Palworld was a true surprise hit when it launched in early 2024. With its colorful blend of monster-catching à la Pokémon and classic survival gameplay, it won over two major fanbases at once. But where does the game stand two years later? Is it still as compelling as it was back then? Which updates and new features have been added to make it even more fun? Today, we’re taking a closer look at Palworld and why 2026 is an especially great time to jump in. We’ll also dig into Update 0.7 and the planned 1.0 release.
Palworld gameplay in 2026: Catching monsters, base building, and survival
Like many other survival titles, Palworld focuses on familiar mechanics—but with the twist that you can also catch small monsters. These Pals don’t just give the game its name; they also give it a unique charm. Much like Pokémon, you can catch, train, and battle them, but you can also use them for other purposes. This is where Palworld leans into survival, showing how both aspects mesh seamlessly.
Catching and using Palworld Pals: Combat, work, breeding
Pals are wondrous creatures that have made the world of Palworld their home. You can track them down, capture them, and put them to work for your own goals. This goes far beyond traditional combat, even though battles are, of course, a key part of the experience.
Pals are your friends and helpers, and they can also keep you alive. They can build bases, gather resources, tend fields, or even be culled for their own resources. You’ll need to weigh which Pals are best suited for which tasks. That’s part of the excitement—you never know which Pal will become your next best buddy. In total, there are over 150 Pals scattered across the entire island chain and its various biomes. Later on, you can also breed Pals, opening up even more possibilities.
Building your Palworld base and managing resources
No great survival game would be complete without a building system. Here again, Palworld shows its unique approach and how you can assign your Pals to different jobs. Gather materials (or have them gathered for you) and use them to construct your first base. As you progress, unlock more materials, decorations, and building options.
Your Pals can do even more, too: they’ll help plant fields and manage your farm, which should keep your hunger in check. They can also work in factories to mass-produce various items on assembly lines.
Surviving on the Palpagos Islands: Hunger, temperature, and threats
Even if the Palpagos Islands look peaceful at first glance, you’ll eventually push into increasingly dangerous regions. There you’ll find new, powerful Pals that will attack not only your own Pals but you as the player as well. Even basic needs will force you to think differently: hunger and temperature are two key factors that determine your survival. And sometimes, unfortunately, a few Pals will have to be harvested for tasty meat and warm wool.
Exploring the Palworld map: Biomes, dungeons, NPCs, and mounts
As long as you’re taking care of your basic needs, exploring the vast map shouldn’t be a problem. There’s a lot to discover—from new biomes and Pals to various NPCs who may be friendly or hostile.
The right Pals will support your journey. Some will help you glide through the skies, while others will carry you over water. Nothing will stand between you and exploring Palpagos Island. You’ll discover caves, dungeons, and abandoned sites, where you’ll find all kinds of loot and new Pals.
Palworld multiplayer in 2026: Servers, settings, and PvP
Palworld is perfect to play with others. Rent a server and jump into the adventure together to find the best Pals and explore Palpagos Island. Thanks to extensive survival settings, you can tailor your server to your preferences. The focus is primarily on co-op, but it appears the developer is also working on PvP.
Palworld Update 0.7 Home Sweet Home: Base building, PvP, and more
Since launch, Palworld has received five major updates, and most recently, December 2025 brought the Home Sweet Home update with version 0.7. The focus is on making base building better and more intuitive. There are also several other additions that are interesting for both new and returning players:
- Collaboration with ULTRAKILL for new weapons
- Base building improvements, now with triangular pieces
- Color options for your base
- New raid arenas for immersive battles
- Overhauled player melee combat
- Experimental PvP for multiplayer
- Tuning and balance adjustments across the board
Palworld 2026 and the road to 1.0: Early Access, endgame, World Tree
The developers at Pocketpair have announced that the official release of Palworld is finally coming in 2026. The game is still in Early Access for now, but frequent updates and patches have already added new content and numerous fixes. That momentum is expected to crystallize in 2026.
In general, the team plans to focus more on bug fixes and refining the current game to ensure the smoothest possible launch. Large, content-heavy updates are not expected in 2026, though we can’t rule out surprises Pocketpair might have in store. Version 1.0 should still bring plenty of new elements. So far, we know it will center on the endgame, giving the game a fitting conclusion. The World Tree is also set to take the spotlight.
Conclusion for Palworld 2026: Jump in now and get ready for 1.0
The future of Palworld looks bright, and fans can expect plenty of new features and updates. That’s exactly why 2026 is the perfect time to get into the game and benefit from all the progress so far. With upcoming bug fixes and the 1.0 release on the horizon, the year already looks well mapped out. We’ll keep you updated on any changes as they arrive.
If you want to start playing Palworld with friends right away, rent one of our servers for the game and jump in together. With version 0.7, you can now also play against each other, even if the feature is still in its experimental phase. Rent your own Palworld server now
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Palworld Base Guide: Base Building, Farming, Breeding, and Storage
Palworld Beginner Tips 2026: Settings, Catching Pals, Building Your Base
