Big Walk drops you onto an island with almost no hand-holding, and the first wall most players hit is the red drawbridge sitting along the beach near the rocks. It blocks access to the rest of the world, and it won't budge until you've done the work. The good news: the starting area is essentially a tutorial zone with four self-contained puzzles, and once you crack all of them, the entire map opens up.
What do you need to do before the drawbridge opens?
The drawbridge doesn't have a single switch or lever you can just find and flip. The process works in two stages: collect items from four puzzles scattered across the starting area, place them into the slots at a specific location near the drawbridge to earn a key, then cut that key into the correct shape before it works.
Along the beach from the drawbridge, there's a spot with several open slots. Each of the four puzzles in the starting zone rewards you with a red object. Fill all four slots, and the key appears. After that, you need to find the red colored pillars nearby, follow the directions they indicate to the next keycutter, and cut the key to the right shape. Only then does the drawbridge come down.
Big Walk Guide: How to Open the Red Drawbridge
How many puzzles are there in the starting area?
There are exactly four puzzles to complete before the red drawbridge opens. The starting zone is designed as an introductory space, so each puzzle teaches you something about how Big Walk's mechanics work before you're let loose on the wider island.
Here's a breakdown of each one:
Each completed puzzle hands you a red object. Head back to the slot location near the drawbridge, place all four, and the key is yours.
How to cut the key to the right shape
Once the key is in your hands, look for the red colored pillars in the area. These pillars act as directional markers, pointing you toward the next keycutter. Follow where they lead, reach the keycutter, and trim the key to the shape required. The exact shape is determined by the pillars' directions, so pay attention to which way each one points rather than guessing.
After the key is cut correctly, return to the drawbridge and use it. The bridge drops, and Big Walk's full island becomes available to explore.
What happens after the drawbridge opens?
Crossing the drawbridge is the moment Big Walk stops being a tutorial and starts being a proper game. The island opens up fully, and you're free to explore at your own pace. There are several major objectives waiting on the other side, including items like the map and compass that become relevant as you push further in.
If you're playing with others, the co-op side of things gets more interesting once you're past this gate. Big Walk supports 1 to 12 players, and the larger areas beyond the drawbridge are where that group size starts to matter.
For navigation help once you're across, the guide to finding the compass is worth reading before you get too deep into the island.
For everything else the game has to offer, the full Big Walk guides collection has you covered from start to finish.