Early this year, an X (Twitter) user using the handle BLOODY MARY fired off a post containing a phrase that sent odd shockwaves in video games culture. Referencing the popular multiplayer game Lethal Company, they said that it belongs to a genre which they derisively christened "friendslop." It was a post made in jest, but as 2025 draws to an end, “friendslop” seems to have solidified as one of the genres of our moment. Far from a joke, the rise of these small-scale multiplayer games shows that if there’s one thing that players are really craving, it’s not competition but communication.
What is “friendslop” and why does it matter? The term itself has drawn a degree of dispute and conversation this year but at the most broad level it represents a genre of low-stakes multiplayer games focused on achieving a common goal, coordinating usually through voice chat in game or through a program like Discord. These games are often unserious and definitely not competitive. Part of the joy, as much as getting to play with your friends, is seeing them bungle a run or simply goof off.
