George In The Meta
Is Palworld worth it in 2026?
By George In The Meta ·
Short answer: yes, I think Palworld is worth it in 2026, if you've got the time. It's a fun crafting game and a large game, and the 1.0 update got a lot of people back into it. It just isn't the right survival crafter for me.
What changed in Palworld 1.0?
Palworld left early access with 1.0 in July 2026. The Steam changelog lists 72 new Pals (287 in total), Sunreach, a set of floating islands in the sky, and the World Tree, where the story comes to a head. The next update, Palworld: Side by Side, is due in winter 2026.
Is Palworld a gritty survival game?
No, Palworld isn't gritty. My favourites are the gritty ones: 7 Days to Die, Sons of the Forest and Green Hell. Palworld feels more like building a cute house for my Pokemon. I guess it's Stardew Valley with catch-'em-all pieces. I know there's fighting in Palworld, but it's fantastical. It's like playing one of the anime RPGs, where everything's lights and stars splashing about, but nothing gritty is really happening. It's just pretty flashing lights.
Is Palworld fun solo?
Palworld is fun solo. I play everything solo. But I think most people would want to play it with their friends, because a lot of it is a grind. You have to put a lot of hours in to get things done.
Why did I stop playing Palworld at 14 hours?
I play so many survival crafting games, and all of them are thieves of my time. Palworld was the least interesting of all the ones I've played.
Palworld in 2026, in numbers
| Left early access | July 2026 (1.0) |
|---|---|
| Pals after 1.0 | 287 |
| Next update | Palworld: Side by Side, winter 2026 |
| Solo? | Fine solo, but the grind suits friends |
| If you want gritty | 7 Days to Die, Sons of the Forest, Green Hell |
