The red drawbridge on the beach is the first real gate in Big Walk, and it stays shut until your group finishes the four tutorial puzzles in the starting area. Solving them earns a key, which you then shape at a set of cutters before slotting it into the bridge. Cross it once, and the whole island opens up along with a flashlight that lets you play through the dark.
Quick answer: Solve all four puzzles in the starting zone to collect four items, place them in the slots near the beach to release the key, follow the red arrows on the cutters to shape it, then use the shaped key on the drawbridge. The Big Walk trophy pops and you receive a flashlight.
What you need before the drawbridge opens
Big Walk is built for co-op, so you cannot open the bridge alone. You need at least one other player, and several of the puzzles are far easier with a full party since a few tasks require multiple people acting at once. The developer, House House, designed the tutorial playground to teach the basics first, so play through it before heading out.
Inside that playground you learn how to raise your arms to signal teammates, pick up and kick objects, and slide down slopes by sitting on them. Once everyone is comfortable, leave the starting room and walk toward the ocean. Down by the beach you will find the puzzle station with four pear-shaped slots, matching switches, and a large key sticking out of the back. That station is where the four items go and where the key is released.
The four tutorial puzzle solutions
Each puzzle hands you one red item that acts as proof of completion. There is no set order, so tackle them however you come across them. Note that you can only carry as many items as your hands and bags allow, so smaller groups may need a few trips back to the beach.
| Puzzle | How to solve it |
|---|---|
| Yellow scaffolding button | A tall yellow structure has a button near the top. One player picks up another so you are tall enough, then the player on the bottom jumps to hit the button. |
| Blue house match | One player is locked inside and can see a row of symbols. They call out the order while a teammate outside places the matching panels on the hook, then presses the switch. Confetti confirms a correct sequence. |
| Green structure switches | A rounded green building with pillars has one button per player along its walls. Everyone must press their button at the exact same moment to release the item. |
| Telescope and box | A platform holds a telescope aimed at a distant sealed container plus a button. One player stays to press the button and keep the case open, while another walks to the container and grabs the item. |
Get the key and shape it at the cutters
Solving puzzles in the dark
There is a day/night cycle running while you work through the starting area, and visibility drops hard once night falls. Since you do not have the flashlight yet, you have two options. You can wait out the night until dawn returns, or you can use the rocket by the lake to light up the surroundings. Setting off the rocket briefly illuminates the area and reveals where your next items are.
How to confirm it worked
You will know the sequence is complete when the drawbridge physically lowers and the Big Walk trophy unlocks. Alongside it, your group earns a flashlight, which removes the night-visibility problem for the rest of the island. From there the map is fully open, and you no longer need to trigger rockets just to see where you are going.
If the key will not go into the bridge, the cutters were run out of order or one was skipped. Retrace the red arrows so the shape finishes correctly, and the bridge will accept it.
