Epic Games Store is doing it again with their daily holiday giveaway, and today’s freebie is genuinely excellent. We Were Here Together, the third installment in one of the best co-op puzzle series ever made, is completely free to claim until 11 AM EST on December 27, 2025. This is a $12.99 game that regularly sells for full price, and once you claim it, it’s yours forever. If you have a friend who loves solving puzzles and can handle some serious communication challenges, this is an absolute must-grab.
What Makes We Were Here Together Special
We Were Here Together puts you and a friend in the shoes of Antarctic explorers trapped in a haunted castle. The catch? You’re separated for most of the game, forced to solve interconnected puzzles from different perspectives with nothing but walkie-talkies for communication. One player might see a pattern on their side that the other needs to replicate. Another puzzle might require one person to describe symbols while their partner translates them into actions. Every challenge demands clear communication and teamwork.
The series has built a reputation as some of the absolute best co-op gaming experiences available. Unlike games where co-op just means two people shooting the same enemies, We Were Here games make cooperation mandatory at the design level. You literally cannot progress without working together, describing what you see, and trusting your partner to relay accurate information. It’s the kind of game that tests friendships in the best possible way.
We Were Here Together is considered by many fans to be the best entry in the series. It’s longer than the first two games, with more complex puzzles that build on mechanics established in earlier installments. The game features multiple paths through certain sections, meaning you can play through twice with the same friend, swapping roles to see entirely different puzzle sets. That replay value is rare for puzzle games where solutions typically remain static once discovered.
How the Co-Op Actually Works
One question people always ask: do you need a microphone? Technically no, but realistically yes. The game includes an in-game walkie-talkie system for voice communication, but most players find it clunky and prefer using Discord, Skype, or any other voice chat platform instead. You could theoretically type everything out in text chat, but that would be painfully slow and ruin the pacing of puzzle-solving.
The game requires two copies for two players, but here’s where this free giveaway becomes brilliant: you only need to convince one friend to claim it while it’s free. If both of you grab it today, you both get a $13 game for nothing. That’s significantly easier than asking a friend to buy a game just to play with you. The low barrier to entry is why these Epic giveaways matter so much for multiplayer-focused games.
There’s no solo mode and no local co-op. This is strictly an online two-player experience. Some might see that as a limitation, but it’s actually core to the design philosophy. The developers at Total Mayhem Games built these puzzles specifically around two separated players communicating remotely, and adding single-player or splitscreen options would fundamentally break the experience they’re trying to create.
What You Need to Play
- Two copies of the game (both players must own it)
- A friend who’s committed to finishing 4-6 hour experience
- Voice communication via in-game walkie-talkie or external app
- Patience for puzzle-solving and clear communication
- Willingness to describe things accurately without visual reference
- Internet connection for online multiplayer
The Full We Were Here Series
We Were Here Together is the third game in a series that now includes five main titles plus spinoff experiences. The original We Were Here is permanently free on Steam, making it a perfect zero-cost entry point to see if you enjoy the formula. It’s shorter and simpler than the sequels, offering about 90 minutes of gameplay compared to Together’s 4-6 hours. If you like what you play in the first game, the sequels expand on every aspect.
We Were Here Too is the second game, priced under $15 and featuring more complex puzzles than the original. We Were Here Forever is the fourth installment, considered the longest and most challenging entry. There’s also We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip, a spinoff series of shorter puzzle experiences similar in length to the original game. The entire franchise is built around the same core concept: asymmetrical co-op where communication is the primary gameplay mechanic.
For players who enjoy the series, going through all the games in order provides a satisfying sense of progression as puzzle complexity increases. The developers clearly learned from each installment, refining mechanics and introducing new puzzle types that build on what came before. Starting with the free original game and then jumping to Together while it’s free gives you a solid chunk of the series without spending anything.
Epic’s Holiday Giveaway Continues
We Were Here Together is the tenth mystery game in Epic’s 2025 holiday giveaway event running through early January. The promotion features a different free game each day, with titles revealed 24 hours before the offer ends. Previous days have included Disco Elysium: The Final Cut on Christmas Day, The Callisto Protocol on Christmas Eve, and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night on December 23. Each game is free to claim for 24 hours before being replaced by the next mystery title.
This annual tradition has become one of gaming’s best holiday deals. Epic gives away genuinely good games rather than shovelware nobody wants. The 2025 lineup so far has featured critically acclaimed titles across multiple genres: action RPGs, horror shooters, metroidvania platformers, detective adventures, and now co-op puzzles. Whatever your taste in games, there’s likely been at least one freebie worth grabbing.
The giveaway runs until early January, meaning there are still several mystery games left to reveal. Epic hasn’t announced the full lineup in advance, keeping each day’s reveal as a surprise. History suggests the final days typically feature bigger titles as the event climaxes, so checking back daily through New Year’s is worthwhile for anyone building their PC game library without spending money.
