Palworld
" Innovative open-world survival RPG with deep breeding and combat, but technical issues persist "
Palworld Review
Palworld is a unique survival crafting and monster-collecting game that blends elements from games like Pokémon and ARK: Survival Evolved, offering a rich, open-world experience. Players appreciate the vast content including catching, breeding, base building, boss fights, and automation where Pals assist in various tasks. The game is praised for its creative Pal designs and the freedom to customize gameplay difficulty and mechanics, appealing to both casual and hardcore players.
Despite its Early Access status, Palworld has amassed a large, dedicated player base who commend the developers for their engagement and continuous content updates. However, the game faces external challenges, notably legal disputes with Nintendo, which have forced the removal or alteration of some mechanics. Players are supportive of the developers and hopeful that these issues will be resolved, allowing the game to realize its full potential. The community also values the multiplayer aspect, making it an enjoyable cooperative experience.
Highlights
Players especially praise Palworld's gameplay mechanics, highlighting the deep breeding system, challenging boss fights, and the innovative mix of survival crafting with monster collecting. The open-world design allows for extensive exploration and creativity in base building and automation.
The graphics receive positive remarks for being visually appealing and detailed, with unique Pal designs that stand out. The game's storyline and lore, while minimal, are appreciated for the freedom they provide, allowing players to create their own journey. The multiplayer experience is also frequently noted as a strong point, enhancing the fun and replayability.
Criticisms
Common criticisms focus on the game's lack of polish and depth in narrative and world-building. Some players find the world feels "paper-thin" with little engaging story content or memorable NPC interactions. The endgame can feel anticlimactic, lacking a strong sense of progression or meaningful goals beyond grinding.
Technical issues such as crashes during fast travel, input delays, and hitbox problems are reported. The legal constraints imposed by Nintendo have also led to the removal of certain mechanics, which some players feel diminishes the gameplay experience. Additionally, some find the late-game difficulty spikes and resource grind frustrating.
Pros
- • Extensive and engaging gameplay with deep breeding and combat mechanics.
- • Unique and imaginative Pal designs that add charm and personality.
- • Open-world exploration combined with base building and automation.
- • Customizable difficulty and gameplay settings for varied player preferences.
- • Strong multiplayer support enhancing cooperative play experiences.
- • Frequent content updates and responsive developer community engagement.
- • Innovative blend of monster collecting with survival and crafting genres.
Cons
- • Narrative and world-building feel shallow and lack immersive storytelling.
- • Technical issues including crashes, input delays, and hitbox inaccuracies.
- • Legal disputes have forced removal of some core gameplay mechanics.
- • Late-game difficulty spikes can be frustrating and unbalanced for solo play.
- • Endgame content feels anticlimactic with limited meaningful goals.
- • Some base building aspects are incomplete or lack polish.
- • Limited variety within Pal groups reduces incentive to collect multiples.
Rating Criteria
About This Game
Q. What kind of game is this?
A. In this game, you can peacefully live alongside mysterious creatures known as Pals or risk your life to drive off a ruthless poaching syndicate.
Pals can be used to fight, or they can be made to work on farms or factories.
You can even sell them or eat them!
Survival
In a harsh environment where food is scarce and vicious poachers roam, danger waits around every corner. To survive, you must tread carefully and make difficult choices...even if that means eating your own Pals when the time comes.
Mounts & Exploration
Pals can be mounted to traverse the land, sea and sky—allowing you to traverse all kinds of environment as you explore the world.
Building Structures
Want to build a pyramid? Put an army of Pals on the job. Don't worry; there are no labor laws for Pals.
Production
Make use of Pals and their skills to make fire, generate electricity, or mine ore so that you can live a life of comfort.
Farming
Some Pals are good at planting seeds, while others are skilled at watering or harvesting crops. Work together with your Pals to create an idyllic farmstead.
Factories & Automation
Letting Pals do the work is the key to automation. Build a factory, place a Pal in it, and they'll keep working as long as they're fed—until they're dead, that is.
Dungeon Exploration
With Pals on your side you can tackle even the most dangerous areas. When the time comes, you might have to sacrifice one to save your skin. They'll protect your life—even if it costs their own.
Breeding & Genetics
Breed a Pal and it will inherit the characteristics of its parents. Combine rare pals to create the strongest Pal of them all!
Poaching & Crime
Endangered Pals live in wildlife sanctuaries. Sneak in and capture rare Pals to get rich quick! It's not a crime if you don't get caught, after all.
Multiplayer
Multiplayer is supported, so invite a friend and go on an adventure together! And of course you can battle your friends and trade Pals, too.
In online co-op play mode, up to 4 players can play together.
Additionally, a dedicated server can allow up to 32 players to play together.
Fight, farm, build and work alongside mysterious creatures called "Pals" in this completely new multiplayer, open world survival and crafting game!