Solve Big Walk puzzles with Discord communication

There are games that transport you; then there are games that force you to rely on your friends. Big Walk falls squarely into the latter category, offering a sprawling island adventure built around cooperative puzzle-solving that manages to be both deeply satisfying and wonderfully chaotic.

When diving into this first-person co-op experience with strangers back in March, the initial rush was pure joy. In just two long sessions with my friends Tyler and Morgan, we tackled over a dozen puzzles, shared countless laughs, and spent more time walking than actually solving anything. It quickly became clear that the true fun wasn’t just in conquering the physical obstacles, but in navigating the complex dance of communication and logistics required to explore this brightly colored world.

The game throws players onto a sprawling landscape of trees, rivers, rocks, and whimsical puzzle structures. Following a simple tutorial on using our arms and legs, the objective is clear: collect prizes—which I internally dubbed nubbins—to unlock deeper exploration. While the puzzles themselves aren’t mind-bendingly difficult, the real challenge emerges when you realize that no single solution can be achieved alone.

The game shines brightest in how it tests teamwork. Since puzzles scale based on player count (up to four), coordination becomes paramount. Trying to coordinate a complex action requires more than just knowing the puzzle; it demands careful logistical planning. When you need two players to hold down buttons simultaneously, or when movement across the map is governed by visibility and sound, collaboration isn’t optional—it’s the entire game.

The mechanics of communication are deliberately designed to create tension and fun. Finding your companions can be tricky; simple proximity chat often proves insufficient. Players must rely on visual cues—pointing, waving their noodly arms—and clever use of in-game items like walkie-talkies or flashlights. But even these tools introduce new complications: carrying objects limits your options, and the slightest stumble can send a crucial item tumbling into the wilderness.

This juggling act—balancing puzzle solutions with physical navigation and item management—is where the narrative truly finds its humor. Moments of unexpected disaster, like accidentally kicking a found pair of binoculars into the woods, keep the experience light and unpredictable. Fortunately, Big Walk manages to transform potential mishaps into funny detours rather than frustrating failures.

The atmosphere of the island is wonderfully chill. There are no monsters lurking in the shadows, no immediate death states, and no high-stakes pressure. The game embraces a peaceful existence where the worst outcome is merely getting lost or dropping an item, prompting players to simply find a new path. This relaxed sensibility allows for truly creative problem-solving.

One particularly memorable instance involved working on a puzzle separated by soundproof glass during the day-night cycle. Relying solely on non-verbal signals to coordinate actions across the barrier proved tricky, but when frustration set in, the solution wasn’t found in frantic signaling; it was in rethinking the environment itself.

The game rewards this creative thinking with stunning visual progress. Reaching a new area reveals fresh perspectives of the island, offering tantalizing glimpses of further mysteries and structures. It feels less like a demanding puzzle experience and more like stepping into a more relaxed version of games like Myst or The Witness, where the grand mysteries are solved not through pure logic alone, but through the shared effort of your friends.

Before you embark on your own expedition, one final piece of advice: ditch the Discord chat for gameplay coordination. Stick to the in-game proximity chat and utilize the built-in voice chat features, which include noise cancelling and a dedicated mute button. This keeps the delightful chaos intact and ensures that the focus remains squarely on exploration and shared adventure.

Big Walk is set to launch on August 4th, promising a unique blend of physical challenge, witty communication hurdles, and serene environmental exploration.