• News

  • TV & Film

  • PlayStation

  • Xbox

  • Nintendo

  • PC

  • Reviews

  • News

  • TV & Film

  • PlayStation

  • Xbox

  • Nintendo

  • PC

  • Reviews

  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Threads
Submit Your Content
Steam's new free Stardew Valley-like is blowing up right now

Home> News> Platform> Steam

Published 16:27 28 Mar 2024 GMT

Steam's new free Stardew Valley-like is blowing up right now

Palia is equal parts Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Stardew Valley, and it's totally free to play.

Kate Harrold

Kate Harrold

If you’re yet to check out Palia, I have just one question for you: Why?

Palia is equal parts Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Stardew Valley, with a light dashing of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild thanks to its handy glider.

Developed by Singularity 6, Palia has been available on Nintendo Switch for a couple of months now, but it’s just launched on Steam this week.

Advert

It’s already going down a storm with players and oh, I’ve yet to mention the best part. Palia is totally free-to-play.

“Palia is a vibrant new world made just for you. Craft, cook, fish, and farm with friends as you live the life of your dreams and discover an enchanting adventure filled with colorful characters and a mystery to unravel,” teases the synopsis.

Take a look at Palia in action below.

A quick trip over to SteamDB proves just how popular Palia is proving to be. While we’re not talking Palword numbers, Palia did reach an all-time peak of 11,540 just two days ago - with there being just over 10,000 players in the game right now.

Those are very respectable numbers, especially for a cosy sim. If you compare it to Fae Farm, a game that’s very much in the same vein that launched last year, that game’s all-time peak sits at 5,692 - achieved seven months ago, with a 24-hour peak of just 246.

Advert

Of course, Fae Farm is a paid-for game and Palia is free but it’s just a point of comparison to help put Palia’s playerbase into perspective.

You should also check out Fae Farm if your funds permit. I granted it a very commendable eight of out 10 in our review.

Back to Palia though, it features everything you could want in a cosy sim. You can catch and collect insects, tend to your own farmstead, forage for items, foster relationships, fish, hunt, craft, build your own home, and team up with friends.

There’s also an intriguing mystery to unravel surrounding the ancient humans that suddenly appear in this small town too.

Advert

Despite its respectable numbers, Palia’s Steam rating currently sits at Mixed.

The main point of contention dragging Palia down is that it’s not as co-op friendly as many first imagined.

Instead, you mainly help those on your friends list acquire items, or they help you. It’s certainly an area that could be expanded.

Elsewhere though, reviews praise Palia’s worldbuilding, design, quest lines, and overall relaxing nature.

Advert

As I mentioned, it’s totally free to download and play - with devs constantly dropping updates and patches.

Featured Image Credit: Valve, Singularity 6

Topics: Steam, PC, Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

8 mins ago
3 hours ago
5 hours ago
6 hours ago
  • 8 mins ago

    Fallout fans losing it over huge new map expansion

    What a wasteland

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    Xbox drops 5 free games you can download and play this weekend

    Play some great games for free

    News
  • 5 hours ago

    GTA 6 officially hits PlayStation Store, immediately dominates

    Was there any doubt?

    News
  • 6 hours ago

    Steam gamers warned they've last chance to dive into massive 50+ free download event

    By the time you read this, it may already be too late

    News
  • Steam free download is Stardew Valley with even more fishing
  • Valheim collides with Stardew Valley in glorious new RPG
  • Stardew Valley meets Zelda and Skyrim in new free RPG
  • Stardew Valley free expansion is a must-play for Harvey fans