In 2025, the gaming world has witnessed the rise of a quirky phenomenon known as "friend slop," which has made cooperative gaming even more entertaining than ever. When a buddy suggested I try out a new game called REPO earlier this year, I was initially skeptical. My hesitation wasn't due to the game's aesthetics but rather because it bore a striking resemblance to the previous year's surprise hit, Lethal Company. This co-op survival horror game had players exploring eerie, dilapidated buildings, collecting garbage while dodging terrifying monsters. While Lethal Company gained immense popularity among my friends and many gamers, its unsettling atmosphere was a bit too much for me. However, my friends insisted that REPO was different — it was so filled with humor that it was hard to feel scared, especially with its silly robot avatars. Turns out, they were right.
REPO quickly became one of my favorite games, emerging as one of the top co-op titles of 2025, alongside another indie sensation known as Peak. Over the course of several months, both games have come to symbolize a new genre that some might controversially refer to as "friend slop."
This term typically describes indie co-op games that are best enjoyed with friends and emphasize humor. Most of these games are designed for PC, priced under $20, incorporate proximity voice chat, feature zany game physics, and often align with the survival horror genre. However, not all friend slop games aim to scare; lighter versions have surfaced this year, like Peak, where players work together to scale increasingly treacherous mountains.
But that's just scratching the surface of what friend slop has to offer. Take Guilty as Sock!, for instance. In this game, you and your friends take on the roles of sock puppets engaged in comical court battles. Then there's Lockdown Protocol, which draws inspiration from Among Us, a predecessor to the friend slop trend, where one player attempts to undermine their teammates as they race against the clock to complete chores in an isolated base. Mage Arena is among the most affordable friend slop titles released this year, costing only $2.99, yet it stands out by having players verbally shout spells during magical duels.
Friend slop games generally adhere to a familiar pattern: you and your friends collaborate to achieve a common goal, but the repercussions of failure are lighthearted (and often more amusing than winning). Peak exemplifies this perfectly; despite my inability to successfully finish a run, I keep returning for more. The thrill of watching a friend misjudge a jump and plummet from a mountain, eat toxic food, or be pursued by the scoutmaster for sprinting ahead is simply too entertaining to resist.
In the realm of friend slop, humor takes center stage, with victory taking a backseat. If you're in search of a profound storyline or complex character development, you might find yourself disappointed. Additionally, these games often lose their appeal when played solo. For example, REPO lacks its charm when there's no one around to share a laugh after you inadvertently break a vase.
This leads to a significant criticism of the genre, contributing to its "slop" label. While REPO and Peak have enjoyed immense popularity this year, some argue they are primarily designed for viral moments and lack depth beyond that, particularly because they tend to be less engaging when played alone.
That viewpoint may hold some merit, depending on your expectations. However, it overlooks a crucial aspect of why "friend slop" has resonated with so many players this year.
Another title, Elden Ring Nightreign, also emerged as one of the most popular co-op games of 2025, and while I thoroughly enjoyed it, it offers a vastly different gameplay experience compared to REPO or Peak. Nightreign demands concentration, skill, and strategic thinking, whereas REPO mostly involves casually avoiding monsters while collecting items. Moreover, it is significantly more budget-friendly than Nightreign and doesn't require prior familiarity with other games.
This contrast underscores one of the greatest advantages of the friend slop genre. Despite their potential drawbacks, these games are incredibly accessible. They demand little commitment from players, both financially and in terms of time investment. You don’t even need a high-end gaming rig to enjoy them. For many, including myself, the joy of spending time with friends and sharing laughs holds just as much value as an intricate narrative or intense boss battles.
This year has seen game prices soar, with gaming PC hardware becoming increasingly unaffordable for many enthusiasts. Almost every aspect of the gaming hobby has gotten costlier. Friend slop games provide a refreshing alternative, offering low prices and minimal hardware requirements, making them accessible to a broader audience, especially since they are typically easy to pick up and play. Ironically, the very traits that have led some to dismiss these games as "slop" are also what have fueled their popularity throughout 2025.
Paige Wilson, community manager at Peak’s publisher Aggro Crab, echoed this sentiment, stating, "We actually think friend slop is a fire term. Sure, it started with a negative connotation, but we always found it amusing and quite fitting. It describes a low-cost game you and your friends can dive into anytime, have fun, hang out, and expect a bit of jank. Some may not see it this way, but we certainly do!"
In essence, friend slop revolves around the social experience rather than the game itself. If that’s what “slop” means, then I happily embrace the label of a “friend slop” gamer!
