Few titles have taken the gaming world by surprise in Early Access like Pocket Pair’sPalworlddid earlier this year. The reason behind its meteoric rise is simple; fans of thePokemonuniverse have since longed for an open-world game that encapsulates the spirit of the franchise, andPalworldtook advantage of wherePokemon Scarlet and Violetfailed through its similar Pal-catching premise and a unique base-building twist. However, titles need to stay relevant long after the release hype dies down, and this holds even more weight forPalworldwith the likes ofHades 2andLife By Youmaking their debut in 2024.
Before the start of the year, attention in the gaming sphere was focused on AAA-rated titles such asHelldivers 2andStellar Blade, and few saw an indie upstart taking the world by storm within the first three weeks of the calendar year. That was the case withPalworld, as it burst onto the scene and generated enough hype to draw even casual fans into the modernized “Pokemonwith guns” universe. Unfortunately, that hype has died down considerably, asPalworld’s player count on Steam has steadily dwindled since February. That trend may well continue as highly anticipated titles drop in the coming months, and this goes to show that Pocket Pair has to find innovative ways to keepPalworldfresh and relevant in the face of stiff competition.
Palworld Needs Innovation to Thrive in 2024
Hades 2 and Newer Early Access Titles Pose a Threat to Palworld
If there was one thing that was bound to be born in the wake ofBaldur’s Gate 3’s remarkable exploits last year, it was that more games would take the Early Access route in hopes of attaining similar levels of success.Palworldwas one of only the first in a long list of titles that replicated Larian Studios' formula, andHades 2has joined the party in recent weeks.
While there may be few — if any — points of intersection betweenPalworldandHades 2in terms of genre and gameplay, the Supergiant title is directly competing withPalworldin terms of hype, and more titles likeManor Lordshave followed suit. Fading away from the consciousness of gamers is a concern for any developer, and it forms the basis for post-launch campaigns that are seen so often in the industry.
Having a successful launch is only half the battle these days, soPalworldshouldn’t rest on its laurels from the first days of its Early Access that saw it dominate player count charts, especially in light of recent happenings and the threat of newer titles coming out. The Early Access launch success is firmly in the past for Pocket Pair, but there are a few things the developer could improve upon to stay relevant despite the tough competition apart fromnew Pals and features.
Elements of Palworld’s Gameplay Could Use a Rework
For starters,Palworld’s dungeonshave acquired a reputation for being conspicuously empty and repetitive with underwhelming rewards, all while featuring performance issues that usually need reloading the game to solve. While it’s expected for an Early Access title to have a few holes in its overall offerings, the standard the likes ofValheimandBaldur’s Gate 3have set in recent years demands much better from any new games making the rounds. Using ground mounts to speed through these portions can alleviate the monotone theme, but the quality of the chest items should be high on Pocket Pair’s list of priorities.
Additionally, interactions between the Pals and their elements could be improved to takePalworldto the next level. For instance,Water-element Palsswimming underwater would present a better aesthetic than seeing them floating on the surface as players currently experience, and capturing such creatures by fishing would play on the classicPokemonmechanic.Palworldmay have blazed past several milestones, but for the title to recapture its red-hot form at launch and compete with newer Early Access games, it needs to keep improving.
Palworld
WHERE TO PLAY
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 and breed, 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.Collect all kinds of exciting Pals to fight, farm, build, and work for you in this completely new multiplayer, open world survival and crafting game!
