Is Palworld More Than Just A Pokémon Clone?

The announcement of "Palworld" garnered quite a bit of attention from longtime gamers, due in no small part to the survival game's monster-catching and battling mechanics. Within hours of the game's first trailer hitting the internet, people were already affectionately referring to Pocketpair's new game as "Pokémon With Guns." Some gamers even predicted that Pocketpair would be sued by Nintendo for encroaching upon its foothold in the "catching 'em all" space. However, as more gameplay previews have been released for the upcoming title, it's become more and more clear that the developers have been cooking up something that wears its influences on its sleeve, yet also plays by its own rules. "Palworld" is finally releasing in early access this week (including on Xbox Game Pass), allowing a number of news outlets and fans to share their first impressions of the cute-yet-deadly crafting and survival game.

First thing's first: "Palworld" has a lot going on. Players build bases, fend off poachers, hunt for food, and battle alongside Pokémon-esque creatures known as "Pals" (which, yes, can carry guns of all sizes). Some have argued that the game has just as much in common with "Fortnite" as it does with "Pokémon." However, it's a Pal-eat-Pal world out here, and if the going gets tough, players also have the option to serve up their beloved Pals for dinner. While that might sound like it makes for a wild clash of tones, critics have mostly enjoyed their time with "Palworld" — albeit with a few caveats.

Eurogamer's Zoe Delahunty-Light commends "Palworld" for the variety of catchable creatures and the over-the-top boss fights that come with some of them. The review notes that each Pal has a noteworthy and fun design, as well as a clear personality (i.e., some are more aggressive than others). Players will want to collect every Pal they find, as many of them offer unique traversal options and wild abilities. Constant Pal attacks on your character's homebase can be frustrating, but Eurogamer points out that these can be toggled off in the game's settings, allowing players to just vibe with their cuddly friends. However, most players will eventually want to continue exploring and defending their base in order to unlock new crafting materials and abilities.

Reviewing the game for PureXbox, Craig Reid had a blast with collecting and battling, as well as the fun activities that players can get up to in their base (cooking, exercising their Pals, etc.), but found the game's crafting mechanics to be a bit of a slog. Reid notes, however, that the game will no doubt smooth out its rough edges as it leaves early access. GamingBolt argues that although the "Pokémon" comparisons are inevitable, "Palworld" still brings enough flair to the table to stand on its own. The review also praises its indie team for delivering "a solid survival crafting experience, with a great line-up of Pals to collect, sprawling landscapes to explore and a notable presentation bereft of any severe issues."

Some reviewers have found "Palworld" to be somewhat lacking in the story department, but have also noted that it's not really the main point of the game. Thankfully, the game is full of journal entries that hint at undiscovered gameplay mechanics and flesh out the world of the game just enough to keep the player engaged.

On social media, potential players are already chomping at the bit to begin their "Palworld" journey. In fact, Pocketpair was overwhelmed with review code requests, meaning some people just had to wait until the game's official launch date. Influencers and streamers who have snagged review codes of the game are already sounding off about their experiences, with many of the reactions being overwhelmingly positive. Streamer NickCucc also shared some gameplay clips and said that "Palworld" is already a Game of the Year contender. Fellow streamer Anthony Kongphan posted a clip of his character smacking a Pal on the rump and causing it to launch a grenade, remarking, "Possibly the most ridiculous game I've ever played and I love it."

Possibly the most ridiculous game I've ever played and I love it.@Palworld_EN pic.twitter.com/3XtCrLTOBX

— Anthony_Kongphan (@AnthonyKongphan) January 17, 2024

The positive reception is not simply going out into a vacuum, either, as people close to the game have been expressing their appreciation of the player community. Pocketpair Community Manager Bucky posted, "After months of relentless attacks and accusations of Palworld being a scam,' I can't lie that the huge amount of positive reviews and good vibes coming in has me stunned!" 

After months of relentless attacks and accusations of Palworld being a "scam", I can't lie that the huge amount of positive reviews and good vibes coming in has me stunned! Thank you everyone!

🤝 January 19th gamers! 🤝 pic.twitter.com/dls6KeM6AD

— Bucky | Palworld & Craftopia (@Bucky_cm) January 17, 2024

Judging by the reactions above, it seems "Palworld" may be the first surprise hit of 2024, and players on PC and Xbox Series X|S can check it out for themselves on January 19.