Big Walk: The Game That Shattered All Expectations on PS Plus
Seven years ago, studio House House surprised us with Untitled Goose Game. Now they're back with Big Walk — and this launch is unlike anything ordinary.
On August 4, 2026, the game hit three platforms simultaneously: PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2, with full cross-play between them. But the real shocker came from the numbers: a 94 on Metacritic — tied with Sektori — making it the highest-rated game of 2026.
And here's the kicker? It's the first game with this kind of critical acclaim to hit PlayStation Plus Essential on day one. That's incredibly rare. Sony typically reserves their monthly subscription games for older titles from the catalog, not day-one releases. But this time, they decided to put their full trust in House House.
The Numbers Don't Lie
You don't have to take my word for it — the community spoke. On Steam, the game shot straight to the top of the bestseller list, hitting a peak of 46,409 concurrent players on August 5 — just one day after launch.
On the PlayStation Store, it's sitting at 4.55 out of 5 stars from 1,696 reviews, with 84% of them being perfect five-star ratings. On Steam, it's at 87.1% positive (1,654 positive reviews versus 244 negative).
These aren't ordinary numbers. These are the numbers of a game that touched something real in people.
What Makes It Different?
Big Walk isn't a single-player game. It's entirely cooperative, 2 to 12 players — no solo mode, no random public matches. It's built around exploration and solving complex puzzles, but here's what makes it special: how those puzzles are designed.
House House made the brilliant decision to build in intentional communication barriers. The game uses proximity-based voice chat — meaning you only hear from people who are actually close to you in the world, not everyone. Some puzzles are deliberately designed to restrict or completely block communication, forcing players to understand each other through gestures and movements. Simple idea, genius execution — it forces you to communicate in real ways with whoever's next to you.
Critics got it. Polygon called it a contender for Game of the Year. Eurogamer gave it five stars. GameSpot described it as "one of the best cooperative games ever made." And PCMag saw it as a digital "third space" for friends — not remote, but like you're actually there together.
Do I Recommend It?
Absolutely, without hesitation: yes.
If you're a PS Plus Essential subscriber, the game is free to you all of August (4th through the 31st). What are you waiting for? Download it and call a friend.
If you're on Steam or Switch 2, the purchase is worth every penny. This is a real cooperative game — no filler, no paid features, just a carefully crafted experience.
One heads-up though: if you're expecting violence or fast-paced action, this isn't it. Big Walk is quiet, intentional, demanding focus and cooperation. But if you want genuine moments with other people — moments that remind you why we love games in the first place — then this is my direct recommendation.