Community Reception and Reviews
We Were Here Together holds a “Very Positive” rating on Steam with over 13,700 reviews, 83% of which are positive. Players consistently praise the clever puzzle design, the emphasis on communication, and the satisfaction of solving challenges through teamwork. Common criticisms focus on occasional technical issues and the requirement that both players own the game rather than offering a friend pass system like some co-op titles.
Reddit’s gaming communities have been celebrating this particular giveaway, with multiple users calling the We Were Here series “one of the most enjoyable cooperative experiences” they’ve played. One commenter noted they played We Were Here Together twice with different friends, deliberately keeping quiet about solutions to maintain the discovery experience. That replay value through swapping partner roles is frequently mentioned as a highlight.
The series has developed a dedicated fanbase that recommends it whenever co-op game discussions arise. PC Gamer has repeatedly featured We Were Here games in their best co-op roundups, with writers expressing genuine enthusiasm for the formula. The games aren’t AAA productions with massive budgets, but they execute their specific vision so well that polish matters less than design quality.
Why This Giveaway Matters More Than Most
Free single-player games are great, but free multiplayer games solve a bigger problem: the barrier of convincing friends to buy something just to play with you. When We Were Here Together costs $13 normally, asking a friend to purchase it creates friction. They might not be sure they’ll enjoy it, or maybe they’re on a budget, or they’re just hesitant to spend money on an unknown quantity. All those objections vanish when the game is free.
This makes today’s giveaway particularly valuable for anyone who’s been curious about the series but couldn’t get a co-op partner to commit. Send your friend the Epic store link, have them claim it for free, and suddenly you both own a game you can play together at zero financial risk. That elimination of purchase friction is why these multiplayer giveaways tend to see player count spikes significantly larger than single-player freebies.
The timing during the holiday season also helps. People have time off work or school, making longer co-op sessions more feasible than during busy periods. A 4-6 hour game can be completed in an afternoon or split across a couple of evening sessions. The holiday context transforms this from “a game I’ll play eventually” to “something my friend and I can do while we both have free time this week.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is We Were Here Together free on Epic Games Store?
We Were Here Together is free to claim until 11 AM EST (8 AM PST) on December 27, 2025. After that deadline, the game returns to its regular $12.99 price and is replaced by the next mystery game in Epic’s daily holiday giveaway. Once claimed during the free period, the game is permanently added to your Epic account.
Do both players need to claim We Were Here Together while it’s free?
Yes, We Were Here Together requires both players to own separate copies of the game. There’s no friend pass system where one purchase covers both players. This makes the free giveaway particularly valuable since both you and your co-op partner can claim it for free during the 24-hour window, saving $26 total compared to buying two copies.
Can you play We Were Here Together solo?
No, We Were Here Together is strictly a two-player online co-op game with no single-player mode. The puzzles are specifically designed around two separated players communicating to solve interconnected challenges. There’s also no local co-op or splitscreen option. You must play online with a friend who also owns the game.
Do you need a microphone for We Were Here Together?
While not technically required, voice communication is strongly recommended. The game includes an in-game walkie-talkie system, but most players prefer using Discord or other external voice chat apps for better audio quality. You could type everything in text chat, but it would be extremely slow and ruin the puzzle-solving flow that makes the game fun.
Is We Were Here Together crossplay between Epic and Steam?
Yes, We Were Here Together supports crossplay between Epic Games Store and Steam versions. One player can own it on Epic while their friend owns it on Steam, and they can still play together. This crossplay support removes platform barriers and makes the Epic giveaway useful even if your friend already owns the Steam version.
How long does it take to beat We Were Here Together?
Most players complete We Were Here Together in 4-6 hours depending on puzzle-solving speed and communication efficiency. The game offers some replay value through alternate paths that show different puzzles to each player, so playing through twice while swapping roles reveals new content. Speedrunners can finish faster, while groups struggling with puzzles might take longer.
What other We Were Here games are free?
The original We Were Here is permanently free on Steam, offering about 90 minutes of gameplay as an introduction to the series. The other entries (We Were Here Too, We Were Here Forever, and We Were Here Expeditions) are paid titles priced under $15 each. Epic previously gave away We Were Here Together in 2021, making this the second time it’s been free.
Don’t Miss This If You Love Co-Op Gaming
If you have even a passing interest in co-op puzzle games, claiming We Were Here Together while it’s free is a no-brainer. This is a legitimately excellent game that normally costs real money, and Epic is handing it out for nothing. The series has earned its reputation through smart design that makes communication the core mechanic rather than just a nice bonus.
The 24-hour claim window means you need to act fast. Head to the Epic Games Store, log into your account (or create one if you don’t have it), visit the We Were Here Together store page, and click the button to add it to your library. The process takes less than a minute, and you permanently own the game even after it returns to paid status tomorrow.
Most importantly, convince a friend to claim it too. Co-op games live or die based on having someone to play with, and getting both copies for free removes every excuse. Whether it’s a gaming buddy you play with regularly or someone you’ve been meaning to game with but never found the right title, We Were Here Together is that perfect low-commitment option that might become your new favorite co-op series. Just don’t wait too long, 11 AM EST on December 27 will arrive faster than you think.