- Primary Subject: Palworld (Version 1.0)
- Key Update: Palworld has officially exited Early Access with its massive Version 1.0 release, bringing 72 new Pals, a massive overhaul of survival mechanics, and the opening of the long-awaited World Tree.
- Status: Confirmed / Opinion
- Last Verified: July 15, 2026
- Quick Answer: Palworld 1.0 still doesn't appeal to narrative-focused RPG purists like me, as the core gameplay loop remains centered on resource gathering and survival rather than deep storytelling.
When Palworld first came out, I had the same thought as everyone else: "This looks a lot like Pokemon." I was a Nintendo kid growing up and remember stealing my older sister's Game Boy before sneaking off to play Pokemon Red under the covers so I wouldn't get caught. As I got older, I kept playing all the new games, from Pokemon Sapphire on the 3DS to Legends: Z-A on the Switch. I even bought Pokopia.
It's no exaggeration to say I'm a big Pokemon fan, which is why I couldn't give a game like Palworld a chance. To me, it has always felt like a rip-off, especially since it initially launched with a similar method of catching Pals to Pokemon.
After hearing Palworld would be exiting early access with a huge 1.0 update that overhauls plenty of old mechanics and refreshes it into something new, I was naturally curious and gave it a look. I almost found myself interested - but I still won't be playing it.
Why I'm Still Not Downloading Palworld
I can acknowledge that the new updates look interesting. The thing that piqued my interest is The World Tree, which is supposed to be vital to the game's story. It felt like they were finally adding actual lore into the game rather than focusing on just the Pals.
I was also interested in the Wildlife Sanctuary, which is meant to preserve the environment and is home to unique scenery and Pals. It's nice that the player level cap was increased, and that the main missions were supposedly reworked to feel more authentic. They also added Mutations, which allow you to breed a powerful Pal, which is great (though it feels a little too close to Pokemons evolving).
And yet, the update failed to captivate me. I know I'm in the minority - when v1.0 went live, the game pulled in almost 900,000 concurrent players.
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Perhaps it's because Palworld, a survival-crafting game, just isn't my cup of tea. If you know anything about me, you'll know my gaming preferences lean heavily towards FPS and JRPGs. While the game carries clear similarities to Pokemon and its lore appears to have gone deeper with the latest update, I still think Palworld lacks the narrative depth and world-building I typically look for.
It doesn't help that the update focused heavily on optimization, base building, and endgame loop mechanics. It's a real-time survival simulator with a plot that has nothing to ride home for. The lack of identity from the get-go is a major turn-off, and the fact that the characters don't feel original just makes it a hard no from me.
I'm aware that Palworld has guns. The latest update heavily reworked gunfights by adding shooting while dashing and seamless reload mechanics. However, the combat still heavily relies on gear levels and letting Pals do the heavy lifting. The gunplay feels like an afterthought, and I genuinely feel like I would get bored with it.
It doesn't help that the Pals still look like Pokemon. Sure, some characters have been reworked to look more unique, like Verdash (who was a spitting image of Cinderace) and Robinquill (who resembled Decidueye), but it feels like reworking them just proves the initial designs lacked creative integrity. Additionally, most of the roster was left untouched, a.k.a they still look like they're from Nintendo.
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I can understand the appeal of Palworld, especially with the new update. You can move better, explore more areas, spend hours customizing, and play with new Pals. However, the lack of compelling lore and the unoriginal designs make it nearly impossible for me to give it a chance.
But who knows? Maybe their next update will sweep me off my feet.
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