What Is Friendslop? The Rising Genre That You've Already Played.
Everything's fun with friends!
What Is Friendslop?
Everything. Maybe.
“Friendslop.” You’ve heard it. You’ve probably played one. But what does it mean—and is it fair to name every co-op game friendslop?
Know your meme defines this term as, “a humorous and derogatory slang term describing video games primarily meant to be played together with friends and, more narrowly, indie cooperative horror games such as Lethal Company and R.E.P.O., among others.”
There’s something to be said of the blank-slop naming convention, and I’m not sure if it’s a positive, or a negative. Kind of an odd definition, don’t you think? Like many internet insults, friendslop started as mockery, but all it really did was give a name to a booming genre.
Does Every Co-op Game Count?
Well, yes. But actually, no.
If you take the first section of the definition, it seems like every co-op game is friendslop; every co-op focused game, such as Split Fiction or Elden Ring Nightreign were made to be played with friends. By that logic, Hazelight Studios only makes friendslop.
Technically, every co-op game is friendslop. But that doesn’t seem right, and if we look at it as a derogatory slang, then we can narrow it down, which would be the second part of the definition.
We’re talking about the waves of games that came after Lethal Company, when people discovered that playing with friends is very fun, and especially getting scared together. From what I gathered, friendslop are games that are:
Fun with friends!
Wacky
Level-based
Simple
Horror (Usually)
Not Recommended To Play Alone (Sometimes not even possible)
This could still be said about many co-op games, sure. But it’s hard not to notice the plethora of games inspired by Lethal Company, or that take advantage of the fact that every game is fun with friends. I did also realize that, to narrow it further down, they also have these factors:
Time Limit/Quota
No Overarching Story/ Lack of progressing narrative
These specifics separate co-op games from friendslop, but it could also be disrespectful. It does create an air of minimizing the game, implying that it’s just following a trend, it’s uninspired, or a generic cashgrab. Why else would you attach “slop” to it?
When It Works, it Works!
With the right company
Friendslop are just co-op games, and I think that the derogatory part of it should be reserved for games that were cash grabs. But saying that any co-op game is friendslop because it’s co-op is obtuse. There’s nothing wrong about creating a game that a group of people can have fun in.
It has been working out for Lethal Company, R.E.P.O., Chained Together, PEAK, and others.
And I won’t lie to you, I’ve played these games. I’ve dabbled, dipped my toes on each game, got convinced—or convinced friends of mine, to purchase them—most recently Peak—and they have always been a good time. The price point helps a lot.
Solid “Friendslop” Picks
Get the gang together!
I'm going to try to recommend some good ones that I’ve played, or have my eyes on:
Lethal Company
Get three other friends of yours, or more if you mod it, and scavenge dangerous and abandoned buildings in equally dangerous planets! What are you looking for? Anything you can sell to meet quota, or get fired (killed) if you fall short. Comically large bolts. Box of bottles. Funny horn. Car engine. Just be careful with the creepazoids, they’re very varied on how they get you.
Schedule 1
Ever wanted to run a trap house? Well, here’s you chance! Get a group of friends and do so legally. Sell a variety of drugs to people around the town, dodge cops, and fight the competition. You’re also able to automate your production by hiring workers, allowing you are your friends to focus on the tomfoolery.
R.E.P.O.
Just like a aforementioned game, you scavenge dangerous areas to meet quota. But there are three big differences, it’s physics based, you are wheeling a cart full of valuables, and you can break said valuables. And the in-game chat makes this game a thousand times better.
Chained Together
Escape the pits of hell—with your friends! Lucky for you, you have you friend, or friends, chained to you. So they will help you reach the top. I mean, they have to help you reach the top, right?
Peak
It’s one of those climbing games, but with friends—and it’s very cute. The characters are so charming, work together to satisfy your hunger, and figure out the best route to reach the top! It’s also very cool that there’s an island rotation every 24 hours.
Roadside Research
The game hasn’t come out, but the premise is a funny one. You’re a group of aliens disguising yourself as humans to learn about them, while also running a gas station. A co-op sim with humor! Just try not to get caught by anyone.
To Friend or Not To Friend, That Is The Question
What is the question? Maybe no to the slop?
It’s pretty hard to hate on people that want to create a fun experience to share with your friends. Sure, there are many cases of people jumping into the trend to get some cash, but those go way under the radar. Now, go have some fun with your friends!
Everything Is Fun With The Right Ones!
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I agree reserving the term for cash grabs. There seems to be a few co-op backrooms games around, and many are not good or well-conceived at all.