The hype around Palworld is hard to miss right now. However, not everyone is happy about it. Some social media users even advise against supporting the survival game. MeinMMO explains what’s behind it.
What’s this discussion about? Since its first announcement in 2021, Palworld has been referred to as “Pokémon with guns.” This perception hasn’t changed, even with the statement from developer Pocketpair that it actually has nothing to do with Nintendo’s classics and wants to be more like ARK.
However, some players feel that the similarities to Pokémon are over the top, accusing the survival game of blatant theft. In a now-deleted post, there was even a call to not support the game. For others, the very similarities in design are a major plus point.
How similar is too similar?
Pals look too much like Pokémon: It’s undeniable that some Pals have a striking resemblance to existing Pokémon. For some players, this is likely exactly what makes the game appealing: They get the cute creatures of their childhood, but in a lovely open game world with survival mechanics and adult content.
And besides: “Cute creatures aren’t something Pokémon invented,” says Twitch streamer Gronkh, who is clearly taken with Palworld.
However, the issue isn’t that simple. The accusations against Palworld aren’t just that it features cute creatures in a similar style to Pokémon. Rather, some Pals are alleged to be nothing more than reskinned existing Pokémon with a different color palette or type change.
X user “onion_mu” shows in a thread which Pokémon the Pals are allegedly cobbled together from:
Criticism due to artificial intelligence: The similarities between Pokémon and Pals leave a bitter taste for many, particularly because they are linked to another hot topic: artificial intelligence.
Because Palworld developer PocketPair is also behind the game “AI: Art Impostor,” which uses generative AI to create “artworks.” On the Steam page of the game, some creatures can even be found that now appear as “Pals” in Palworld.
Takuro Mizobe, CEO of PocketPair, has often expressed his views on the benefits and possibilities of using artificial intelligence on X, formerly Twitter. In December 2021, Mizobe also posted a series of AI-generated “Fakemon,” i.e., Pokémon hybrids.
This raises the question for some users of whether the Pals in Palworld were even designed by humans.
As long as it’s fun?
The incredible success of Palworld shows that many players simply don’t care how much a game resembles another, as long as the end result is entertaining. And this “Pokémon with guns” seems to be a lot of fun.
MeinMMO editor Dariusz is a fan of games like Pokémon and ARK. He says: Palworld is absolutely ridiculous and immensely fun.
This impression seems to be shared by most players, as Palworld has a rating of 93% positive reviews on Steam.
The fact is that PC gamers – as well as fans of other consoles – have felt ignored by Nintendo for years. Games like TemTem and now Palworld fill this niche. Especially since Pokémon has drawn attention in recent years largely due to performance issues, empty game worlds, and unattractive textures (via GamePro).
A creature collector in Unreal Engine simply meets a need for many fans, especially since many of the controversial aspects of the game, such as slaughtering and consuming Pals, are still purely optional.
On our Facebook page, there is already an active discussion on the topic. We have highlighted some reader opinions here for you:
- “Simply whining, because Palworld delivers what Pokémon hardcore fans would like. Competition invigorates business and could prompt Game Freak to rethink. I like the Pokémon games, especially Scarlet was a lot of fun for me. Still, I wish more emphasis would be placed on quality, as the performance in Scarlet/Purple is really poor.”
- “Palworld is just what fans have been wishing for all along… playing Pokémon online with friends.”
- “The blame lies with Pokémon/Nintendo themselves. Palworld is only 1 day in EA and is already looking great, doing a lot right.”
Some players even go so far as to hope that the success of Palworld could encourage other developers to take on their own Pokémon clone.
Of course, there are not only positive voices, but many of the negative voices seem to relate to the fact that users can’t get into the survival aspects or actually wished for more “Pokémon with guns.”
What do you think? Do you consider Palworld to be a blatant copy, and if so, do you find that troubling? Have you checked out the game yet or are you still undecided? Please feel free to let us know in the comments.
Have you been caught up in the hype train and don’t know what to do? Then perhaps our Palworld Guides: All tips, tricks, and Pals at a glance can help you.
