Local Co-op or Split-Screen
We Were Here Tomorrow local co op isn't supported. Here's how the online-only co-op works and what you need to play with a friend on PC, PS5, or Xbox.
Does We Were Here Tomorrow Have Local Co Op?
You have a free evening, a friend on the couch, and two controllers — so the natural question is whether We Were Here Tomorrow local co op is on the menu. It isn't. The game is a two-player, online-only co-op adventure with no split-screen or shared-screen mode, and it has no single-player option at all.
If you searched for We Were Here Tomorrow local co op hoping to hand a controller to someone in the same room, the good news is that the online side is generous: the game supports cross-platform multiplayer, so a PC player can partner with someone on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S. You just can't do it on one screen.
| Feature | Supported? | What it means for your night |
|---|---|---|
| Online co-op (2 players) | Yes | The only way to play — one partner, one session |
| Cross-platform multiplayer | Yes | PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S players can team up |
| Split-screen / shared screen | No | Each Explorer needs their own display |
| Couch co-op on one copy | No | Two separate setups are required |
| Single-player mode | No | The game is co-op only |
| Microphone | Required | Both players need a working PC-compatible mic |
| Internet connection | Required | Broadband, for both players |
The reason is built into the design. The two Explorers are frequently separated inside the Norček facility, and each one sees a different slice of the same puzzle. One player may be staring at a control panel while the other stands in a room the first player can never enter. Put both views on a single screen and the whole premise falls apart.
What Online Co-Op Actually Feels Like
You and your partner awaken beneath the ice of Antarctica inside a facility run by Norček Industries, with little memory of how you got there. A charismatic director named Kathleen Bowe explains that her research team vanished mid-breakthrough and that a global crisis is looming. She needs you to finish their work. From there, the game hands you a series of complex tasks and a walkie-talkie.
The puzzles are asymmetrical, meaning the information you need is almost never on your own screen. You describe what you see, your partner describes what they see, and together you assemble the answer. Each of you also carries a distinct role and a unique high-tech tool, so neither player can brute-force a solution alone. The world itself is a retro-futuristic take on the 1980s, complete with a synthwave soundtrack.
| What each player needs | Details |
|---|---|
| Their own copy and machine | PC, PS5, or Xbox Series X|S |
| A working microphone | Both players, not just one |
| A stable broadband connection | Required for the session |
| A partner who can talk | Silence breaks the puzzle loop |
| Patience for description | You will repeat numbers, colors, and symbols |
That last point matters more than any spec sheet. The gap between an online session and the fantasy of We Were Here Tomorrow local co op is bridged entirely by how well the two of you talk.
Setting Up a Session Step by Step
Getting a We Were Here Tomorrow local co op alternative running takes about ten minutes if you prep properly. Do the boring parts before your partner is waiting.
| Step | Action | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Install the game on both machines and confirm you're on the same version | Mismatched builds waste the whole session |
| 2 | Test your microphone in your platform settings | A dead mic means a dead puzzle |
| 3 | Add your partner as a friend on your platform and enable crossplay | Cross-platform sessions need the connection set up first |
| 4 | Launch, join each other, and load in together | The game expects two players from the start |
| 5 | Decide who reads what aloud before the first puzzle | Cuts the "wait, say that again" tax in half |
Once you're in, treat the walkie-talkie as the game's core mechanic rather than a chat app. Agree on a description format early: left to right, top to bottom, colors before shapes, and read numbers digit by digit. Small conventions stop you from mishearing "fifteen" as "fifty" three rooms deep into the facility.
How to fake a couch co-op night
The closest thing to We Were Here Tomorrow local co op is two setups in the same room. It works surprisingly well if you remove the temptation to peek.
- Sit back to back. Facing away from each other's screen keeps the asymmetric information honest.
- Use headsets, not speakers. Game audio bleeding across the room spoils puzzle details fast.
- Keep your descriptions verbal. Pointing at a monitor your partner can't see doesn't solve anything.
- Split the room by role. If one of you handles the tool and the other handles the room read, you'll move faster.
- Take a break after a hard puzzle. Two players stuck on the same locked door get short with each other.
Crossplay genuinely helps here. If one of you owns the game on PC and the other on a console, the announcement confirms PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S players can share a session, so you don't need duplicate hardware to play together.
Platforms, Crossplay, and PC Requirements
Nothing about We Were Here Tomorrow local co op changes the fact that this is a fairly modern PC game. The floor is Windows 11, which catches out anyone still running Windows 10.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 11 (64-bit) | Windows 11 (64-bit) |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or equivalent | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or equivalent |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti 6 GB or equivalent | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 or equivalent |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Network | Broadband internet connection | Broadband internet connection |
| Storage | 25 GB available space | 25 GB available space |
Two practical notes. First, Steam Deck compatibility is currently listed as unknown, so don't count on a handheld partner. Second, the co-op-only setup requirements, including a working PC-compatible microphone and a broadband connection, are enforced by design rather than recommended — plan for them.
Controller support covers both Xbox and PlayStation pads, and the game ships with Steam Achievements plus Family Sharing.
Price, Editions, and First Impressions
If you were hoping We Were Here Tomorrow local co op would save you a second purchase, the pricing is worth a look before you commit. The standard edition launched at $19.99 with an introductory 10% discount running through November 3, and there are bundles if you want the soundtrack or the rest of the series.
| Option | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Standard edition | $17.99 (10% off $19.99, ends Nov 3) | Base game |
| Complete Fan Pack bundle | $22.98 (from $24.82) | Base game plus Fan Edition content |
| Series bundle | $39.73 (from $57.16) | Six items across the franchise |
| over the hill crossover bundle | $34.18 (from $40.48) | Two games, including this one |
| Fan Edition | $6.99 | Extra content for the base game |
| Soundtrack | $3.99 | Synthwave score |
Reception is mixed so far, with roughly 68% of 144 user reviews positive. That's a fair signal for a puzzle game that leans hard on communication: pairs who talk well tend to click with it, and pairs who don't tend to bounce. There are 37 achievements to chase, and interface support covers 16 languages, with full audio in English, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish (Latin America).
One more thing worth knowing: every entry in the series is a standalone story. You don't need to finish the earlier games to follow what's happening here, which makes this a reasonable entry point if your partner is new to the franchise.
FAQ
Can you play We Were Here Tomorrow local co op with two controllers on one console? No. There is no split-screen or shared-screen mode. Two players need two separate machines and an internet connection, even if they're sitting in the same room.
Do both players need a microphone? Yes. Both Explorers must have a working PC-compatible microphone and a broadband connection. The walkie-talkie is the central mechanic, so a silent partner can't complete the puzzles.
Does the game support crossplay? Yes. PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S players can play together, which makes We Were Here Tomorrow local co op workarounds much easier when you and your partner own different hardware.
Do I need to play the earlier We Were Here games first? No. Each title is a standalone co-op adventure. The stories connect, but you can start with this one without missing puzzle-critical context.
Related Guides
Co-op Roles for Two Players
Learn how the two We Were Here Tomorrow roles work, how to split duties, talk through walkie-talkies, and solve asymmetric co-op puzzles faster.
Crossplay: PC, PS5 & Xbox
We Were Here Tomorrow crossplay explained: supported platforms, co-op requirements, PC specs, editions, and setup tips for playing with a friend.
Friend Pass: How It Works
No We Were Here Tomorrow friend pass is listed — here's how co-op access works, what both players need, and the cheapest ways to play together.
How Many Players?
We Were Here Tomorrow is a two-player online co-op game. Learn how many players can join, what both players need, and how to set up a smooth session.