looks different from an older guide.”
Use the current platform listing. Steam’s Escape Academy price, DLC pricing, bundle contents, and sale status are volatile, and the reviewed material does not provide a lasting price that can be safely quoted.
Where the later We Were Here games fit
We Were Here Too and We Were Here Forever are later entries in the same series. Their official pages also describe online, two-player asymmetrical puzzle play in which communication and teamwork remain central. They are logical follow-ups for players who choose the original We Were Here because they enjoy the separated-role format.
We Were Here Tomorrow is described in an official series announcement as an upcoming entry for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S with crossplay. Treat it as upcoming rather than as an available substitute unless the current release information confirms otherwise. These later games do not change the comparison between Escape Academy and the original We Were Here; they simply provide a path for players who prefer the latter’s format.
Final decision
Buy Escape Academy when flexibility is the priority: it supports solo play, local split-screen co-op, and online co-op, and its escape-room presentation works for players who want to solve together without a mandatory information split.
Buy We Were Here when the point of the session is communication itself: two players take different roles, explore separated parts of a castle, and must use voice descriptions to combine what they know. Confirm the exact platform pairing and current purchase terms first, because broad cross-platform claims do not establish every device combination.
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