In the realm of video games, a burgeoning trend gaining momentum is what’s known as “friendslop,” despite its seemingly derogatory connotation. Titles like Peak, RV There Yet?, and Meccha Chameleon have witnessed massive success in recent times, drawing in millions of players due to their easy-to-grasp gameplay, affordable price points, and an emphasis on the unpredictability of multiplayer interactions.
Patrick Thornley, an avid gamer from Langley, B.C., extolled the essence of friendslop games, highlighting how they encourage cooperative play among friends to tackle seemingly mundane tasks, often leading to hilarious mishaps. The primary objective is to unwind, have a good time, and not take oneself too seriously.
The latest addition to this genre, Big Walk, sets itself apart by blending emergent mayhem with a meticulously designed world reminiscent of gaming classics like Myst and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It has emerged as a strong contender for game of the year, amplifying the significance of camaraderie and shared exploration within a virtual sandbox.
The term “friendslop” was reportedly coined by an X user with the handle @wooosaaaahhhhh in 2025, primarily referencing Lethal Company, a co-operative multiplayer horror game released in 2023. This user described it as a platform aimed at fostering friendships, a concept colloquially referred to as “friendfarming.”
Friendfarming, a relatively uncommon slang term, is defined in online circles as either amassing as many friends as possible or simply spending quality time with existing friends. Friendslop games typically share common traits; they are often swiftly developed with modest budgets, featuring simplistic visuals compared to high-end titles like Call of Duty.
These games offer straightforward premises, such as scaling a mountain in Peak or navigating an RV through the wilderness in RV There Yet?. Many incorporate proximity chat, where the volume of communication diminishes with distance, necessitating players to stick together or acquire communication devices for long-range interactions.
While success isn’t guaranteed in creating a friendslop game, the genre has birthed some of the most viral releases in recent memory. For instance, Peak by independent studio Aggro Crab has surpassed 10 million copies sold since its launch in June 2025, illustrating the genre’s growing popularity and impact.
In a fresh twist, Big Walk from Melbourne’s House House, the creative minds behind 2019’s beloved Untitled Goose Game, presents a unique multiplayer experience. Players embody cartoonish characters exploring an expansive outdoor setting inspired by the Australian outback, encountering teamwork-driven puzzles at various checkpoints.
Unlike procedurally generated environments in many friendslop games, Big Walk boasts a meticulously crafted landscape with curated challenges, each offering a distinct solution. Players must collaborate creatively, employing gestures, pointing, and jumping to communicate effectively and tackle intricate puzzles scattered throughout the game world.
Apart from puzzle-solving, Big Walk emphasizes the camaraderie and collaborative learning process among friends, encouraging detours and fostering organic experiences. While the game’s novelty may diminish after approximately 20 hours of gameplay, the journey promises to deliver one of the most engaging gaming experiences of the year.
Accessible on Windows PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch 2, and Sony PlayStation 5, Big Walk stands out as a testament to the evolving landscape of friendslop games, showcasing the power of friendship and shared exploration in the realm of interactive entertainment.