If you've ventured into the peculiar world of Big Walk, you'll have already realized that trying to progress alone is simply mission impossible. This title from House House, the geniuses behind Untitled Goose Game, relies entirely on close collaboration between players , forcing you to coordinate with others to overcome puzzles that don't forgive a lack of communication.
The best part is that it doesn't matter if your group of friends has different tech preferences, as the game has been designed so that no one gets left out. The ability to connect different consoles and computers is a fundamental pillar of the experience, eliminating the usual barriers between ecosystems so that the only thing that matters is that you don't get lost along the way.
How does cross-play work in Big Walk?
Crossplay in Big Walk isn't an option you have to activate in some complicated menu, nor does it require linking external accounts; it's enabled by default from the very beginning. You can organize matches by mixing users from Steam (on both Windows and Mac), the Mac App Store, PlayStation 5, and the new Nintendo Switch 2. However, keep in mind that console players need their usual subscription (PS Plus or Nintendo Switch Online) to access online features, while on PC access is completely free.
Joining a game is quite intuitive. If you're all on the same platform, your friends will automatically appear in the menu. But if the group is spread across different systems, the host needs to create the session and share a unique join code that appears in the bottom left corner of the screen. Everyone else simply enters that code in the "Join Game" menu, and you're all set. Interestingly, Mac App Store users will always have to use this method, as they don't have Game Center friend list integration.
Game management, saves, and progress
This is where you need to pay close attention to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Big Walk doesn't use a cloud save system linked to a global account; instead, the host is the game's guardian. This means that all the group's progress is stored solely on the device of the person who created the session. If the host isn't available to open the game, the rest of the team won't be able to access their progress and would have to start the adventure from scratch.
To avoid problems, it's best to choose your most responsible and consistent friend as the official host. Once inside, the host can set a password for the session (a feature added in version 1.4.9) to prevent unauthorized access. Additionally, it's vital that everyone has a compatible version of the game ; generally, matching the first two numbers of the version number is enough for a stable connection, which resolves issues when stores update the game at different times.
Player capacity and cooperative design
The game is extremely flexible in terms of group size, allowing for anything from a couple to a group of up to 12 people seeking absolute chaos. At the start, the host must choose whether the session is for 2, 3, or more than 4 players. This decision is crucial because the puzzles dynamically adapt to the number of participants. For example, a puzzle based on "telephone" will have more layers of complexity and communication if there are more people in the group.
An important detail is that Big Walk doesn't support local co-op or couch co-op. This is a deliberate decision by the developers, as the game makes extensive use of proximity chat. If you were sitting on the same couch, the communication mechanics would break down, and the fun of the game would be lost. On the other hand, it's important to remember that there is no cross-save between stores; if you buy the game on Steam, it won't unlock on PS5, and you won't be able to transfer your save data between platforms unless you use Steam's cloud storage between Windows and Mac.
Unsupported platforms and final tips
As of today, it's important to clarify that Xbox doesn't have a version of Big Walk, so Microsoft users are left out. There's also no support for PS4. If you ever encounter a "couldn't connect" error, make sure the host has entered the lobby first before others try to join, as waiting in the main menu without creating a session often leads to errors.
Having an infrastructure where the host controls everything and crossplay is fully supported ensures a smooth experience as long as the group is coordinated. As long as the host maintains their session and the join code is correct, you can enjoy a cooperative adventure regardless of the hardware, focusing all your attention on solving the puzzles and keeping the group together on this unique journey.