When Palworld was announced in 2021, fans of Pokemon definitely perked up. What was this wild new game? Years later it is now out in Early Access on Steam and Xbox consoles and it is doing better than probably anyone thought. In just a week it had sold over five million copies.

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For a brand new IP, that usually never happens, especially for an Early Access game. It just goes to show that fans were hungry for something innovative in the monster-catching genre. While Palworld borrows from other games, it also puts its unique stamp on things. For those currently enjoying it, they may also want to check out these other games in the open-world, monster-catching, and survival genres.

8 Pokemon Legends Arceus

Metacritic Score: 83

At least one game in this series has to be recommended, and of the many latest entries, Pokemon Legends Arceus stands out. It tried to take the series to new heights by traveling to the past and offering players the first true open-world Pokemon experience. Plus players could catch Pokemon freely without having to battle if they didn’t want to.

It was a big change from Game Freak, and for the better, even though it wasn’t perfect. It’s one of those games that shows its age a bit due to the Switch’s limitations, but it was still a step in the right direction for the series.

7 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Metacritic Score: 97

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a game that has to be brought up because it and Palworld share so much in common. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was not the first open-world game by a long shot but it pushed some major gameplay ideas forward. For example, the stamina gauge that allowed players to climb nearly any surface was huge. That mechanic was taken for several other games including Assassin’s Creed Origins, Genshin Impact, and of course, Palworld.

The two games share many similarities, but the bottom line is the freedom players can find in this Switch launch title is still one of the most mesmerizing experiences on the system, even beyond its sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

6 Minecraft

Metacritic Score: 93

Minecraft has to be another big influence for Palworld as it revolutionized the survival and builder genres. It became so popular in the early and late 2000s that it almost replaced LEGO as the go-to brand for imagination and creativity.

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It’s easy to see why, as anyone could jump in and have a good time. The graphics weren’t mind-blowing but the mechanics certainly were. The things players have built in Minecraft over the years are truly astounding, including a functional Pokemon mod just like in Palworld.

5 Dragon Quest Builders 2

Metacritic Score: 86

Dragon Quest Builders 2 is basically a Minecraft version of a Dragon Quest game. Players were an adventurer who got to explore multiple islands alone or with friends. They could fight monsters in action combat, or they could build structures to their heart’s content.

Some might think it is even better than its nspiration since there is a story and ultimately a point to everything going on in Dragon Quest Builders 2 as opposed to Minecraft. There are no animal companions akin to Palworld, but there is plenty of creativity found in the crafting aspects.

4 Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom

Metacritic Score: 84

The first game in this series was a turn-based RPG wherein players could befriend Pokemon-like creatures called Familiars. Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom has Familiars, but they existed in battle as mindless AI-driven mobs instead. The combat was changed into an action game with colorful swordplay and special moves aplenty.

A new castle-building mini-game was also implemented in the sequel as a sort of mini-simulation RPG that had some crafting-like mechanics. Palworld fans may be split on which game in the series they should choose, but both are worthwhile.

3 World Of Final Fantasy

Metacritic Score: 77

World of Final Fantasy was a curious spinoff that threw two twins into a fantastical world filled with Final Fantasy characters like Cloud, Squall, and Lightning. They were the backdrop though, as the gameplay didn’t feature these classic heroes all that much aside from summoning moves.

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Instead, the twins, Lann and Reynn, could befriend classic Final Fantasy monsters for their turn-based battles, like Chocobos, Cactuars, and even Magitek Armor. These creatures could be ridden in battle if they were big, and otherwise, the small ones were stacked on the heads of the twins.

2 Dark Cloud 2

Metacritic Score: 87

Dark Cloud 2 is another game from Level-5, just like Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom, and it’s easy to see where ideas for that game came from with this. It was an action RPG wherein Max and Monica could explore dungeons to search for NPCs and building materials.

The point was to restore cities to their former glory in a building sim outside of dungeons where materials were retrieved. Each character had a unique special, like Max who could ride a robot named Steve. Monica could copy monster DNA and become them during combat, which was like a spin on the Pokemon formula.

1 Cult Of The Lamb

Metacritic Score: 88

Cult of the Lamb is a perfect fit for Palworld fans as it has Pokemon and Minecraft aspects but with a much darker tone. This roguelike allowed players to recruit NPCs in dungeons to become new followers in their seemingly innocent cult.

The cute character designs were misleading though, because there was plenty of blood, sacrifices, and cannibalism amidst the happy-go-lucky aesthetic. It’s a small game, but the developers are still tinkering away to make it better with new and improved content, which is always nice to see from an indie team.

Palworld

Platform(s)

PC , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Xbox One

Released

January 19, 2024

Developer(s)

Pocket Pair, Inc.

Genre(s)

Open-World , Shooter , Survival