The developers at House House, known for their hit title Untitled Goose Game, are set to launch a new multiplayer game, Big Walk, later this year on PlayStation 5 and Windows PC. Designed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the game aims to capture the essence of friendship and exploration in a natural environment.
In 2020, as the world faced long periods of isolation, the team at House House transformed their anxieties into creativity, developing a game that invites players to wander through a vast, beautiful world while solving engaging puzzles. Unlike the popular social simulation game Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Big Walk offers a distinct experience, blending leisure with House House’s signature humor.
A New Kind of Multiplayer Adventure
During a recent demonstration, a team from Polygon had the opportunity to explore Big Walk alongside its creators. The experience began in a tutorial hub, where developers, represented as spherical characters, shared the game’s mechanics, including movement, object interaction, and proximity chat. Following the tutorial, players ventured into an expansive open world, described by the developers as “San Andreas-sized,” emphasizing the game’s exploratory nature.
The developers encouraged players to explore freely, making the experience feel more like a social gathering than a structured game. As the team wandered, they encountered various puzzles and challenges that required teamwork and communication to solve. For instance, an initial puzzle involved a gourd trapped in a vice, which was unlocked through coordination and teamwork.
Encouraging Creativity and Collaboration
The puzzles in Big Walk are designed to foster collaboration among players. Challenges included forming a tower to reach a gourd suspended on scaffolding and organizing symbols to unlock additional rewards. Each puzzle provided a unique experience, testing players’ ability to work together and think creatively.
The game also offers moments of relaxation, with designated chill-out spots featuring ambient music, encouraging players to take breaks. This balance of challenge and leisure distinguishes Big Walk from other multiplayer experiences, allowing it to stand out in a category that some have dubbed “friendslop,” which includes cooperative games focused on social interaction.
Overall, while Big Walk may not achieve the immediate impact it could have had if released during 2020, it presents a delightful opportunity for players to reconnect in a digital space. The game aims to create a laid-back atmosphere that emphasizes enjoyment over competition, ensuring that every session can be a memorable adventure.
As the gaming community eagerly awaits the official release, Big Walk has the potential to redefine how players engage with each other in virtual settings, making it a noteworthy addition to the multiplayer landscape.