2026's second highest rated game is free to enjoy for many PS5 users

PlayStation hasn’t exactly had a great run as of late, with users continuing to protest its decision to scrap physical discs from January 2028.

There has been a temporary dip in backlash though, with one third-party indie title seemingly able to bring everyone together for a brief shared moment of whimsy.

The latest GOTY contender has surfaced, with this unsuspecting co-op walker talker quickly having become the second highest rated game of the year.

Yes, we’re talking about Big Walk and while it’s available across PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC, the former platform is the place to be.

That’s because Big Walk is included for free on PlayStation Plus as a day one launch; in fact, it’s available from the essential tier catalogue so the highest possible number of PlayStation Plus users can get involved.

Big Walk ranks exceptionally well among 2026’s best-rated games

Over on Metacritic, Big Walk currently boasts an incredible score of 92, placing it only behind Sektori which quietly burst onto the scene with a score of 94 in May.

Making up the remainder of the top 10, we have Forza Horizon 6 (90), Mina The Hollower (90), and Roger (90), Schrodinger’s Call (89), Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (89) on Nintendo Switch 2, Pokémon Pokopia: Bubbly Basin Expansion (89), and Pokémon Pokopia (89).

You then have Resident Evil Requiem in 11th place (89), followed by DOOM: The Dark Ages (89), Denshattack! (88), Mewgenics (88), Sovereign Tower (87), 007 First Light (87), Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls (87), Saros (87), Hermit and Pig (87), Titanium Court (87), and the Nintendo Switch 2 port of Resident Evil 7: Biohazard - Gold Edition (87) filling out the top 20.

READ MORE: PlayStation Plus hit shooter surprise drops 60fps PS5 upgrade and free DLC

Why Big Walk has proven to be so popular

So, how has the unassuming Big Walk managed to fend off such fierce competition? Well, it’s unlike anything else out there.

The puzzle title sees you explore a sprawling island alongside friends, solving puzzles as you collect peculiar little items, taking them to designated slots around the island in pursuit of an unknown end goal.

The puzzles are, of course, heaps of fun to solve. You’ll need at least two players to complete Big Walk with the game scaling so that puzzle solutions suit two, three, and four-person lobbies.

You can enjoy the game with more than four people but you’ll perhaps need some pals to sit out and take it in turn to solve puzzles which only ever require a maximum of four people.

Having played the game ourselves, we can tell you that the puzzles are genius and incredibly well designed.

Panic

They play into the second element of the game that makes it fun and unique, proximity chat.

Big Walk is all about communication. It’s very easy to get lost in Big Walk so you’ll want to make use of walkie talkies, laser beams, flares, and more to try and reunite with your pals.

Puzzles also take advantage of communication limitations. Just last night, myself and GAMINGbible’s Sam Cawley found ourselves trapped in a room separated by a sheet of soundproof glass.

I had to try and tell him to press a very well hidden button, but the room had cut off the text function and our walkie talkies.

All I could do was gesture which I thought might be simple but oh no. There we were for a good 10 minutes before the message finally clicked, the button was discovered, and the wall came down.

As the sound returned, Sam was in fits of laughter while I was screaming in exasperation. Big Walk is a great test of friendship.

But between wanting to scream at one another, it’s also a peaceful game. Later on, we unlocked a chair lift and just quietly admired the sunset as we travelled across the island.

It’s incredibly moreish and once you start to master the challenges it throws your way and establish your go-to techniques of communication, Big Walk is hard to put down.

It’s easy to see why so many are calling it a GOTY contender and if you haven’t yet taken advantage of your PlayStation Plus subscription to give it a play, you’re making the wrong call.