Gamers all over the world have recently coined the term “friendslop” to describe an entire genre of games that all have the same premise: they are fun to play with friends. While some think the name is harsh, everyone can agree that these games have been on the rise as of late and serve their purpose to entertain a group thoroughly. These games are typically focused on the friend aspect, there is little to no story and the graphics are (most of the time) relatively simple, yet intriguing. Some examples of “friendslop” games are R.E.P.O, Among Us, and Content Warning.
Indie-developer FLEXUS has decided to add to the genre with their debut PC game Dear Passengers.
Calling their fictional airline the “world’s worst”, you and your friends play as the crew on a plane ride where nothing goes right. The crew’s job is to transport the passengers and cargo to their destination, just as any plane should do. However, you can choose the cargo that makes it on board–even if it may be on the less legal side. The more risky the cargo, the higher the pay out; with that in mind, transporting a crocodile in a cage that is just barely containing it becomes more understandable.
One player will have control of the plane as the pilot, navigating through troubling weather and things like a giant flock of birds. The rest of the crew will tend to the passengers, handing out food and beverages upon request and attempting to make the ride as smooth as possible.
Seemingly anything and everything can and will go wrong on this ride: turbulence and air pockets will throw passengers out to freefall, and you too can choose to get rid of difficult people by tossing them out. Regardless of the instances that occur, it is part of the crew’s job to fix them before they get worse.
Dear Passengers is yet to be released, but over a million people have wishlisted it on Steam within two days of its announcement. This comes to no surprise, between the hilarious antics and adorable graphics, this game is certainly going to receive raving reviews and a massive amount of attention as soon as players can get their hands on it.