Big Walk Big Key Guide
Find the key for your route, take ordinary keys through all 5 cutters, then use the completed key at the correct progression destination.
A Big Key is a progression item rather than ordinary gear to carry around. See it with the other Big Walk items & tools
- 5 ordinary routes
- 5 cutters each
- 2 late-game keys
- Major progression item
Which key do I have?My key won't work
Your answers are saved on this device and shared with the walkthrough, Train and 100% tracker.
Big Key Route Cheat Sheet
Match what you want to open to the key route that opens it. The cutter count is the same for every ordinary route.
Drawbridge
4 rewards · Cutters: 5
Drawbridge and the wider island route
Map Room
5 rewards · Cutters: 5
Map Room access and navigation tools
Chairlift
5 rewards · Cutters: 5
the Chairlift transport system
Train
5 rewards · Cutters: 5
the Train system
Tunnels
5 rewards · Cutters: 5
the coloured tunnel network
- Ending Key
Ending Gate
Varies by world · Cutters: 0
the Ending Gate
- Overflow Key
Second Goodbye
13 rewards · Cutters: 0
the Second Ending Door
Which Big Key Route Are You On?
Answer whichever question you can. Both lead to the same route.
Where did you get the key?
What are you trying to unlock?
Which Key Are You Working On?
Pick the key you are carrying. The route detail below updates to that key.
How Ordinary Big Keys Work
Every ordinary route runs the same way, and none of them depend on another colour.
- 1
A tower releases the raw key
- 2
The key goes through five cutters
- 1. Put the raw key into the first cutter.
- 2. Let the machine finish cutting it.
- 3. Follow the direction toward the next cutter.
- 4. Repeat until the key has passed through all five stations.
- 5. Only then take the completed key to its destination.
- 3
The key becomes complete
- 4
The completed key goes to its destination
- 5
The destination switches on a world system
Skipping a station is the usual reason a key reaches a lock and does nothing: an unfinished key is not accepted, even though it is still in your hands.
Why the keys are called Red, Green, Blue and Yellow
The colour names come from the tower that releases each key. They identify the route — the key released at that tower, its five cutters and the destination that route leads to. Follow the route listed for your key rather than carrying one colour across the island hoping it fits.
Find My Next Cutter
Pick your route and how many cutters you have finished. This says which cutter is next, or that the key is ready for its destination.
Route
Pick the key you are carrying. The route detail below updates to that key.
Big Key Route Map
Each route draws as a source, five cutters and a destination. Only the route you select is overlaid.
Source → five cutters → destination.
Opening KeyRed KeyGreen KeyBlue KeyYellow Key
Red Cone Lookout
Green Hourglass Lookout
Blue Tube Lookout
Yellow Zigzag Lookout
What Does Each Big Key Unlock?
Each completed key switches on one system, so follow the route above to the destination that belongs to your key.
Opening Key
Drawbridge
Opens the main island route.
Open destination guideRed Key
Map Room
Gives access to the Map Room route and navigation tools.
Open destination guideGreen Key
Chairlift
Opens the Chairlift transport system.
Open destination guideBlue Key
Train
Leads to the Train activation route.
Open destination guideYellow Key
Tunnels
Opens the coloured tunnel network.
Open destination guide
Special Late-Game Keys
The Ending Key and the Overflow Key are finished when you receive them, so they never enter a cutter trail.
Late game
Ending Key
The Ending Key is already in its completed state when it is awarded. It does not use the normal five-cutter route.
No cutter route
- Black Tower reward
- Ending Key
- completed key state
- Ending plinth
- Ending gate
- Source
- Black Tower reward
- Rewards
- Varies by world
- Destination
- Ending plinth / Ending gate
- Unlock
- the Ending Gate
Post-game
Overflow Key
The Overflow Key is a post-game key. It is not a seventh Big Key stage and it has no cutter route.
No cutter route
- Overflow Monument
- Overflow Key
- completed key state
- Second Ending Plinth
- Second Ending Door
- Second Goodbye
- Source
- Overflow Monument
- Rewards
- 13 rewards
- Destination
- Second Ending Plinth / Second Ending Door
- Unlock
- the Second Ending Door
Big Key Not Working?
Match what you are seeing, then take the step it points at.
I found the key but the lock won't accept it
Confirm the key has been through all five cutters, in order. A key that skipped a station is not complete yet, even though it is still in your hands.
Find my next cutterThe key won't go into the next cutter
Check whether you skipped the previous cutter, and whether the last cutting animation had finished before you left.
Show the cutter orderI can't find the next cutter
Open your route on the map. The five stations are drawn in the order they have to be used.
Show the cutter routeI finished all five cutters — where does the key go?
Red → Map Room, Green → Chairlift, Blue → Train, Yellow → Tunnels, and the opening route → Drawbridge.
Destinations and unlocksI lost the key
Check the last cutter and the route destination first: the key may already be complete or placed. A progression key does not come back through ordinary item recovery.
Key recovery checksThe key is placed but the system is not moving
A correct plinth with a stopped system has its own condition. On the Blue route, check the Train brakes.
Troubleshoot the TrainThe tower didn't release a key
The tower's own requirement is not met yet. Clear its submission first.
Walkthrough
Key missing, or the route is already finished?
Check the destination before assuming a key was lost, because a completed key is supposed to leave your hands.
- Drawbridge down?
- Map Room open?
- Chairlift running?
- Train moving?
- Tunnels unlocked?
- Ending gate open?
If that system is already running, the key has finished its job and there is nothing left to carry.
Still holding an unfinished key? Check where it is on the route map. Open Interactive Map
Looking for ordinary carried gear instead of a key? Lost portable equipment
Big Key FAQ
- How many Big Keys are in Big Walk?
- Five ordinary routes use the five-cutter trail: the opening route and the Red, Green, Blue and Yellow tower routes. Two more keys arrive late — the Ending Key from the Black Tower and the post-game Overflow Key. Route cheat sheet
- Do all Big Keys need five cutters?
- No. The opening route and the four tower routes each run through five cutters. The Ending Key and the Overflow Key arrive already finished and never enter a cutter trail. Late-game keys
- Why won't my Big Key work?
- On an ordinary route, confirm the key has passed through all five cutters in order, then take it to that route's destination. Big Key fixes
- Where does each coloured Big Key go?
- Red goes to the Map Room, Green to the Chairlift, Blue to the Train and Yellow to the Tunnels. The opening route key goes to the Drawbridge. Destinations and unlocks
- How many rewards does a Big Key need?
- The opening route asks for 4 rewards and each tower route asks for 5. The two late-game keys have their own conditions instead. Route cheat sheet
- Can I skip a cutter?
- Don't plan on it. An ordinary route is an ordered trail of five stations, so a key that skipped one is not complete and the destination will not take it. Find my next cutter
- Does the Ending Key need cutters?
- No. It is awarded in its finished state and goes straight on to the Ending plinth and gate. Late-game keys