Created by Pocket Pair, an independent game development company located in Shinagawa, Tokyo, and established by Takuro Mizobe in April of 2015. This marks their second Early Access game, following Craftopia, which debuted on Steam in 2020. Palworld was unveiled in 2021, initially slated for release in 2022. However, as the project expanded, it became evident that the release date needed a slight push. Pocket Pair had to onboard more staff to finalize the game, and delaying the release was a wise move to ensure quality.
Upon its initial reveal in June 2021, many likened Palworld to Pokémon armed with firearms. While that aspect exists, the game offers much more. Drawing inspiration from titles like Ark, Rust, and Dragon Quest, categorizing it merely as a Pokémon imitation does it a disservice. Steam sales surpassed one million copies within the first 8 hours of launch, soaring to two million within 24 hours. In its early access phase, Palworld racked up six million copies sold in just four days.
The game also boasted 1.8 million concurrent players on Steam, causing server crashes. With these numbers, Palworld ranks as the second-most-played game of all time on Steam. Palworld shares similarities with Ark initially, which was Pocket Pair's intention, but they pivoted, and the result is commendable. Players start the game washed ashore on Palpagos Island, equipped with a tablet displaying the cryptic message "The towers are the key... the tree holds the truth."
More than 100 diverse pals roam freely on the island, each with various types; Alpha Pals are sizable with robust health pools, while Lucky Pals resemble Pokémon's Shiny variants and are more elusive. To capture pals, you'll need to craft Pal Spheres, akin to Pokeballs. First, weaken the pal using weapons or your own pals. Once weakened, toss a Pal Sphere, hoping for a successful catch.
The Paldeck serves as an encyclopedia, detailing different pal species, their habitats, partner skills, work traits, and food consumption. Pal breeding is possible, with some species requiring specific breeding pairs. A pal black market allows for purchasing pals.
Palworld introduces the ability to capture humans in Pal Spheres, adding a unique twist. Crafting follows a familiar gather-and-craft system, unlocking recipes as you progress.
Surviving the elements is crucial; you must regulate temperature and establish farms for sustenance, with pals assisting in various tasks like planting, gathering, cooking, and crafting. Maintaining their happiness is vital, ensuring high SAN (sanity) stats with amenities like beds, food, and even a hot tub.
Building structures is straightforward in Palworld, allowing for creative base designs. However, I encountered an issue where certain roofs wouldn't build properly, no matter how I positioned them, leading to frustration and eventual abandonment.
Exploring the map unlocks fast travel points across the 16 square kilometer area, facilitating quick returns to your base. Multiplayer functionality enables joining friends' adventures, forming guilds, and exploring Palpagos Island together. Hosting multiplayer games accommodates up to four players, but dedicated servers can support up to 32.
Occasional raids threaten your base, necessitating defense from pals who can wield weapons alongside their usual tasks. Combat offers various options, from traditional weapons like spears and bows to advanced firearms. Uniquely, you can utilize pals as weapons, including those armed with Gatling guns or serving as shields.
Combat mechanics are intuitive, featuring primary attacks and dodges/rolls. Pals can be commanded to target specific enemies or remain passive. When riding a pal, you gain access to unique attacks, such as using Eikthrydeer's antlers against foes, enhancing the excitement of battles.
Palworld features scattered bosses throughout the map, requiring timely defeat within set time limits, emphasizing the importance of damage output. Preparation is key, ensuring both you and your pal team are primed for the challenge. Alpha bosses, while less formidable than main bosses, offer valuable rewards like Ancient Civilization Parts, essential for unlocking exclusive crafting recipes. Ranging from levels 11 to 50, Alpha bosses provide engaging content.
Various factions pose additional challenges, including a crime syndicate, island defense force, and Pal liberation movement. Beware of hostile NPCs, as attacking humans incurs a wanted level, prompting the defense force to pursue you until evasion or defeat.
Combat mechanics are a standout feature, offering simplicity and ease of learning without complex button combinations for special attacks. Remarkably, the game's combat system remains free of bugs or glitches, a notable achievement given its estimated completion status of around 60%.
Palworld retains a grind element with various XP systems to progress through. Personal XP boosts your character's stats, including strength, health, and stamina, acquired by completing tasks and battling. Pals also level up through combat, base work, or being in your party, ensuring readiness for major boss battles. Bases earn XP by achieving objectives, unlocking upgrades for increased efficiency.
The XP grind remains engaging, with diverse activities preventing monotony. With over 100 pals to capture, five main bosses, and 42 alpha bosses to conquer, there's no shortage of challenges. Originally developed on Unity Engine, the game transitioned to Unreal Engine 4 before settling on Unreal Engine 5, better suited for its open-world design.
The world design is breathtaking, showcasing varied landscapes from towering cliffs to sandy beaches. Each area feels distinct, avoiding monotony. Pals are intricately designed, drawing inspiration from mythologies and Pokémon, although Pocket Pair aims to distinguish their creations.
Future updates promise exciting additions such as PvP modes, Pal trading, Raid Bosses, Guild Raids, and new islands. Expanded character customization options are also planned, ensuring players can invest ample time in perfecting their avatars.
Palworld offers a plethora of enjoyable activities, blending humor and randomness with charm and stunning visuals, reminiscent of a high-quality AA title rather than an indie production. Pocket Pair has exceeded expectations with this game, with some players already touting it as a potential Game of the Year contender. While it may be premature to make such declarations in January, Palworld's potential for the title is undeniable, pending completion of the remaining 40% of the game.
Whether you're a fan of survival or monster hunter games or a newcomer to the genre, Palworld is accessible and enjoyable for all levels of players. Its unexpected success is well-deserved, and with Pocket Pair's ongoing plans for updates, its popularity is likely to endure. As for me, I've still got plenty of pals to catch and master.
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