Big Walk Crossplay — How Co-Op & Multiplayer Works
Cross-platform play
Yes, Big Walk has full crossplay support. The official FAQ states: "Big Walk has crossplay support, so players on different systems can play together." The Steam store page confirms "cross-platform multiplayer" as an official feature. You can play with friends across PC (Steam), Mac (Steam or Mac App Store), PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2.
All four platform versions belong to the same crossplay ecosystem. The game uses Epic Online Services SDK for cross-platform connectivity (SteamDB data).
How to join friends
There are two ways to join a game, per the official FAQ:
- Friends list: If your friend is on the same platform and on your friends list, their host game automatically appears in the "Join Game" menu. IGN confirms: "Big Walk will automatically pull your friends list into the game."
- Join Code: For cross-platform play or friends not on your list, the host generates a short unique code when starting a session. It appears on the bottom left of the "Host Game" page. Other players enter this code in the "Join Game" menu. This is the primary method for cross-platform groups.
Note: The Mac App Store version does not support Game Center, so friends list functionality is limited — but Join Codes still work.
Player count & session types
Big Walk supports 2–12 players per session. The official FAQ confirms: "Two or more players, with a maximum of 12." When the host starts a session, they choose between three world versions:
- 2-Player Session: "A focused co-op experience" (official description)
- 3-Player Session: Slightly adjusted puzzle layouts
- 4+ Player Session: "An absolute mess" (official description) — up to 12 players
This setting acts as the minimum number of participants. If some players won't be there the whole time, the official FAQ suggests choosing a lower number. Some things in the world change to adapt to each choice.
There is no single-player mode. The official FAQ states: "Is there a single-player mode?: No, sorry. Big Walk is entirely about teamwork and talking." You can walk around a little as a single player, but you won't get very far.
Proximity voice chat
Big Walk uses a proximity-based voice chat system where voices fade with distance. PC Gamer describes: "Stray more than a few yards from a pal and you'll have to strain to hear their voice over proximity chat. Another few steps and you won't be able to hear them at all." Voices also echo down corridors, muffle through walls, and crackle through walkie-talkies.
The official FAQ explicitly states that using external voice programs like Discord is not allowed: "Talking to players outside the game is NOT ALLOWED." The game's design relies on the built-in communication tools — walkie-talkies, laser pointers, binoculars, megaphones, flares, whiteboards, and gestures — being the only communication methods.
No matchmaking
There is no online matchmaking. The official FAQ explains: "Big Walk is a long-form cooperative game. It's made to be played with the same group over multiple sessions, so it doesn't make sense to throw strangers together randomly." You need to arrange your own group of friends.
No local/couch co-op
Big Walk does not support couch co-op, split-screen, or LAN play. GamesRadar, IGN, and bigwalkguide.wiki all confirm this. The official FAQ explains why: "It won't work if you're all in the same room, since you'll hear each other outside of voice chat." The proximity voice system is the core gameplay — being in the same room would bypass it entirely.
However, playing in the same house with multiple devices in separate rooms is supported, since everyone's voice chat remains isolated.