Ever notice a rising trend in video games that suddenly appear on your radar, and before you know it, most of your friends are playing them? Yeah, that’s become a common phenomenon with the rise of Discord, enhancing the appeal of certain Steam games gamers call "Friendslop."
These games are better played with friends. They are the perfect way to spend a cozy Saturday with the boys, pulling harmless pranks on each other.
You’ve probably seen it happen with games like the newly released co-op horror title R.E.P.O. or past hits like Innersloth’s Among Us and that chaotic game Chained Together.
But what’s the real appeal? Why do these Friendslop games blow up overnight and then vanish just as quickly? Let’s talk about it.
Fun With Friends
They’re called Friendslops for a reason—they’re designed to be played with friends. You can’t truly enjoy these games without hopping into a Discord call with the boys and laughing at each other’s ridiculous mistakes. They’re not necessarily competitive, either. Even someone with zero gaming experience can jump in and have a great time, and sometimes, that’s precisely the kind of friend you need.
Most of these games support up to four players, so having a good rotation of friends is crucial. Otherwise, the game quickly loses its appeal.
Streamers Propel the Hype
Friendslop games blow up when a big streamer plays them. Take Chained Together, for example—when Kai Cenat and IShowSpeed streamed it while literally being chained together, the game saw a massive surge in popularity and sales.
Among Us was one of the biggest beneficiaries of this effect. Streamers across Twitch, including Pokimane, Valkyrae, and xQc, played it non-stop. Of course, it helped that the pandemic had everyone stuck at home, looking for something to pass the time. In a way, many of these Friendslop games owe their rise to that period in history—bleak as it was.
Affordable and Accessible
Not only are Friendslop games fun, but they’re also cheap. Most cost less than $15, which is a steal considering the amount of content they usually offer.
Even better, they’re not very demanding on hardware. Even low-end PCs can run games like Lethal Company, Content Warning, and Among Us without breaking a sweat. Just be cautious with Unreal Engine 5 games that might push older PCs to their limits.
Fun for a Week or Two
Here’s the catch: these games usually have a short lifespan. The honeymoon phase lasts about a week or two, and once the hype dies down and your friends have seen all the content, it’s time to move on to the next friendslop game. Maybe you and your buddies can return to that competitive game you all love (or hate) playing together—whether it’s Overwatch 2, Marvel Rivals, or Rainbow Six Siege.
I actually enjoy the rise of these games. Sure, not all of them are great—some are just mediocre clones of existing IPs—but they’re fun, especially with the right people. At the end of the day, that’s what gaming with friends is all about.