Summary
WhenPalworldwas announced in 2021, fans ofPokemondefinitely perked up. What was this wild new game? Years later it is now out in Early Access on Steam and Xbox consoles and it is doing better than probably anyone thought. In just a week it had sold over five million copies.
For a brand new IP, that usually never happens, especially for an Early Access game. It just goes to show that fans were hungry for something innovative in the monster-catching genre. WhilePalworldborrows from other games, it also puts its unique stamp on things. For those currently enjoying it, they may also want to check out these other games in the open-world, monster-catching, and survival genres.
At least one game in this series has to be recommended, and of the many latest entries,Pokemon Legends Arceusstands out. It tried to take the series to new heights by traveling to the past and offering players the first true open-worldPokemonexperience. Plus players could catch Pokemon freely without having to battle if they didn’t want to.
It was a big change from Game Freak, and for the better, even though it wasn’t perfect. It’s one of those games that shows its age a bit due to the Switch’s limitations, but it was still a step in the right direction for the series.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildis a game that has to be brought up because it andPalworldshare so much in common.The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildwas not the first open-world game by a long shot but it pushed some major gameplay ideas forward. For example, the stamina gauge that allowed players to climb nearly any surface was huge. That mechanic was taken for several other games includingAssassin’s Creed Origins,Genshin Impact, and of course,Palworld.
The two games share many similarities, but the bottom line is the freedom players can find in this Switch launch title is still one of the most mesmerizing experiences on the system, even beyond its sequel,The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Minecrafthas to be another big influenceforPalworldas it revolutionized the survival and builder genres. It became so popular in the early and late 2000s that it almost replacedLEGOas the go-to brand for imagination and creativity.
It’s easy to see why, as anyone could jump in and have a good time. The graphics weren’t mind-blowing but the mechanics certainly were. The things players have built inMinecraftover the years are truly astounding, including a functional Pokemon mod just like inPalworld.
Dragon Quest Builders 2is basically aMinecraftversion of aDragon Questgame. Players were an adventurer who got to explore multiple islands alone or with friends. They could fight monsters in action combat, or they could build structures to their heart’s content.
Some might think it is even better than its nspiration since there is a story and ultimately a point to everything going on inDragon Quest Builders 2as opposed toMinecraft. There are no animal companions akin toPalworld,but there is plenty of creativity found in the crafting aspects.
The first game in this series was a turn-based RPG wherein players could befriendPokemon-like creatures called Familiars.Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdomhas Familiars, but they existed in battle as mindless AI-driven mobs instead. The combat was changed into an action game with colorful swordplay and special moves aplenty.
A new castle-building mini-game was also implemented in the sequel as a sort of mini-simulation RPG that had some crafting-like mechanics.Palworldfans may be split on which game in the series they should choose, but both are worthwhile.
World of Final Fantasywas a curious spinoff that threw two twins into a fantastical world filled withFinal Fantasycharacters like Cloud, Squall, and Lightning. They were the backdrop though, as the gameplay didn’t feature these classic heroes all that much aside from summoning moves.
Instead, the twins, Lann and Reynn, could befriend classicFinal Fantasymonsters for their turn-based battles,like Chocobos, Cactuars, and even Magitek Armor. These creatures could be ridden in battle if they were big, and otherwise, the small ones were stacked on the heads of the twins.
Dark Cloud 2is another game from Level-5, just likeNi no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom,and it’s easy to see where ideas for that game came from with this. It was an action RPG wherein Max and Monica could explore dungeons to search for NPCs and building materials.
The point was to restore cities to their former glory in a building sim outside of dungeons where materials were retrieved. Each character had a unique special, like Max who could ride a robot named Steve. Monica could copy monster DNA and become them during combat, which was like a spin on thePokemonformula.
Cult of the Lambis a perfect fit forPalworldfans as it hasPokemonandMinecraftaspects but with a much darker tone. This roguelike allowed players to recruit NPCs in dungeons to become new followers in their seemingly innocent cult.
The cute character designs were misleading though, because there was plenty of blood, sacrifices, and cannibalism amidst the happy-go-lucky aesthetic. It’s a small game, but the developers are still tinkering away to make it better with new and improved content, which is always nice to see from an indie team.
