Big Walk ignores 'friendslop' trends, and is better for it
A co-op game for friends with attention spans.
House House's latest co-op puzzle game, Big Walk, is garnering attention for its departure from the viral friendslop trend. The game, set in an open world with no runs, quotas, or death, invites players to explore, solve puzzles, and communicate in the company of up to 12 friends. While it has its share of humorous moments and moments of challenge, it avoids the TikTok-friendly, gimmicky aspects that have made friendslop sensations like Repo and Lethal Company popular.
Big Walk's atmosphere is contemplative and sometimes dull, with a lack of urgency that can lead to lulls in engagement. Nevertheless, the game's memorable moments are rooted in everyday situations, such as getting lost at night, accidentally discarding crucial items, and struggling to convey complex ideas to teammates. The developer, House House, known for 2019's Untitled Goose Game, created Big Walk before the friendslop trend took off, and its originality shines through in the game's unique gameplay and lack of forced absurdity.
The game is now available for $20 or $25, and though it may not appeal to friend groups seeking high-concept, gimmicky experiences, it is a worthy contender for consideration, much like other standout indie titles of recent years.
Written by urgent.news from PC Gamer's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
