Summary

  • Palworld is described as "Pokemon with guns" and blends open-world survival, monster collecting, and third-person shooter gameplay.
  • The game draws inspiration from Pokemon but introduces many unique features, making it a distinct experience.
  • Players can expect a wide range of gameplay mechanics, including farming, exploration, automation, breeding, and poaching. The game also features a morality system and multiplayer co-op.

Pokemon fans looking to try something new after playing The Teal Mask DLC for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet may be interested in checking out Pocketpair's upcoming title Palworld. Described as "Pokemon with guns" by fans, Palworld seems to be blending a variety of genres including open-world survival, monster collecting, and third-person shooter gameplay. Previously, the game only had a January 2024 release window, but developer Pocketpair recently confirmed that Palworld will enter its early access period on January 19, 2024, so players will be able to check out this strange title for themselves very soon.

Although some interested players are skeptical of how well Palworld will be able to blend several seemingly unrelated genres, others are cautiously optimistic that the game could be the next big Pokemon-like title. The game clearly draws heavy inspiration from Pokemon, with many of its Pals looking remarkably similar to certain Pokemon, but the multitude of other features absent from the Pokemon series makes Palworld look like its own unique take on the genre. While Palworld might not be feature-complete when it launches in early access, players should still be able to get a feel about whether the game is right for them.

xbox game pass palworld
New Xbox Game Pass Game for January 19 Should Appeal to Pokemon Fans

A newly confirmed day one Xbox Game Pass game coming on January 19 should definitely appeal to fans of the Pokemon franchise.

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Palworld Could Be the Next Big Pokemon-like Game in 2024

All Confirmed Gameplay Mechanics in Palworld

  • Monster Collecting
  • Survival
  • Mounts and Exploration
  • Building Structure
  • Production
  • Farming
  • Factories and Automation
  • Dungeon Exploration
  • Breeding and Genetics
  • Poaching and Crime
  • Multiplayer

There are obviously a lot of elements that make up Palworld's gameplay, which could make the game seem overwhelming to players at first glance. Players will be able to participate in typical survival gameplay mechanics such as building structures and farming resources, but Palworld also promises to take these mechanics a step further and allow players to command Pals to work in factories to automate resource production. Pocketpair even states that players can eat their own Pals in order to survive some of the game's harsh environments.

One of the most interesting mechanics Palworld claims to offer players is the game's poaching and crime features, which imply that the game could have a morality system as well. Players will be able to snag rare Pals from wildlife preserves as long as they don't get caught, potentially opening the door for different role-playing options within the game. The use of weapons for hunting Pals is another aspect of Palworld that demonstrates how dark this game will seemingly be for a Pokemon-like monster-collecting title.

Many of Palworld's features feel lifted right out of a game like Pokemon Legends: Arceus and the latest trailer for the game supports this idea, as players are shown catching Pals in real time using Poke Ball-like items while sneaking up on their targets. The trailer goes on to show characters that look similar to Pokemon's Gym Leaders posing and holding these Poke Ball-like items, implying players will battle them at some point in the game. Players will also be able to traverse the world on the backs of Pals, which sounds similar to how Pokemon Scarlet and Violet allows players to do so on the back of Koraidon or Miraidon.

Palworld Could Be a Dream for Co-Op

Palworld's multiplayer features sound like the type of experience many Pokemon fans have hoped the series would implement for a long time. The game will allow up to four players to join together for co-op play, which includes exploration, PvP battles, and trading Pals, with the potential of 32 players all being able to play together on a dedicated server. Although some of these features won't be added until a later update, Palworld is confirmed to be launching day one on Xbox Game Pass, meaning it will be very accessible for groups of players looking to dive into the game together.

Palworld launches in early access for PC and Xbox consoles on January 19, 2024.