Is it really Pokémon with guns? Palworld is finally here, and it's actually pretty awesome

33653744

SHOULD I PLAY PALWORLD?

Absolutely yes, especially if you enjoy crafting, creature collecting, and base-building. Ever since Palworld was unveiled in 2021, it’s been a hot topic in the gaming world. A Pokémon-like game with guns has incredible appeal, but the whole thing seemed a little too good to be true. I had my doubts going in, but I was completely won over by its cute creatures and addictive crafting system. If you’re after a monster-themed shooter, Palworld might be a letdown, but if you’re looking for an open-world survival crafting game that also happens to have cute creatures to collect, this is a must play. 

TIME PLAYED

Currently, I’ve played nine hours of Palworld, and I’m already itching to get back to it. So far, I’ve caught twenty different types of creatures, and with their help, I’ve made some pretty substantial improvements to my base, adding features like a berry farm and a hot spring where my monster pals can relax. I’ve only explored a fraction of the world map, and I’m looking forward to seeing what else is out there.

WHAT’S AWESOME ABOUT PALWORLD?

• Addictive base-building gameplay. Some trailers made it look like a warzone, but Palworld is actually a chill crafting game with light survival elements, sort of like ARK: Survival Evolved if it had Pokémon instead of dinosaurs. These kinds of games are a dime a dozen, but what sets Palworld apart is how it works its monsters into the mix.

See, the creatures in Palworld aren’t just battle partners; they’re workers that play a crucial role in building up your base. Every monster can take on certain types of jobs. For example, the elephant-like Teafant helped me water my plants, while the furry Cattiva did some mining and helped out with construction projects. Having monster assistants made it much easier to expand my base, and it eliminated a lot of the busy work that usually slows down building games.

• The creatures are ridiculously cute. Palworld’s monsters aren’t just helpful; they’re also some of the most lovable critters I’ve ever seen. Not only do they have charming designs, but they’re bursting with personality. I loved watching my monsters while they were hard at work, and I felt my heart melt every time I saw them settle down to sleep.

Palworld allowed me to build two distinct teams of creatures, and that made it easier to bond with every monster that I caught. One team lived at my base, working on odd jobs and various building projects. The other team came with me as I explored the overworld, assisting me in battle and helping me get around. I loved that I had so many opportunities to use and interact with the creatures that I caught.

• An open world that’s worth exploring. Whether I was running, gliding, or on the back of a monster, adventuring in Palworld is a ton of fun. The map isn’t procedurally generated, and that means there are all kinds of secrets and landmarks to discover. Sometimes I’d stumble across a mysterious cave or a journal entry left behind by another explorer. Once, I found an abandoned enemy camp and was able to rescue a creature left behind in a cage. There’s so much to discover, from monster eggs to dungeons, and that makes me want to see as much of the world as I can.

WHAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT IN PALWORLD?

• It’s still rough around the edges. Palworld doesn’t feel underdeveloped or unfinished the way that some early access games do, but it does have a few issues. Bugs weren’t a major problem during my playthrough, but my game crashed on two different occasions. Minor bugs, like monsters clipping through trees and buildings, were a lot more frequent. Music is minimal, and some actions, like picking up rocks and branches, aren’t actually animated. It’s enjoyable in its current state, but it could use some refinement.

• Combat and monster catching are clunky. Palworld lets you summon monsters in battle and fight alongside them. You can also craft equipment for creatures—including guns—that gives them access to special attacks. It’s an awesome concept, but in practice, it feels a little unwieldy. Monsters run off as soon as you release them, which makes it harder to trigger special attacks. You can give creatures commands, but they’re pretty limited, and I didn’t find them to be very effective.

Catching monsters is similarly awkward. Like in Pokémon, it’s easier to catch monsters if you weaken them first. This isn’t an issue in a game with turn-based combat, but in Palworld, it means punching cute creatures or whacking them with a bat, which made me feel pretty guilty. The monsters fight back, which is fine, but it can be tricky to aim a ball at a creature that’s running all over your screen. These systems aren’t bad, even in their current state, but they could definitely use some polishing.

• It’s not actually Pokémon with guns. Palworld does have Pokémon-like monsters, and you can give those monsters guns, but if you go in expecting a shooter, you’re going to be disappointed. This is primarily a crafting and base building game, and guns are a small part of the overall experience. It took me more than five hours to unlock my first few guns, and now that I have them, I use them pretty rarely. Palworld is a blast, but you should make sure you know what you’re in for before you start playing.

PLATFORM TESTED

PC via Steam.