Why Palworld Should Fully Embrace ‘The Witcher 3’ Approach

Although Palworld’s early access debut turned out to be a huge hit, some fans expressed worries about whether the game would get regular updates post-launch. The indie Japanese developer, Pocketpair, didn’t exactly boast a stellar history in maintaining post-release support. For instance, Craftopia, another game by them, lingered in early access for several years without ever seeing a full release. Moreover, skeptics thought Palworld might just be riding a wave of temporary popularity. Despite Pocketpair’s frequent promises to support the game long-term, there were concerns it could simply fade into obscurity.

Fortunately, these initial doubts have mostly been laid to rest. Not only has Palworld held onto its popularity, but it has also consistently received significant updates. Last month, Pocketpair dropped a major update introducing a large new region known as Feybreak, along with an array of new Pals, weapons, and gameplay features. The developer has exciting plans for later this year too, aiming to incorporate co-op cross-play, a final boss, and even an endgame scenario. While the upcoming content sounds thrilling, Pocketpair might want to take a page from The Witcher 3 by adding a Gwent-like minigame to Palworld before its full release.

Now, some might chuckle at the idea of Palworld drawing inspiration from a game like The Witcher 3. After all, Palworld is an open-world creature-collecting survival title with minimal storyline, whereas The Witcher 3 is a dark, narrative-heavy fantasy RPG. Despite these differences, one feature could seamlessly find its place in Palworld: Gwent.

For those unfamiliar, Gwent is a card game that first appeared in The Witcher novels by Andrzej Sapkowski and became a playable minigame in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Played by two individuals, it involves commanding armies and engaging in one-on-one duels, using strategic combos and precise tactics to outmaneuver the opponent. When both players exhaust their cards, victory goes to the one who has more cards remaining on the battlefield.

Even if Gwent’s complexity isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, its popularity within The Witcher community is undeniable. It’s so well-received that it has spawned three spin-off games. CD Projekt Red, the studio behind The Witcher 3, released a standalone version of Gwent in 2018 for all modern platforms except the Nintendo Switch. They also rolled out two single-player expansions, Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales and Gwent: Rogue Mage, sold separately across different platforms.

Considering Gwent’s success, it would be a clever move for Pocketpair to introduce a card game to Palworld as well. With its creature-collecting elements akin to the Pokemon Trading Card Game, a similar-style minigame would fit naturally within Palworld. If this card game gains traction, Pocketpair could even develop multiple standalone spin-offs, mirroring CD Projekt Red’s approach with Gwent. This could open doors for both single-player and multiplayer expansions, not to mention potential merchandise tied to it.