Big Walk Review: Online Co-op Puzzler Elevates Camaraderie

Big Walk, the latest online co-op puzzler from Melbourne-based studio House House, transforms the act of exploring and communicating with friends into an artform. Released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC, the game offers players an open-world adventure characterized by both slapstick silliness and serene natural beauty. The game's setting is described as an "architectural fever dream" transplanted to a "handsome Australian wilderness," featuring radiant sunsets, secret-filled bushland valleys, and modernist buildings perched on craggy ridges. However, it is the emergent player-created moments that truly define the experience, such as one player using a large, ball-shaped lamp to signal a lost companion in the dark, creating a rhythmic interplay of light and shadow.

Unlike House House's previous viral hit, Untitled Goose Game, where players embodied a mischievous goose, Big Walk casts participants as "bug-eyed, gangly limbed kind of bird people," reminiscent of Pingu drawn by Mondrian. Separation from companions is not merely an inconvenience but an integral part of the fun. This is facilitated by the game's design, which includes dense vegetation and treacherous cliffs that can lead to falls, as well as an ingenious use of proximity and direction-based voice audio. Players who step out of earshot of their group will find it challenging to locate each other, unless they utilize in-game walkie-talkies, which are described as resembling Fisher-Price toys.

The core gameplay loop involves players navigating this detailed environment, solving puzzles, and maintaining communication with their party. The game's emphasis on collaborative play and emergent storytelling encourages players to develop unique strategies and interactions. The visual style combines the majesty of the natural landscape with quirky architectural elements, creating a distinctive and memorable aesthetic. The sound design also plays a crucial role, with the ambient noises of cicadas contributing to the atmosphere and the voice audio mechanics directly impacting player interaction and immersion. Big Walk's success lies in its ability to make simple actions, like finding a lost friend or coordinating movement through a challenging area, feel significant and entertaining, thereby elevating the experience of playing with others.

House House, the studio behind Big Walk, gained significant recognition for Untitled Goose Game, which was released in 2019 and became a widespread critical and commercial success. This prior experience in creating unique and engaging gameplay mechanics likely informed the development of Big Walk. The studio's approach appears to prioritize player agency and the creation of memorable, often humorous, social interactions within its game worlds. Big Walk continues this tradition by offering a platform for players to create their own narratives and experiences through cooperative play, emphasizing the joy of shared discovery and problem-solving in a visually rich and engaging environment.