Industry Investor Urges Gamers to Abandon the Term “Friendslop” to Honor Developer Skill

Games like Peak, REPO, and RV There Yet? have significantly influenced the industry this year, but one investor in the gaming space isn’t thrilled about the “friendslop” label that has emerged around them.

In a recent discussion on LinkedIn, Binni Erlingsson from Behold Ventures expressed his concerns about the term “friendslop” becoming a staple in pitch decks as developers aim to ride the wave of this Steam trend. While he appreciates the games themselves, he believes the label should be nipped in the bud before it gains more traction.

“I know it’s a fresh term, but it’s gaining popularity, and I want to advocate for its demise before it takes off,” he stated. “The term feels negative to me. ‘Slop’ suggests something is poorly made, messy, or low-quality.”

Erlingsson, who resides in Sweden and has connections with some of the leading studios in this genre, feels that such a term undermines their talent and subtly insults the player base. “It implies a judgment, like ‘Oh, you enjoy friendslop games?’—a sentiment echoed by the stereotypical elitist gamer in my mind. It just carries a negative connotation.”

He also noted that the trend isn’t surprising when considering the gaming history of younger generations.

“Gen Z and Gen Alpha have grown up playing, laughing, and creating with friends in games like Roblox, Toca Boca World, and Minecraft. I believe they’ll seek out similar experiences as they transition into adulthood,” he explained. “The current gaming landscape isn’t fully equipped to meet their needs, but ‘friendslop’ games fit right into this narrative. Plus, they usually cost about as much as a meal or a drink, making them accessible for young people in today’s economy.”

Erlingsson doesn’t foresee games like Peak or REPO disappearing anytime soon, but he firmly believes it’s time to “collectively kill” the term “friendslop.” Unfortunately, he fears it may already be too late for that.