Palworld is a multiplayer, open-world survival crafting game where you can befriend and collect mysterious creatures called "Pal" in a va...
Palworld is an open-world survival crafting game developed by PocketPair that became a viral sensation when it launched in early access in January 2024. Often described as "Pokémon with guns," the game blends creature collection with base building, resource gathering, and third-person shooter combat in a colourful open world.
The game sold over 25 million copies within its first month of early access, making it one of the fastest-selling games in history. Its mix of familiar creature-collection mechanics with survival gameplay struck a chord with a massive audience.
Players capture creatures called Pals using Pal Spheres and put them to work in their base, use them as mounts, or bring them into combat. Each Pal has unique abilities and work suitabilities, from mining and logging to cooking and crafting. The base-building system lets you create automated factories powered by your Pal workforce.
The Sakurajima update added a Japanese-themed island with Torii gates, cherry blossoms, and pagodas. New Pals, a raid encounter, hard-mode bosses, an oil rig assault, and a raised level cap to 55 were introduced. The Home Sweet Home update in December 2025 brought additional base-building features.
Palworld supports up to 32 players on dedicated servers and 4-player co-op. The Arena in the Desiccated Desert allows multiplayer-exclusive Pal battles, and the Stronghold Oil Rig offers team-based PvE raids. Xbox dedicated servers were added with the Sakurajima update.
The full 1.0 release is planned for 2026, with PocketPair teasing major new content including a giant creature encounter shown at the end of the Home Sweet Home trailer. Players who enjoy Palworld's survival and base-building loop may also enjoy ARK: Survival Evolved for a more hardcore dinosaur-taming survival experience, or Rust for multiplayer-focused base raiding with no creature collection elements.