What is Chained Together? Everything you need to know about the viral co-op game
Anegar GamesChained Together, a game by Anegar Games, is driving players crazy and blowing up on Twitch because of its accurate but harsh co-op mechanics. Reviews are flooded with sarcastic complaints that the title is ruining friendships as the level of coordination expected to progress is quite hard to maintain.
So, what is Chained Together? Here’s everything to know about the game that might be the new internet sensation this year like Palworld and Only Up.
Gameplay explained
Chained Together is quite similar to Only Up, another popular title in which your goal is to climb through unusual surfaces and reach the top. While you can play the game solo, the real fun, or misery, begins when you jump into the co-op mode.
Up to four players can team up and the gameplay is adjusted accordingly. The twist is that all players will be chained, meaning that one wrong move from anyone can end up sacrificing the whole team.
You have to escape hell by climbing as high as possible, and the realistic chain physics makes it necessary to plan every move.
Chained Together platforms
As of launch, Chained Together is exclusively available on PC via Steam. The developers haven’t announced if their title will be available on Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch consoles.
Is Chained Together free?
No, Chained Together is not free but until June 26, you can purchase it with a 10% discount for $4.49/£4.49. There’s no information on the next period discount period for the game yet.
System requirements
| Specification | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 8/10/11 64-Bit | Windows 8/10/11 64-Bit |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-6600 @3.1GHz / AMD R5 1600X @3.5GHz or equivalent | Intel Core i5 10400 3.1 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 2600X 3.1 GHz |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 or equivalent | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or equivalent |
| Storage | 6 GB | 6 GB |
| Internet connection | High-speed internet required to play online | High-speed internet required to play online |
Chained Together modes
There are three gameplay modes to choose from in the game:
- Beginner – If you fall, this mode allows you to open the pause menu and teleport back to the highest point you last reached.
- Normal – If you fall, start over.
- Lava – You’ll be constantly chased by lava so climb up quickly.
The Beginner and Normal modes also have an Autosave feature. However, to continue from where you left off, you have to choose the same mode and team upon logging in again.
Another catch is the setting to keep Opened and Closed Chains. Opened Chains mean that all players will be put in a line with the player in front having the highest amount of control. The first player should also act as the leader.
In Closed Chains, everyone has full control over movement but more coordination is required.
How to play Chained Together with friends
To create a lobby, select Play from the main menu and then choose Host a Game. Now, you can set up a unique lobby with gameplay modifiers as well as a password. Share the details with your friends to let them join the lobby.
Alternatively, you can create a session and press Shift + Tab to open the Steam overlay and invite your friends. However, for this to work, you need the 1.7.3 version.
Can you play local co-op multiplayer?
Yes, as long as all input devices (up to four) are connected to the same computer, you and your friends can play Chained Together on the same screen locally.
How long to beat Chained Together
Not many players have completed the game yet, but streamer Wavybenji and their team reached the top in 3 hours 33 minutes in Beginner mode.
Other teams who’ve reached the summit have reported finish times ranging from 7 hours 51 minutes to 4 hours 58 minutes.
It is safe to assume that speed runners will soon set up record finish times, but on an average, you can aim to complete Chained Together in around 3-5 hours. Of course, there’s no upper limit if you fail to have a well-coordinated team.