Cozy games have taken over a major part of the gaming industry with titles like Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, Etc. But one cozy game that stands out is Palia, a free-to-play game available for PC and Switch. Unlike most cozy games Palia doesn’t focus on just farming and expanding your homestead. It’s a world filled with extensive lore, rich characters, romance, and just a touch of mystery. Get cozy and let’s talk about the mesmerizing world of Palia.
A Tale Of Two Worlds
The game starts in an old human shrine dedicated to Embra The Great Pheonix, their diety. Your character emerges from a hazy pink mist to meet Jina the archeologist in training who was studying the ruins. You emerge with no memory of how you got there or anything that happened before you emerged. Jina explains that humans disappeared without a trace over a thousand of years ago and only recently started to reappear. In the time that the humans were gone the Majiri, an elf-like race with purple skin, rose as the apex species. After your brief introduction, Jina directs you to visit Ashura, the friendly innkeeper in town.
When you leave the shrine you find yourself in the quiet village of Kilima. When you find your way to the inn Ashura tells you that due to the number of humans reappearing the inn is full but there are empty plots available to build on. He equips you with a new axe to help you gather wood and directs you to meet with Hodari. He tells you Hodari is currently out at the housing plots helping to clear debris for the reemerging humans.
As you enter your plot you see an overgrown area littered with debris and rocks. Hodari introduces himself and gives you a pickaxe to help you clear the rocks and gather materials. While mining the rocks on your plot you come across a strange artifact. When you ask Hodari about it he says he doesn’t know what it is, and advises you to worry about finishing your plot before worrying about it.
When you finish your plot Auni appears on your plot to introduce himself and tells you Jina may be able to help you with the artifact you found. Jina will tell you about a locked door in the ruins she found you in. This door will lead to the first of many temples you’ll explore. After this point, you are free to explore the world and complete quests at your own pace.
Palia Gameplay
Palia offers a wide range of gameplay mechanics to create an immersive gameplay experience. One of the most important mechanics is the skills system. You’re exposed to this system early on in the game through foraging wood and mining stone to develop your plot. Other skills include furniture building, cooking, gardening, fishing, bug catching, and hunting. Each of these skills has an NPC that acts as a “master” of that skill that helps make the tasks easier with better tools and special items as you gain more experience.
Once you’ve reached level 10 in any skill you’ll be officially invited to that skills guild. The guilds offer special stores to purchase items with skill medallions that are gained by completing weekly challenges and leveling up. Another important mechanic is the focus system which works in tandem with gaining skill experience. Focus gives you a bonus to the experience you gain through completing quests, using a skill, or increasing friendship levels with NPCs. Focus is gained through eating crops, foraged mushrooms, and prepared recipes.
You can increase the total amount of focus you can have and the focus bonus by spending Renown points at the dragon shrine and the phoenix shrine. You can gain renown through various tasks but it’s mostly from completing quests and leveling up your character. Palia also loves to make the game feel more like a community by rewarding player cooperation. For example, one of the most important resources in the game is flow trees that constantly heal themselves. So players have to work together to cut them down to gather their resources.
Another way the developers do this is through skill and reward buffs. When fishing beside a group of players you will notice a buff symbol at the top of the left side of the screen, this buff helps increase your fishing experience. While at a party, you can gain exclusive rewards and buffs on skills like hunting, foraging, cooking, and bug-catching.
NPCs
The NPCs of Palia bring life to the village of Kilima and add a layer of immersion into the intricately written storyline, and lore. You can befriend all of the NPCs, and as you get to know them better you can unlock friendship quests. With certain NPCs, you can also unlock romance options after reaching level three friendship. As you advance through the romance levels your sweetheart will give you a pin to represent their feelings for you. While you can date multiple NPCs at once, you can only wear two pins at one time, and this may hurt some feelings when chatting.
Ashura
Ashura is the innkeeper at The Ormuu’s Horn, that directed you to your plot when you first arrive. While he acts as a fatherly figure to most of the village he seems to take a liking to you. You learn through chatting that he is a veteran with stories he’s not ready to share with anyone yet. You also learn early on that he is a widower, and lost his wife to a climbing accident. He has five friendship levels and is not romanceable.
