Big Walk Developers Have Mixed Feelings About the Internet’s “Friendslop” Genre

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Multiplayer games built around simply hanging out with friends are getting popular, and many players have started calling this emerging category “friendslop.” But the developers behind Big Walk, the upcoming co-op adventure from House House, aren’t entirely sure how they feel about the term.

The studio House House, best known for creating Untitled Goose Game, recently shared its thoughts on the label while discussing Big Walk. As reported by GamesRadar+, developers Stuart Gillespie-Cook and Nico Disseldorp explained that the phrase has both positive and negative sides. On one hand, they’re happy to see more games gaining popularity where the main goal is simply spending time with friends in playful online worlds.

At the same time, the name itself can feel a bit dismissive. Gillespie-Cook joked that the meaning of the word largely depends on how people interpret it. While the “friends” part highlights the social, relaxed nature of these games, the “slop” portion can sound like it’s poking fun at the genre.

Interestingly, the developers say they began working on Big Walk long before the trend really took off. At the time, they weren’t even sure there would be a strong audience for a game focused primarily on cooperative exploration and shared experiences. The recent surge in similar titles has therefore been reassuring, even if the label attached to them is a little awkward.

Disseldorp also pointed out that this kind of situation isn’t unusual in gaming or creative industries. Artists and developers often end up stuck with genre names invented by fans or critics rather than something they chose themselves.

Whether the developers embrace the term or not, the growing popularity of games focused on social interaction suggests there’s strong demand for them. As Big Walk continues toward release, it could become one of the next titles players turn to when they simply want to explore, experiment, and have fun together online.