Quick answer: The Red Tower is a useful early target because its route leads toward the map system. Take puzzle rewards together, then coordinate the key route rather than splitting the group blindly.
Why Red Tower first
The map changes how your team reads the rest of the island. It turns distant colored structures and coordinate clues into a shared plan instead of a memory test.
Route checklist
Collect usable puzzle rewards; bring them to the Red Tower progression point; keep the key carrier and a navigator in contact; follow each route marker before trying the final lock.
After the unlock
Visit the Map Room; record tower and transport landmarks; return to the wider route with a shared vocabulary for coordinates and locations.
Source & update note
Core platform, player-count, crossplay and hosting facts are checked against the official Big Walk FAQ. This page uses spoiler-aware community route notes and should be rechecked after game updates.