Auni
Auni is Palias most enthusiastic bug catcher and Kilimas local mail runner. He is the NPC associated with the bug-catching skill and rather forcibly signs you up for the Bug Scouts with him. In the mornings he can be found in Kilimas town square or the nearby field, and in the afternoons he can be found playing cards with Hassian at the inn. He is the son of Badruu and Delalia and the brother of Nai’o, together they live on the Daiya Farm just outside of the village. He has four friendship levels and is not romanceable.
Badruu
Badruu is Kilimas’ resident farmer, stand-up comedian, and music enthusiast. Keep leveling up your gardening skills and he’s sure to be your best “spuddy”. He is the NPC that represents the gardening skill and where you can purchase already grown crops and seasonal decor items. Most of the time Badruu can be found on Daiya Farm except for his daily trip to the Ormuu’s Horn to deliver goods. Badruu has four friendship levels and since he’s married, he’s not romanceable.
Caleri
Caleri is probably the most diligent librarian in all of Palia. But don’t even think about going into that restricted section before friendship level three. She is the twin sister of Elouisa, who isn’t quite as serious as Caleri thinks she should be. She currently has four friendship levels and is not romancable.
Chayne
Chayne has a kind word for everyone in the village as Kilimas spiritual leader and caretaker of the dragon shrine. He is a vegetarian and always appreciates donations of any extra crops you grow. He is also a treasure trove of knowledge about the past and can give interesting insights into the possibilities of what happened to the human race. He currently only has four friendship levels but it is suspected to have more in future updates. As a man of spirituality, Chayne is not a romanceable character in Palia.
Delaila
Delaila is the matriarch of the Daiya family and runs her farm with a no-nonsense attitude. She’s known to make the best pies and jams in all of Palia and is more than happy to share them with her friends. As you get to know her she shares some of her best recipes and begins to think of you as family. She currently has four friendship levels and is not romancable.
Einar
Einar is a friendly galdur whose greatest thrill in life is fishing. He is the NPC that represents the fishing guild and is always happy to take fishing-related gifts. He can be found at the Fisherman’s Lagoon all day except for when he goes to sleep in his cave from 12 AM to three AM in-game. He currently has five friendship-level quests and is currently the only non-Majiri that is romanceable. Some of his friendship quests are important to finishing some of the main storyline quests so be sure to level his friendship up regularly.
Elouisa
Elouisa couldn’t be any different than her twin sister Caleri. You can find Elousia out exploring the local ruins in search of cryptids and all things paranormal. While sometimes she may seem a little quirky there are some things she says that make you wonder if maybe she is right about her theories and stories. She currently has four friendship levels and is not romancable.
Eshe
Eshe is the wife of the mayor, but everyone knows it’s her keeping things running in Kilima. Eshe has discerning taste and has high expectations for everyone living in the town. She may seem a little icy at first but as you progress through her four friendship levels you start to see her true colors. She loves the town and the people in it, she just wants what’s best for everyone including you. Eshe is not a romancable player.
Hassian
Hassian is the local hunter and the representative of the hunters guild. He has a passion for preserving and respecting nature that he insists the humans adopt as well. He also holds a deep grudge against the pesky Chappas that can be found throughout Kilima and Bahari Bay. Hassian can seem cold during chats, but as you progress his friendship and romance levels you begin to see another side of this poetic softy. You can find him in Bahari Bay in the mornings and Kilima in the afternoons. He prefers hunting-related gifts such as Sernuk antlers, fur, leather, and Chappa tails.
Hekla
Hekla is a friendly galdur that Jina found while studying human ruins. She was originally designed to care for human children so to fulfill her oneness she cares for Jina and serves as her research assistant. Hekla is friends with Einar and will regularly play cards with him through their connection. She prefers gifts that can help her care for Jina or seeds for crops and trees. She has five friendship levels and can not be romanced.
Hodari
Hodari tends to keep to himself and is mostly found by his home or the mines in Bahari Bay. He knows a thing or two about good grilled meat, and finding rare metal ores. He lost his wife to a mine collapse, and now wants to keep his daughter out of the mines to keep her safe. This shy single dad warms up to you as you progress through his, and his daughters’ friendship levels. He can also be romanced once you’ve reached friendship level three with him. However, you have to reach friendship level 4 with his daughter to progress through his romance.
