Big Walk

Big Walk is a multiplayer co-operative adventure video game in which a group of players walk through an open-world environment.^[4] Players form a group of two to twelve in an online lobby, with the size of the group adjusting the content of the game.^[5][4] Cross-platform play is also supported.^[6] The host of the game maintains its save data, allowing other participants to join or leave.^[4] Each player is represented by a humanoid avatar with a segmented head, torso and legs.^[4]

The objective of Big Walk is to complete puzzles.^[4] Many challenges involve teamwork and using novel methods to communicate with one another,^[7] including miming, singing or transmitting codes.^[8] Completion of a number of puzzles unlocks features that allow players to further navigate the environment, including a map room to plot travel or a train.^[4]

The game has a proximity chat system.^[9] The volume of players' voices changes depending on their location, becoming inaudible when a short distance away.^[6] The game features a day-night cycle and darkness at night, requiring players to use torches and other light sources to see each other.^[6] When players are separated, they can communicate through leaving messages, communicating remotely using walkie talkies, or launching fireworks to signal their location.^[10][6]

Big Walk was developed by Melbourne-based independent studio House House, creators of Untitled Goose Game.^[9] Designer Jake Strasser stated the approach was to "give enough direction for the group to keep a good momentum, but relaxed enough that you're mostly just able to enjoy spending time with your friends".^[11] The environment was inspired by the Wilsons Promontory National Park in Victoria, Australia.^[9][11] The soundtrack was created in collaboration with artists Sam Gill and Luke Neher under the name AKSFX. The music was intended to be diegetic to the game world and conveyed through objects such as speakers.^[12]

Big Walk was announced during the December 2023 Game Awards,^[13] accompanying an announcement trailer.^[14] An official gameplay trailer was released on 7 June 2025 coinciding with the Steam Day of the Devs showcase.^[15] Several publications identified Big Walk as one of the best games of the showcase.^[16] Matt Wales of Eurogamer praised the concept as "wonderfully distinctive".^[17] Adam Newell of Destructoid stated the puzzles seemed "wonderful" and "feels like a game where no two play sessions are the same".^[18]

Following release, in response to criticism that the game's volume control features made "players' voices much quieter than intended even when very close by", the studio announced a fix would be forthcoming.^[19][20]

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Big Walk received "generally favorable" reviews for the Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5 reviews while the Windows version received "universal acclaim", according to review aggregator website Metacritic.^[21][22][23]

Critics praised the co-operative gameplay design.^{[26][27][28][29][30]} Nintendo Life described it as the "purest and most rewarding" co-operative game ever played, commending its puzzle design as clever and its "strict reliance on communication".^[6]

Several reviewers favourably discussed the game's similarities and differences to "friendslop", described as a subgenre of co-operative games including Among Us, Peak, and Meccha Chameleon.^[31][27] Although some wrote its co-operative gameplay and proximity chat bore a resemblance to the genre,^[31][4][27] critics also expressed that Big Walk was uniquely differentiated from other co-operative titles in its tone and design.^{[32][33][4][31]}

The environment design was also praised, with several reviews describing the open world as realistic.^[25][6] Eurogamer stated its "organic elements" did not feel over-designed and helped encourage players to appreciate the natural beauty of its setting.^[10]