A rising phenomenon in the gaming world known as “friendslop” is gaining popularity, characterized by games like Peak, RV There Yet?, and Meccha Chameleon. These games have attracted a large player base due to their easy-to-understand gameplay, affordable pricing, and the chaotic fun of multiplayer interactions.
Friendslop games are meant to be played collaboratively with friends, often involving completing mundane tasks that become challenging due to the players’ playful and sometimes clumsy approaches. Players like Patrick Thornley from Langley, B.C., enjoy engaging in friendslop games with their friends across Canada for the sheer joy of lighthearted fun without the pressure of taking the game too seriously.
A recent addition to the friendslop genre, Big Walk, introduces a unique blend of emergent chaos and a meticulously designed world reminiscent of classic games such as Myst and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This game has emerged as a strong contender for game of the year, emphasizing the essence of friendship and shared exploration within a video game setting.
The term “friendslop” was coined around 2025 by an X user, @wooosaaaahhhhh, in reference to Lethal Company, a co-operative multiplayer horror game. Described as “friendfarming,” friendslop games share common traits such as being relatively low-budget, quickly developed games with simplistic visuals compared to more realistic titles like Call of Duty.
These games typically involve straightforward premises, like scaling a mountain in Peak or navigating rural landscapes in RV There Yet?. Many friendslop games incorporate proximity chat, where players’ voices fade as they move apart, encouraging close communication or alternative methods like walkie-talkies for distant interactions.
The success of friendslop games is evident in titles like Peak, which sold over 10 million copies within a few months of its release. Similarly, Meccha Chameleon achieved significant sales figures in just 16 days, showcasing the genre’s viral potential.
Big Walk by Melbourne’s House House, the creator of Untitled Goose Game, presents a fresh take on friendslop gaming. Players embody cartoon characters exploring a vast outdoor setting inspired by the Australian outback. The game focuses on teamwork to solve puzzles and progress through different areas, offering a meticulously designed landscape with intricate challenges.
Players must communicate effectively through gestures and actions to overcome obstacles in Big Walk, reminiscent of the puzzle-solving elements in Myst. The game encourages organic interaction among players, emphasizing collaboration and the joy of shared experiences over mere task completion.
While Big Walk may lack the procedural randomness of other friendslop games, its crafted world promises a memorable gaming experience that transcends the typical gameplay duration. The game’s estimated 20 hours of gameplay are expected to offer some of the best moments in gaming this year.
Available on Windows PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch 2, and Sony PlayStation 5, Big Walk stands out as a standout entry in the friendslop genre, showcasing the power of cooperative gaming and shared exploration.