Big Walk: A Game of Connection and Exploration

Big Walk, the latest game from Melbourne-based developer House House, has been an instant success with over 1 million downloads in its first week of release. The game's unique design focuses on proximity voice chat, allowing players to communicate clearly with each other while on a virtual walk through a beautiful and realistic landscape.

The Guardian US culture 19 August 2026 Source: The Guardian US culture

In the midst of a bustling game development scene, House House's new game, Big Walk, stands out for its simplicity and depth. The game's design is centered around a proximity voice chat, allowing players to communicate clearly with each other while on a virtual walk through a beautiful and realistic landscape.

## A Game Born from Friendship and Lockdowns

Big Walk began as a way for the House House team to connect with international friends during the Covid lockdowns. They started playing games online together, and this group was the first to test a very early version of Big Walk. The game's design was influenced by these online play sessions, where the team would go on virtual walks and solve puzzles together.

## A Realistic and Immersive World

The world of Big Walk is remarkably realistic, with a landscape inspired by Wilsons Promontory, a few hours south of Melbourne. The team spent time on location during development, staying in a cabin at Tidal River and taking reference photos of plants and the sound team flew out to do field recordings. The game's map is filled with realistic details, from the sound of the wind to the glow of the sun setting over the horizon.

## Puzzles and Communication

The puzzles in Big Walk are designed to force players to think about communication and teamwork. Often, the ability to talk is removed, and players must find another way to solve the puzzle. The reward for finishing each puzzle is a red bulbous object, which players have affectionately referred to as "peanuts" or "babies." The team behind Big Walk has chosen not to give the objects an official name, instead allowing players to create their own lexicon for the world.

## A Game of Connection and Joy

Since its release, Big Walk has received overwhelmingly positive reception, with players sharing stories of connection and joy. The game's design has created a space for players to form meaningful connections with each other, whether it's through playing together or sharing moments of beauty and sadness. As one player shared, "Some of the stories we've heard are punch-in-the-gut beautiful."