Summary
The viral hitPalworldhas been dominating the Steam charts, surpassing games likeCyberpunk 2077andHogwarts Legacyto have the highest concurrent player count of any paid game on the platform. While the success ofPalworldhas been controversialdue to its similarities in creature design to those of thePokemonseries, the game draws ideas from multiple titles beyond Game Freak’s classic franchise. Specifically, players have found thatPalworldcontains several references to FromSoftware’sElden Ring, which is another title it now beats in peak concurrent player count on Steam.
It’s clear thatPalworldincorporates design elements from popular titles likePokemonandARK: Survival Evolved, with its combination of survival crafting and creature collecting being the core of its gameplay. However, players are finding thatPalworld’s open world is also drawing inspiration from popular games of the genre, withElden Ringbeing the clearest game referenced inPalworld’s environmental design.Palworldwouldn’t be considered a Soulslike by most players, but it pays homage toElden Ringwith several Easter eggs found throughout the game.
Elden Ring Easter Eggs Found in Palworld
While there aren’t manyElden RingEaster eggs that have been discovered inPalworld, the ones that have been found are pretty obvious allusions to FromSoftware’s game. With how newPalworldis, it’s possible more Easter eggs will be uncovered as players continue to dig deep into everythingPalworldhas to offer. As anearly-access title,Palworldhas the potential to add even more Easter eggs and references in future updates, so players may want to keep an eye out for new details as they explorePalworld’s open world.
Palworld Has a Similar Region to Elden Ring’s Caelid
InElden Ring, Caelid is a region to the eastof the starting area of Limgrave that is recognizable by its corrupted, rotten environment and red-toned surroundings that feature some of the hardest enemies in the game.Palworldhas a similarly designed area just to the northwest of the Rayne Syndicate Tower where the land is a similar red coloring to that of Caelid. Players who wander into Caelid too early are in for a rough time since enemies there are extremely dangerous at low levels, but it seemsPalworld’s Caelid counterpart doesn’t feature that same level of danger.
Palworld’s Churches Mirror Those Found in Elden Ring
WithinPalworld’s Caelid counterpart, players will find the Desolate Church, a ruined cathedral that bears a striking resemblance to the designElden Ringuses for its churches. Other similar ruins can be found aroundPalworld’s map that all share a similar design, suggesting thatPalworldonce had a thriving religion akin toElden Ring’s Church of Marika. WhileElden Ringplayers might be familiar with locations like the Church of Pilgrimage, Church of Irith, and Church of the Plague as the sites where Sacred Tears can be found, it seems likePalworld’s churches play a less important role and serve more as a simple reference to the FromSoftware title.
Palworld Features Areas Similar to Elden Ring’s Evergaols
AcrossElden Ring’s Lands Between, players can find Evergaols that act as pocket dimensions containing a powerful foe players will have to beat. These Evergaols can be spotted by a large arena-like disk with a glowing light in the center, which appears similar to certain areas players have found inPalworld. These areas are called Sealed Realms, and much likeElden Ring’s Evergaols, they transport players to a separate arena where they will have to face off against high-level Palworld Pals as bosses in fights that feel the most reminiscent ofElden Ringout of all the other references to the game contained inPalworld.
