Want something wholesome to play this weekend? Why not plunge into Palia, a free-to-play fantasy MMORPG that oozes wholesomeness. You won’t be alone if you do, because, following the release of its massive Elderwood Expansion, this cozy online game has seen its concurent player count skyrocket.
With shades of Runescape and Stardew Valley, Palia is one of the more appealing MMORPGs out there, not least because it’s free-to-play. But you won’t be tearing the heads off dragons or dueling other players to the death. Instead, this whimsical outing has you crafting, foraging, making friends, and engaging in all sorts of other heartwarming activities.
You’ll have a lot more people to meet and greet, too, if you choose to dive into its cozy world. Palia has just received its first full-on expansion, entitled Elderwood, and its concurrent player count has rocketed by 150%, pushing it from an average of 6,000 to over 17,000 – a new player record. That’s one heck of a lot of extra visitors.
The Elderwood Expansion adds a wealth of new content, including new zones, quests, creatures, pets, and much, much more. There’s even a new villager, Ulfe, a boy who’s been living in the titular Elderwood, a magical, overgrown forest. We’re sure he’s not cursed or demonically possessed or anything. Probably.
We were enchanted by Palia when we previewed it, and we’re glad to see more players discover it. It’s rated ‘very positive’ on Steam, and since it’s online only, Palia’s continued success depends on players sticking around. Alternatively, if you prefer to play solo, we’ve rounded up the best life games and the best RPGs.
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