Getting lost in Big Walk is practically a rite of passage. The island is genuinely large, the game hands you almost no direction, and without a map you're essentially navigating by vibes and landmarks. The good news: there is a map, and once you know how to unlock it, navigation gets a whole lot easier.
How do you unlock the map in Big Walk?
The map is locked behind progression, specifically completing the red tower. This isn't something you stumble into early, so don't expect to have it right away.
Here's the full unlock sequence:
- Collect five red gourd-shaped collectibles by completing challenges across the island.
- Bring all five to the red tower and place them in the open slots at the top to receive a key.
- Head to the bottom of the tower and find the first key cutter just outside. Interact with it to begin shaving the key.
- Follow the marker that appears on top of the nearby pillar to the next key cutter, and repeat the process until the key is fully cut.
- Once the key is ready, head to the large blue doorway with red stairs (a blue tunnel in the hills nearby) and place the key in the slot.
- The door opens, revealing both maps inside.
Big Walk Guide: How to Get the Map
What's inside the map room?
Once you're through the blue doorway, you'll find two maps, and they serve very different purposes.
The large static map
This one takes up an entire wall of the room. It's not portable, but it's the most informative version available. Completed puzzles are marked with a flag. If a puzzle reward is standing upright without a flag, that challenge still needs finishing. If the reward is laid flat, you've collected it but haven't submitted it yet. This makes the large map your best tool for tracking overall completion.
The large map also displays all landmarks and towers across the island, giving you a full picture of what's left to explore.
The foldable handheld map
This is the one you can actually take with you. It won't show puzzle completion status like the large version, but it lets you pinpoint your location using coordinates and zoom into specific sections by pressing the interact button. When you're out in the field trying to figure out which direction to head, this is what you'll actually use.
How do you carry the map?
The handheld map can be stored in a backpack or side satchel, so make sure you have one of those on hand before you head out. Carry space is limited in Big Walk, so you may want to leave the map stored somewhere safe and only pull it out when you need to solve a specific puzzle or get your bearings.
Big Walk Guide: How to Get the Map
Does finding the map unlock an achievement?
Yes. Accessing the map room for the first time unlocks the Big Views achievement, so the trip is worth it beyond just the navigation upgrade.
Tips for navigating Big Walk before you get the map
If you haven't reached the red tower yet, here's how to stay oriented in the meantime:
- Use towers as visual anchors. They're tall enough to spot from a distance and serve as reliable landmarks.
- Colorful areas on the island tend to signal points of interest, so follow the color.
- Completing challenges in one area before moving on keeps your mental map cleaner than jumping all over the island.
Big Walk supports up to 12 players, and having a few people spread out to scout the island makes early navigation much more manageable. Check out the multiplayer and group size guide if you want to know how to set that up.
If you're still figuring out where to play the game or what it costs, the platform availability guide covers PS5, PC, Mac, and Switch 2 launch details, and the pricing guide breaks down the $19.99 base cost and the PS Plus free option.
For everything else, the full Big Walk guide collection has you covered on towers, collectibles, and more.