The world of Palia is set to expand significantly. The fantasy life simulator game is introducing a new zone, the ominous and much-anticipated Elderwood, and will also become available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X on May 13. According to developer Singularity 6, Palia has attracted over 6 million players so far, and the Elderwood update is expected to be one of the most transformative yet.
In Palia, you play as a human awakening from a long slumber. The game world features the resurgence of humanity alongside purple-skinned elves, advanced golem AIs, and a capitalism-loving cat named Grimalkin. Upon waking, players are welcomed into Kilima Village and receive their own homestead. The gameplay is split into two main areas: exploring Kilima and nearby Bahari Bay for quests, resources, and exploration, or developing a farm and a cozy home at your homestead. Singularity 6 has consistently updated Palia since its early access launch, with numerous small updates hinting at the impending Elderwood zone, a mystical, dense forest inhabited by powerful creatures.
Exploring the Elderwood proves more challenging than other zones, requiring players to unlock fast travel posts. Although there is no combat, hunters can pursue new targets like the Ogapuu and the Shmole. The Elderwood introduces Relics, a new type of equipment that grants passive buffs to your entire party. Additionally, there is a new villager to befriend, and players can discover new resources, recipes, and a reliable source of the rare Palium ore.
Palia is free-to-play and supports cross-save and cross-progression. While it does offer microtransactions, these are limited to cosmetic items such as pets and special outfits from the in-game shop; all gameplay features can be accessed without spending money. The Elderwood represents our first venture beyond the Palia Republic into the wider world, and having explored the current zones and uncovered their secrets, I’m eager to delve into the Elderwood and continue unraveling Palia‘s intriguing main quest.
