Games investor lobbies to “kill friendslop” as it devalues games like Peak and REPO

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As a gamer, I was really interested to hear someone talking about this ‘friendslop’ term that’s been floating around. Apparently, an investor is pushing the industry to stop using it, and I totally agree! It feels like it dismisses all these awesome co-op and social games that are becoming super popular on Steam. It’s great to see more games built around playing with friends, and we shouldn’t be putting them down with a silly label.

Games investor Binni Erllingsson recently discussed a growing trend he’s seeing in the industry – a type of game he calls “friendslop.” He noticed the term popping up in presentations and at conferences. “Friendslop” refers to inexpensive, multiplayer games built specifically for playing with friends.

Erllingsson explained his concern was with the term itself. He acknowledged it was new, but worried it was gaining popularity and wanted to discourage its use. He felt the word ‘slop’ suggested something was poorly made and lacked effort, implying a lack of quality. He described ‘slop’ as meaning something ‘sloppy, not well done, and a bit junky.’

Erllingsson explained that the term ‘slop’ doesn’t accurately represent the game studios creating these types of games. Knowing some of these studios personally, he believes the label unfairly diminishes their talent and could even be seen as insulting to players.

An investor in the video game industry believes using terms like “friendslop” to describe games on Steam – referring to titles like Peak and REPO – undermines the hard work and talent of the developers. They argue the word “slop” implies poor quality, which isn’t fair to the creators.

— TopMob (@TopMob) December 26, 2025

Investor says trend was inevitable

Erllingsson, though he disagreed with how people were describing these games, wasn’t surprised by their popularity. He’d seen similar success before, having previously analyzed player data for Minecraft and led research at Toca Boca, giving him valuable insight into what appeals to younger players.

He’s observed through data and research that Gen Z and Gen Alpha will significantly shape the future of the gaming industry, and understanding these emerging trends is crucial for successful investments.

Erllingsson notes that today’s younger generations grew up with games that emphasize collaboration and social interaction, such as Roblox, Minecraft, and Toca Boca World. He explains that they’re accustomed to playing, creating, and having fun with friends, and he believes this will continue as they get older.

He pointed out that while many new games aren’t built for playing with others, the cooperative games currently popular on Steam are a better fit. Erllingsson also emphasized that these games are very affordable, often costing about the same as a meal or a drink – much less than a major, high-budget game.

He also noted that these patterns are appearing globally. He explained that Chinese players particularly enjoy playing games together with friends and partners, and believes this is a strong sign of where the gaming industry is going for the next ten years.

Erllingsson explained that his investment firm, Behold Ventures, looks for founders who understand this change in how people connect. He said he’s thrilled when he finds them. He ended his post by urging people to stop using the term ‘friendslop’ altogether, saying, “Let’s get rid of it,” and asked for suggestions for better ways to describe the concept.

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2025-12-26 23:19