Panic's Big Walk: A New Multiplayer Adventure

Panic, a company known for its innovative approach to gaming, is set to release Big Walk, a co-op multiplayer adventure game developed by House House. This game allows up to 12 players to engage in a whimsical exploration of a lush environment, emphasizing communication and collaboration. The concept of Big Walk emerged during the COVID-19 lockdowns, as developers sought to create a game that fosters a sense of togetherness among players who were physically apart.

A Walk Well Wasted

Big Walk is designed as a "walker talker," where players embody cute, anthropomorphized characters with limited actions, such as pointing and picking up objects. The gameplay encourages players to stay close to one another to communicate effectively, utilizing proximity voice and text chat systems. The game features various puzzles and challenges that require teamwork, with the developers intentionally avoiding scenarios where players operate on parallel tracks. Instead, progress is contingent on collaboration, reinforcing the game's focus on shared experiences.

A Walk Well Wasted

The game includes three modes accommodating different player counts: two-player, three-player, and four-or-more, with a maximum of 12 players. Puzzles are tailored to the number of participants, ensuring that gameplay remains engaging regardless of group size. House House aims to create an environment where players can split up to tackle challenges while maintaining communication through tools like whiteboards or fireworks. This design choice enhances the social aspect of the game, allowing for creative problem-solving and interaction.

A Walk Well Wasted

Cabel Sasser, co-founder of Panic, expressed enthusiasm for Big Walk, noting its appeal to non-gamers and its potential to break into the competitive multiplayer market. He stated, “There’s a small part of my dumb business brain that’s like, ‘Whoa, a sequel to Goose Game? People would really love that.’ However, this is so much more exciting to me.” Nico Disseldorp, a developer at House House, emphasized the game's intent to recreate the feeling of shared activities, saying, “These are games that you play with your body, that are about paying attention to each other, about communicating with each other.”

The Verge

While the game has garnered positive attention, some critics may question the sustainability of Panic's approach, especially as the company plans to scale back its output after a series of releases. Alyssa Harrison, Panic’s head of publishing, noted, “When you’re a very small team, games landing too close to each other has a major detrimental effect,” suggesting that the company is aware of the challenges it faces in maintaining quality amidst a busy release schedule.

The Verge

Big Walk is scheduled for release on PC and PlayStation 5 later this year, with cross-play capabilities between platforms. As Panic prepares for the launch, the future of the company remains uncertain, but Sasser indicated a commitment to focusing on quality over quantity in their game development efforts.

The Verge

• “There’s a small part of my dumb business brain that’s like, ‘Whoa, a sequel to Goose Game?” — Cabel Sasser, Co-founder of Panic

The Verge

• “These are games that you play with your body, that are about paying attention to each other, about communicating with each other,” — Nico Disseldorp, Developer at House House

The Verge

• “When you’re a very small team, games landing too close to each other has a major detrimental effect,” — Alyssa Harrison, Head of Publishing at Panic

The Verge