A rising trend in video gaming, often termed “friendslop,” is gaining popularity despite its seemingly derogatory name. Games like “Peak,” “RV There Yet?” and “Meccha Chameleon” have seen massive success in recent years due to their easy-to-understand gameplay, affordable pricing, and emphasis on chaotic multiplayer experiences.
Players like Patrick Thornley from Langley, B.C., enjoy participating in friendslop games with their friends across Canada. These games involve cooperative gameplay to accomplish seemingly mundane tasks, often leading to hilariously disastrous outcomes.
The newly released game “Big Walk” exemplifies the friendslop genre by combining emergent chaos with a meticulously designed world reminiscent of classic games like “Myst” and “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.” It focuses on the exploration of friendship and mutual discovery within a video game setting.
The term “friendslop” was coined in 2025 by an X user, @wooosaaaahhhhh, in reference to the game “Lethal Company.” It describes multiplayer games with common traits such as quick development, simple visuals, and straightforward premises like climbing a mountain or driving an RV.
Many friendslop games incorporate proximity chat, where players’ voices become fainter as they move farther apart, encouraging teamwork and close communication. These games prioritize fun and experimentation over serious gameplay, leading to viral success stories like “Peak” and “Meccha Chameleon.”
“Big Walk” from Melbourne studio House House offers a unique friendslop experience where players work together to solve puzzles in a vibrant outdoor setting. Each puzzle has a single solution, ranging from simple to complex, requiring players to collaborate effectively.
The game challenges players to communicate using gestures and signals, fostering creativity and teamwork. While “Big Walk” may lose some novelty after extended play, its emphasis on cooperative problem-solving and exploration sets it apart as a standout title in the friendslop genre.