Summary

  • Palworld offers a unique survival experience with constant action and resource gathering, adding a new challenge compared to Pokemon.
  • Building bases in Palworld allows for customization and adds a sense of personality and fun to the game, surpassing what Pokemon offers.
  • Palworld's mass multiplayer feature allows for up to 32 players on Steam and 4 players on Xbox Game Pass, offering engaging collaborative gameplay not seen in Pokemon.

In early 2024, Palworld rocked the gaming community with its colossal release, bringing in millions of players on Steam and Xbox Game Pass. The game's success can be attributed to many things, including its mass multiplayer take on the survival game genre while incorporating Pals. Palworld has received comparisons to the Pokemon franchise because its main attraction is Pals, which appear highly similar to Pokemon.

Fighting enemies with Foxsparks and Accessing the Palbox in Palworld
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The unique features implemented into Palworld have created an addicting gaming experience despite the fact the project is still in its infancy, with the current version being in early access. Along with many features of Pokemon being implemented into Palworld, the game has incorporated elements from the survival and action-adventure genres to create a unique experience. With Palworld being a new rival to Pokemon, the former introduces features that could add a lot to the latter.

5 Survival

Surviving In A Danger-Filled World

Chopping down trees in Palworld

In Palworld, the main task for players is to survive, no matter the cost. Throughout a playthrough, players must hunt, collect, and scavenge for resources to survive in a land full of dangerous creatures. The survival aspect of Palworld is fleshed out and offers players constant action as they traverse through the game and its leveling system. Alternatively, in the Pokemon franchise, players do not have to worry about the survival of their characters and their surroundings, despite players exploring islands filled with dangerous creatures and troublemakers.

Pokemon and Nintendo opt not to make their games more challenging as the survival and care of Pokemon are the game's primary functions. The addition of gathering resources to ensure survival would appease players seeking an alternative challenge while playing the Pokemon franchise.

4 Base Building

Building Homes In Style

Building a base in Palworld

Crafting in any survival game is essential to success, enabling many forms of customization, such as building. In Palworld, crafting allows players to create items to enhance the game experience. Crafting also helps building take place, with building bases being essential in any survival game. The number of items in Palworld that can be crafted gives players a wide array of customization options to aid their playthrough. When building a base in Palworld, Pals help with creations due to their gathering skills, adding a sense of personality and fun to a survival game.

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1

The Pokemon franchise has only explored bases in a couple of their releases, although the depth pales compared to what is available in Palworld. Base building in Pokemon through crafting would enable players to be creative while also giving their team a permanent home to relax and have fun.

3 Mass Multiplayer

4-32 Player Chaos

Multiplayer servers in Palworld

The multiplayer system in Palworld offers mass interaction within the game, allowing up to 32 players to be included in a dedicated server on Steam. On the Xbox Game Pass, the player limit is kept to four. In Palworld, players can play together in a complete playthrough as they strive to get stronger by capturing more Pals. Collaboration on features such as battling, crafting, and base building make gaming experiences more engaging and enjoyable for friends, with Palworld offering many choices.

In Pokemon's multiplayer, players are often restricted to Pokemon battles. In one of the recent releases, Pokemon Sword and Shield, exploration with friends is included. However, given the abundance of avenues it could utilize, Pokemon still has yet to truly excel in a multiplayer setting outside the phenomenon that was Pokemon GO.

2 Characters Involved In Battles

More Power Given To Players

Using a bow and arrow in Palworld

Much of the buzz surrounding Palworld revolves around weapons being incorporated alongside Pals, creating a unique dynamic. Unlike Pokemon, Palworld enables characters to become involved in battles against Pals. From very early on in the game, using the crafting of materials, a variety of weapons, such as bows and arrows, guns, and rocket launchers, are available through progression. These tools allow for a multitude of ways to engage in enthralling battles.

In Pokemon, the Pokemon themselves will always be the main attraction. However, if the characters were more involved in battling using different tools, it would add a fresh spark to the franchise that is very much needed.

1 Incentives To Catch Pals

XP Boosts Help With Leveling

Catching a pal in Palworld

Palworld uses a leveling system that enables players to progress through many avenues. One of these happens to be leveling up through catching Pals. Unsurprisingly, one of the first things players opt to do in Palworld is to catch Pals. Not only does catching Pals give XP, but caught Pals can aid development on a player's base. Palworld introduces incentives such as XP boosts if players catch 10 of the same Pal, with XP necessary to progress in the game.

In recent Pokemon entries, gaining XP through catching Pokemon has helped players' team members grow stronger. Despite this, the perks do not compare to what XP and leveling earned by catching Pals offer in Palworld regarding infrastructure and tools.

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Palworld Tag Page Cover Art
Palworld
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Released
January 19, 2024
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Developer(s)
Pocket Pair, Inc.
Div
Genre(s)
Open-World, Shooter, Survival