5 Things Palworld Does Better Than Pokemon

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Initially, when Palworld was unveiled, numerous gaming enthusiasts referred to it as a game featuring characters with guns, similar to Pokemon. PocketPair isn’t particularly fond of this nickname, yet it has persisted even as Palworld has had to modify some aspects because of an ongoing copyright lawsuit. Although there are many shared traits between Pokemon and Palworld, the two games differ significantly in terms of gameplay. While some Pal designs bear a striking resemblance to creatures like Leafeon and Lucario from Pokemon, there are areas where PocketPair excels more than the Pokemon franchise.

Firstly, a word of caution: I’m a big fan of the Pokémon series and have been playing it for years. However, I don’t believe that Palworld is likely to dethrone Pokémon any time soon, despite their similarities. Although they share some elements, these two games are quite distinct. Palworld is an open-world survival game featuring Pals, while Pokémon offers the familiar gym battle experience we all cherish. Yet, in its unique approach, I’ve discovered aspects of Palworld that have stood out to me compared to my recent adventures with Pokémon games.

1. A Sense of Humor About Pals

For Palworld fans, here’s a single term – Depresso. This grumpier character has emerged as something of a symbol, if not the official mascot, within Palworld. Contrasted with the cheerful Pikachu and cheerful Eevee from other games, it’s evident that Palworld adopts a unique tone. Ultimately, our goal in Palworld is to capture various creatures called Pals and utilize them on our bases for work or in combat. Given this premise, it seems reasonable that some Pals might exhibit less enthusiasm about their new roles!

The Pokemon series, both in the anime and games, maintains a sincere and humorous tone. However, Palworld offers a more playful and ironic perspective, which makes it seem more tailored for an older demographic, including those who appreciate Pokemon but have spent some time working before. Indeed, the introduction of Depresso in Palworld was precisely what we needed to embody this fresh take.

2. More Expansive World Exploration

In the game Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, fans feel that Pokemon’s attempt at an open-world format fell short. Some parts of the region Paldea remain inaccessible unless Miraidon/Koraidon is taught new abilities first. Even after gaining access, these areas are often disappointingly barren, with few characters or hidden treasures to discover.

Instead of the Palpagos Islands, players who love map exploration in games will find a wealth of discoveries in them. New islands are constantly being introduced, each one hiding unique characters, bosses, and bases to unveil. Compared to recent Pokemon releases, the world of Palworld offers more immersive and diverse exploring opportunities, as it’s still deciding whether to stick with its original formula or embrace an open-world approach.

3. Freedom for Players to Shape Their Experience

Hey there! I’m a big fan of Pokémon. However, the typical Pokémon gameplay follows a rather linear path, lacking a significant “pick your own adventure” aspect. Essentially, you start off with your first Pokémon, engage in battles using that initial companion while capturing more Pokémon along the way. You’re able to select your team of Pokémon and customize your character, but most of the events happening throughout the game are predetermined.

Instead of contrast, let’s express it as a comparison: The freedom found in Palworld may feel invigorating compared to other games. You have the liberty to explore at your leisure and establish personal objectives. If you enjoy crafting an ideal base while avoiding confrontations unless necessary, you certainly can! Furthermore, the base-building aspect offers extensive customization options, allowing players with a flair for design to invest numerous hours in perfecting their base. Although there’s an element of catching and raising Pals similar to Pokemon, Palworld offers a distinct gaming experience overall.

4. Varied Game Mechanics

In a fresh and exciting twist, the games Pokemon Scarlet & Violet along with the Legends series deviate from their traditional counterparts. However, the fundamentals of Pokemon games remain easy to grasp. The primary objective is catching Pokemon, engaging in battles, collecting Gym Badges, overcoming the Elite Four, and occasionally, unraveling a few puzzles; though this last aspect is less prevalent in more recent releases.

Occasionally, I find myself growing weary of the monotonous nature of Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee, as the catch-and-train cycle seems repetitive to me. Consequently, I decided to pause my journey in this game, finding it hard to commit to catching all Pokemons… once more. However, Palworld presents a refreshing change with its survival mechanics. Unlike traditional Pokemon games where you merely battle, here you construct a base, traverse an expansive world, and struggle to survive. The addition of crafting, cooking, breeding, and base management provides a greater level of diversity in the gameplay loop, making Palworld far more engaging for me.

5. Updates & Patches with New Content

Pokémon has dabbled in content updates, particularly in recent times. Games like Pokémon Sword and Shield, as well as Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, even introduced paid DLC. However, for many fans, these expansions didn’t quite deliver on expectations. The DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, in particular, seemed to re-sell bits of the original story at an extra cost. Unlike free updates, which aren’t common in the Pokémon model, the paid ones have varied significantly in quality.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve got to say, Palworld is really stepping up its game with a steady stream of fresh content in regular, free updates. Not every title benefits from the live service model, but Palworld seems to be thriving with it, compared to Scarlet & Violet which, unfortunately, isn’t keeping up the pace as well as I’d like, bogged down by Tera Raids and Mystery Gifts.

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2025-08-20 23:48