Big Walk

Here’s another moment that has stuck with me: wiping away tears of laughter after my brother and I clumsily dropped one of those essential red peanuts to the bottom of the devilishly constructed, practically “masocore” 100ft shaft that we had painstakingly platformed our way out of. We nattered about it until we found the next thing that piqued our interest: wobbly rave tunes blaring from deep inside the belly of a mountain. I shan’t say any more: you and your pals will want to discover these delights for yourselves.

House House lays out all the ways your group could go, and lets you loose. Look for an ending, seek out puzzles, search for mysteries or climb for adventure; no matter what, you're all going on a memorable walk together, and that's a pretty good way to spend a few evenings together with friends.

Big Walk delivers on a promise that's rare in cooperative games: nothing here is scripted, and the funniest moments are ones the game couldn't have planned even if it wanted to.

While Big Walk could very well be someone's Game of the Year, most people will likely get burnt out by its backtracking and voice chat system.

The game’s movement system could also feel awkward at times as you got stuck on shrubs and small rocks, unsure as to whether you could jump up the side of a rock face or not. But these nitpicks pale in comparison to the overall achievements. Big Walk is majestic, surprising, uncompromising, and effortlessly fascinating.

The voice in my left ear seems to crack, just a little. I open my mouth to respond, and quickly recognise that the upcoming words are not going to surface cleanly. I nudge the right analogue stick, turning to face one of the dear friends I've shared this unforgettable adventure with. I press a button and my nose goes small.

Big Walk earns a place in the top tier of co-operative games, with greater depth than countless games it could be compared against. Proximity chat is far from a gimmick; communication is as much a mechanic as running and jumping. No two puzzles are the same, and sometimes the work required becomes tedious, but it does well to avoid overstaying its welcome. House House have cleverly shown restraint in crafting a game that's all about the journey and not the destination.

Few games are as immediately and intuitively fun as Big Walk. By stripping away the stress and driving at the bedrock of our urge to play, House House has summoned an interactive experience that feels uniquely refreshing, mechanically playful and socially intimate. Gather your friends and avoid any context you can, as, like Death Stranding 2, this is another Australian odyssey that you won’t forget in a hurry.