Having just gone through the bittersweet story of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, I needed a bit of a palate cleanser. Enter Palia, an MMO life sim set in a fantasy world where you can meet villagers from all walks of life, uncover a wide range of mysteries, and build up a home from scratch on your very own plot of land!
I’m almost 30 hours deep into it as of writing this, and I’m still hooked. If you wanna check it out, feel free to sign up now (it’s my referral link, and you’ll get a free furniture piece if you use it) and download the game as you read through this post!
If you’re yearning for a free alternative to something like Stardew Valley or Coral Island, then look no further. Let’s dive a little deeper into the game’s features and why you should give it a shot…
100% Free to Play
First of all, Palia is completely free to play. The only thing you can spend money on are cosmetic items and “themes” that change the environment around your housing plot.
Literally everything in terms of gameplay and house customization, which is the true endgame, are free. Everyone has full access to the main and side quests, NPC relationships, the whole furniture catalog (there are a lot), all the skills, and every single activity in the game.
As an example of what you can achieve even early on, here’s what my house looks like after just a few days:
It’s a huge work-in-progress and is kinda messy at the moment, but that should give you an idea of what the game lets you do as a newcomer. Mind you, the main building only had one room to start with, and it was completely empty.
A lot of these objects do have a practical use. For instance, the kitchen appliances/counters are fully functional and are required if you want to train your cooking skill. Other players can even help by manning each station and contributing ingredients.
Once you’re in the game, you can actually visit other players’ homes to catch a glimpse of the customization system’s full potential. Even the Palian Show Home that acts as the official example is impressive! Here are some screenshots of it:
A Sandbox With a Story
As a sim game, Palia is mainly a sandbox where you’re free to do whatever you want, but it does have a main story that you can follow. They recently released a major update that introduces a new region too, so you’ll have even more stuff to go through if you start now.
Some parts are time-gated to stop players from rushing through it, but the game does this in ways that make sense in-universe rather than just locking you out for no reason.
For example, I’m currently stuck on the “Find Your Shepp” part of the village’s main quest, because it requires you to raise your NPC of choice’s friendship level to 4.
I’m in no rush though, as I keep stumbling into new side quests by interacting with random stuff in the world. There’s also the entirely separate main questline revolving around the mysterious temples in the region, so it’s not like there’s any shortage of story content.
Simple But Addicting Gameplay Loop
If you’re not busy uncovering the secrets of an ancient civilization or immersing yourself in Majiri culture, there’s a ton of other stuff you can do.
While you’re roaming the lands, you can hunt, fish, and gather various resources to help with your house upgrading efforts or just to make a profit. It’s a purely collaborative experience with all of the other players you’ll stumble into, as most resources can be shared.
I don’t know about you, but I find it so relaxing to just run around and catch bugs or fish for money, all while the furnaces/sawmills at home are hard at work and my crops are still growing.
You can earn gold from doing any of the skills in the game, and this’ll let you purchase various essentials, like seeds and new recipes. Raw ingredients and refined materials can be bought from the village too, and there are even furniture stores that have randomized offerings every ingame day.
There’s also the “Underground” market area that’s active at night. I played a few rounds of the Hotpot minigame with other players there, and it’s surprisingly addicting!
If this all sounds a bit “aimless” to you, that’s part of the appeal! Aside from building relationships with the NPCs and completing the diverse set of quests, the true end goal is meant to be open-ended.
Personally, I’m working towards expanding the buildable space in my housing plot and creating a mansion similar to the official show home. I’ve barely even touched the new Elderwood region, as all I’ve done was unlock the fast travel spots there.
To Sum It Up…
Palia is such a cozy game where you can just kick back and progress as much or as little as you want without any fear of missing out as there isn’t really any competition to speak of.
Forgive this oxymoron, but in a way, it’s like a single player game that happens to let you collaborate with others. Individually, you can progress through the story and build up your homestead without input from other people, but the option to work with, chat, or show off to them is always open.
Again, it’s entirely free to play, so there are no risks involved. If you’re a fan of chill sim games, Palia will be right up your alley, and the recent release of a free expansion pack makes this the perfect time to get into it!
Already playing the game? Check out my guide on how you can unlock all of the fast travel points in the new Elderwood zone!