Palia - Review

Palia, to be honest when I saw the first announcements I did not know what to think of this one. Another build, gather and socialize MMO? But when diving a bit deeper I found a whole storyline which could be explored and a way deeper lore than I initially thought.

what is Palia?

Palia is a MMO that plays in the world Palia, the last humans have extinct long ago, and it's up to you to discover why, as a human who has returned to Palia. The game takes you through various bits of rich history of this world, while you puzzle and weave your way through the game. You will encounter various NPC's who will aid you on your way. Each with their own preferences and personality. You can even get close to these characters and even romance them if you wish this.

What is the game about?

In the game you have to find out why the humans have gone extinct on Palia. You will have to search ruins and temples to discover and unravel this mystery. While you do so, you also have been given your own plot of land to be a part of the community. On this plot of land you can forage, cook, build and much more. In time you can expand your own land and build even more making your home and lands around it as elaborate as you wish.

The amount of options you have available are astounding and considering it's only in early stages I would imagine only more will be added over time.

While you gather, hunt and socialize your way through the game you will level up your skills on each part, and slowly unlock more and more as you progress through the game, making each skill level a challenge for what you will unlock.

That said you can't unlock all at once, and with some things you will unlock a choice of 3 options, meaning you may not have the same items as someone else playing the same game.

Gameplay

The gameplay is pretty straight forward, you have your wheel of tools to equip and use during your adventure. Like your pickaxe, your axe, a fishing rod, a bow and a hoe. You can use these tools to work your own land but also in the world outside your land, to gather materials you need.

As you go along the game you will not level up, but your skills will and in that you will unlock new abilities and more items you can buy at the local stores in the nearby town. The world so far is already pretty big to explore, and some hidden secrets make it that much more fun to keep going in and unlocking as much as you can.

You can also unlock clothes and more fashionable items in the actual game store, where you have to buy coins with real money to unlock them. They do make your character look great and even more unique. That said the amount of options you have for free are already immense, making you will likely not run into anyone looking identical to you.

Anyone? Yes when you leave your home plot you go into the world, where you run into various other people who also play the game. You can play together in co up or just meet up with strangers. The Palia community I have found so far has been very kind and open towards new people.

Graphics

Palia holds a more cartoon style. Giving a unique own world feel to it compared to the realistic styles you see so often today. It transports you even more into that world, and gives of a cozy feeling. Once in the world the load screens match the world around you, and every little bit seems to have been taught out, from the animals that run around, to the people you meet. Each has their own style which fits perfectly with the rest of the world.

Verdict

I personally was skeptical at first. The idea of an MMO and it looking kind of childish didn't appeal to me. But the graphics work.

Combined with the way you don't level up but your skillset levels up is a way which also works.

I find it a fun game, where I have already spend a few hours in being fully entertained, and that is what in the end it's about. This game sure delivers on the terms of cozy, and good fun.