Multiplayer game Big Walk emphasizes proximity chat and navigation challenges
Big Walk, a cooperative hiking game by House House, requires players to stay within close voice range, creating puzzles that involve locating separated teammates and using environmental cues.
House House's multiplayer title Big Walk centers on close-range voice communication, forcing players to remain within a limited proximity to hear each other. The game’s design contrasts with other co-op titles where voices fade only at extreme distances, as players can unintentionally lose contact by stepping around small obstacles.
The experience mirrors real-world situations described by the author, who recently lost mobile service and had to rely on Wi-Fi hotspots to stay connected. In Big Walk, players must navigate island zones filled with interactive elements such as sensory gardens, flare-shooting mountaintops and stationary trains, all without explicit guidance.
Environmental puzzles often rely on sound, requiring coordinated actions like pulling levers on separate cliffs or directing teammates behind sound-proof glass. Successful solutions reward players with “doodahs,” large collectible items that advance progress but compete with essential gear such as torches and walkie-talkies.
When a teammate becomes out of voice range, the game encourages players to use visual cues—glowing eye indicators on avatars—or locate broadcast stations and walkie-talkie signal lights to pinpoint missing friends. Some groups develop improvised signals, such as flashlight Morse code, to maintain contact.
The design philosophy treats temporary separation as a learning opportunity rather than a failure, prompting teams to devise strategies for reuniting and continue exploration.