Game of the Week – Big Walk is a brilliant co-op puzzler that's more than "friendslop"

• Big Walk is perfect if you want mind-bending puzzle design combined with the joy of hanging out with friends.

Here's the 60-second pitch for why you should play Big Walk this weekend: Big Walk is, if you'll pardon the horrifying combination of words, thoughtful "friendslop" – if such a thing exists. It is the perfect sort of game to goof around with friends, kicking objects into the distant dark or firing flare guns haphazardly into occupied buildings. It's also the perfect sort of game to challenge your intellect and ability to collaborate. It is both, if you want it to be, and despite the fact that it sounds like the two flavors would combine into mush, Big Walk makes it work from the moment you hit the tutorial area.

Why play it today?

• With Untitled Goose Game, developer House House made such a tremendous splash that anything it decided to do next would have seen the same level of massive scrutiny. Big Walk is the next evolution.

Thankfully, rather than return to the same exact well, House House has expanded beyond the small town of Untitled Goose Game (literally and figuratively) to produce what might be my favorite gaming experience of the year so far.

It's tough to explain exactly why Big Walk works so well without getting into the mechanical details of how you solve puzzles, but the shortest possible version is: the game does nothing to help you. There are no explicit signs or instructions; you have to figure it out for yourself.

And figure out how you're even going to figure it out! Without names for objects, you have to collectively decide what to call everything before you can even talk about using them. It's a bit like having to build a language as the very first puzzle, which is fascinating in practice.

Time commitment:

If you're curious how long it takes to beat Big Walk, the exact amount of time will vary depending on how frequently you can actually get multiple players together. You can expect to roll credits on Big Walk after somewhere between 12 and 15 hours, though it really depends how much goofing off you do. Expect to spend several long sessions just working on puzzles. Or, alternatively, many bite-sized co-op sessions.

Play Big Walk if you love:

Skip Big Walk if you want:

One thing to know:

Big Walk is a multiplayer-only video game, so that means you'll need at least one other friend to play, and puzzles actually scale up as more players are added. Never fear, however; while more than four players can play at the same time, that's roughly the extent of where the puzzles scale and even then it's more about managing the number of players rather than overall difficulty. You'll be fine.

A moment you'll remember:

The first time it grows dark on the island in Big Walk is perhaps the first real magic moment. Unable to see anything at any real distance, it quickly becomes apparent how important light is – and how to spot the roaming eyeballs of your compatriots in the dark. It's an early lesson that pays dividends throughout, and one I am constantly reminded of.

The final verdict:

Despite the obvious comparison to other games in the "hang out with friends and be silly" genre, Big Walk stands alone. The puzzle design and deliberate brick-by-brick learnings required to complete them feel more in tune with Portal or Myst, which is about the highest compliment I can give. Big Walk wastes no time, and every moment I played is one I now cherish. If that sounds hyperbolic, please understand: Big Walk earns it.

So, where can you play it?

Big Walk is now available on PC, PS5, and Nintendo Switch 2, but as a reminder: it's multiplayer-only, without couch co-op, and requires at least two people to play. It's also part of August 2026's PlayStation Plus Essentials, if you're subscribed.

How to get started with Big Walk:

I would actually recommend going into Big Walk with as little knowledge as possible about what to expect. But if you're the type that needs to know more before committing, and you're looking for where to start with Big Walk this weekend, we've got you covered.

Have your say:

If you're looking for something in a similar vein, both Overcooked 2 and Peak feature in our best co-op games ranking and are regularly part of game nights among friends.