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‘We’re kind of friendslop’: CEO of Jackbox Games sees the link between party games and this new trend but doesn’t think it’s necessarily ‘a negative moniker’
Jackbox Games chief executive Mike Bilder sees a clear connection between the studio’s party games and the newer “friendslop” trend: both centre on friends playing together and making each other laugh. He says the label is not necessarily negative and views the trend as evidence that social games are popular.
Jackbox’s Fibbage and Lie Swatter have been around for more than a decade, following the company’s 2013 rebrand. Bilder and senior software engineer Michael Siciliano say the studio predates the term, while the article notes that many newer friendslop games are made quickly to ride a trend. Jackbox games such as Quiplash share the same playful group dynamic, even if they are not usually described by that label.
In short
- Jackbox sees friendslop as a sign of interest in social gaming.
- Its party games predate the term by years.
- The label does not bother the studio.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Calling Jackbox’s party games “friendslop” can be a playful way to describe their shared appeal: friends create jokes and memories together, and the label may signal that this social fun is in demand. If it is not meant as an insult, Bilder’s willingness to embrace it recognises a broad family of games built around convivial play.
The case against
The label can also suggest that games are disposable or hastily made to cash in on a trend, which may obscure the care and longevity behind Jackbox’s work. Since the studio’s games predate the term and have developed over many years, grouping them with quickly produced trend-driven titles could flatten meaningful differences in craft and intent.