Big Walk, the latest multiplayer hiking game from developer House House, places a significant emphasis on close communication, creating experiences that echo the disquiet of being unexpectedly separated from friends and the subsequent joy of reunion. Unlike other cooperative games where communication is lost only in extreme circumstances, Big Walk's proximity chat is confined to a tight radius, meaning players can easily drift out of earshot even during minor environmental obstacles.
This design choice can lead to moments of genuine isolation. For instance, a small crag in a forest might cause a player to step slightly off the main path, finding themselves enveloped by silence and unsure of their companions' whereabouts, despite them being mere meters away. This differs from games like Peak, where voices vanish only after significant falls, or Content Warning, where a friend's absence typically signals their demise.
Big Walk distinguishes itself with its long development cycle and well-considered, slow-burn mechanics. Players explore colorful island zones filled with environmental puzzles designed to spark curiosity. These include a sensory garden that layers music, a hilltop cannon that fires flares, and a stationary train on a bright blue railway. While nothing is explicitly explained, these elements invite interaction and experimentation, offering a playground reminiscent of Riven's intricate world-building within an accessible 3D exploration framework.
Sound plays a crucial role in many of Big Walk's environmental puzzles. One challenge requires players to coordinate pulling three levers on separate bluffs overlooking the sea, relying on gestures across the water to synchronize their actions. Another scenario locks one player behind soundproof glass, forcing them to guide their teammates through a button sequence using only non-verbal cues. A third puzzle simply asks players to spend five minutes in each other's company in a furnished room.
Successfully solving puzzles rewards players with a 'doodah,' a collectible necessary to advance the game. However, these doodahs compete for inventory space with other essential items like torches for navigating the game's pitch-black nights or walkie-talkies that can help prevent players from becoming lost. This scarcity adds a strategic layer to exploration and cooperation.
The experience of being separated in Big Walk can evoke childhood memories. In one instance, a player fell from a cliff, becoming lost along the coast. The vertical distance made voice chat impossible, and by the time the rest of the group descended, their friend was out of sight. The immediate instinct is to predict where a lost friend might go, with players often converging on landmarks like mountaintops, which feature flares and static radio systems. Such reunions are met with palpable relief and happy exclamations.
Over time, players learn to recognize subtle cues indicating a distant friend's location. The gleam of a player's eyes, visible even at night, can signal their presence. By turning 90 degrees, a player can make their own eyes visible to those following behind. Broadcast stations atop hills also offer a way to locate teammates. If a player is using a walkie-talkie connected to one of these stations, its signal light will turn green, pinpointing their location even if their voice cannot be heard.
Information in Big Walk is largely discovered through trial and error, encouraging teams to develop their own unique communication systems. Some groups might devise a flashlight-based morse code, while others might seek out megaphones scattered across the landscape. Ultimately, the game embraces getting lost as a natural part of the adventure, a puzzle to be solved rather than a failure.
This approach to isolation and reunion, as presented in Big Walk, offers a unique perspective on multiplayer interaction, suggesting that embracing temporary separation can lead to a more profound sense of connection upon finding one's way back. It transforms the potential panic of being lost into an engaging challenge, fostering anticipation for the eventual joyful reunion with companions.