Summary
Only a couple of days into its early access period, Pocketpair’sPalworldbecame one of Steam’s best-selling games of all time. Its expansive open world, adorable creature collecting, and satisfying base building have all played a part in making what fans originally thought would be nothing more than a meme into an incredibly successful game. However, wherePalworldtruly shines is in its unapologetic embrace of the absurd, particularly in its unlikely combination of genres and its shameless approach to nearly copying the designs of some ofPokemon’s most memorable creatures.
While games have been known to entertain multiple genres,Palworldhas an uncanny ability to seamlessly merge genres that have previously had very little to do with one another. Combining third-person shooter with the survival and crafting mechanics of games likeARK: Survival Evolvedis one thing, but add on top of that the ability to collect creatures who are then subjected to a life of eternal servitude, andPalworldis the result. It truly is a one-of-a-kind experience that, on paper, shouldn’t work — but it does. In its willingness to accept its ridiculousness,Palworld’s unique premise makes complete sense.
Palworld’s Embrace of the Absurd Serves Its Premise
For a game as genre-diverse asPalworldto work, it would need to be conscious of just how crazy its premise is. Fortunately, it is, as it leans into its silliness by constantly going over the top in its gameplay and the animations, bios, and abilities of the titular creatures at its beating heart.Palworldis not afraid to show just how ridiculous it is, even to the point of placing guns into the hands of its Pals. In fact,Palworldwas originally known throughout the gaming community as “Pokemonwith guns.” That title still stands, althoughPalworldhas since proven to be more than a merePokemonclone.
One of the ways in whichPalworldopenly defies its mockers is in its Pal descriptions. Each of these adorable creatures comes with their own bio to describe their personalities and habits, and while not all of them are comedic in tone, many of them land jokes as unserious as they come. For example, Pal No. 3, Chikipi, is noted in the Paldeck as “extremely weak and far too delicious.” Chikipi is, of course, a chicken Pal, so the play on its deliciousness is especially acceptable.
[Palworld] leans into its silliness by constantly going over the top in its gameplay and the animations, bios, and abilities of the titular creatures at its beating heart.
Pal No. 1, Lamball, is considered the weakest Pal alongside Chikipi.Lamball is, as its name implies, a sphere-shaped, wool-coated lambwhose bio plays on the creature’s stupidity just as much as its weaknesses. Lamball’s bio reads, “A walk up a hill tends to end with this Pal tumbling back down. As a result, this Pal has tumbled down to the very bottom of the food chain itself.” There are many other Pals with laughter-inducing descriptions that serve the game’s premise by boastfully admitting to its absurdity.
Palworld’s Palsare also designed to display over-the-top expressions according to their mood, which certainly adds to the game’s levity at times. When Pals are happy, their faces may light up with joy and flowers can appear dancing around their head. On the other hand, should they become upset, they are not afraid to show their frustration, oftentimes leading them to stomp off in anger for a nap to calm down.
Palworldmay be ridiculous when it comes to its peculiar blend of genres, but it manages to overcome any mockery of that ridiculousness by embracing it with open arms. The Pals, who are the stars of the show inPalworld, showcase the game’s playful nature in their character descriptions, their animations, and even their ability to wield weapons such as guns. If nothing else,Palworldwill likely go down in history as one of the most bizarre yet successful games ever made.