Jel
Jel is Palia’s resident emo and aspiring fashion designer. He longs to live up to his family’s prestigious name in the fashion industry but constantly doubts himself. His shop is where you can purchase premium outfits and often find him behind the counter or greeting guests. At night he tends to walk down by Kilima Lake for inspiration for his newest clothing lines. He currently has four friendship levels and is romancable.
Jina
Jina is usually preoccupied with her studies of ancient human ruins. She is mostly found near Heklas’ tent in Mirror Feilds or at the library. She aspires to be an archeologist but sometimes wonders if she’s only made it this far because of who her dad is. She is rather shy but opens up as you progress through her five friendship levels. She may be timid but with enough time, and mushrooms, she is a romancable player.
Kenli
Kenli is the son of the previous Archduke Kendall and brother to the current Duchess Kenyara. Although he was born into the governing path he would be much happier as a carefree gardener. So he happily lets Eshe take the reins when it comes to governing the village. He is kind and welcomes you and the other humans to the village and is happy to help you in any way he can, especially if there’s food involved. He currently has four friendship quests, and since he is married his is not romancable.
Kenyatta
Kenyatta is a rebellious teenager who wants to do the opposite of everything that her mom Eshe wants her to do. Everyone expects her to declare her path in government like her parents but she’s sure her life’s purpose is something else. Her mom has inexplicably told her she is not to date that smelly farm boy Nai’o, but she is anyway. If you’re cool enough to help her prank her mom you can make your way through her four friendship quests, and maybe even find yourself in the middle of a love triangle.
Nai’o
Palia is full of fascinating backstories, and interesting characters. Nai’o just happens to be, well… He’s handsome. He is the hardworking son of Badruu and Delaila and aspires to take over the family farm one day. While he is currently dating Kenyatta, with a high enough friendship level he could be convinced into dating you, or maybe he’d even be interested in a thruple. With four friendship levels, you’ll get to see how devoted he is to his family and his amazing work ethic.
Najuma
Most players can be found in Kilima for at least part of the day, one of the exceptions is the shy daughter of Hodari. Najuma can be found in Bahari Bay close to her and Hodaris’ home and workshop. She is passionate about working in the mines even though her dad would give anything to keep her out of them. Get to know Najuma better through her four friendship quests and help her make her dad realize that she can be perfectly safe in the mines with his help.
Reth
Reth gets a bad rap from pretty much everyone in the village except his sister Tish, and Ashura. This charming cook has a tragic backstory and is the most touching romance option in Palia. He abandoned his path as a carpenter and decided to be a cook, this along with alleged illicit activities gives him a bad name with the other villagers. Get to know this dashing bad boy through his five friendship quests, and his sister’s quests too!
Sifuu
This former monster hunter is the town blacksmith and the mother of Hassian. She can usually be found in the town’s blacksmith shop or at the Inn. She’s known to love meat, hunting, and telling stories of her glory days. Get to know her better through four levels of friendship and romancing her son. She is also who you will see to help you make your romance pins, repair tools, and buy certain materials in a pinch.
Subira
Subira is a watcher of The Order, sent to Palia to investigate the return of the humans. She is introduced to the game after completing the “Find a Shepp” quest and completing the “Fit For A Watcher” quests. She recruits you to help her investigate the return of the humans and certain rumors she’s heard of illicit flow trade. She is a romanceable character though she prefers you keep it secret since it’s against The Orders protocol to date. Help her with her missions to learn more about The Order, and the possible scandals being covered up.
Tamala
Like Najuma, Tamala is a character that is always found in Bahari Bay. She is a mysterious Majiri that no one seems to know very well. She’s often found at her home mixing her “tinctures”, or out in the woods looking for ingredients. Some of the villagers seem to think she’s bad news and will warn you to stay away from her. She currently has a total of four friendship quests that give you very little backstory, but you may discover some history in her bedroom. Should you choose to trust her she is a romanceable character.
Tau
Tau is a plumehound and is Hassians’ best boy! This lovable pup is constantly with Hassian and has his friendship levels. While a certain grouchy Majiri complains about the mess he often leaves, Tau is generally loved by the other villagers. Increasing your friendship with this NPC gives you a unique insight into many characters, and situations in Kilima. When you’ve maxed your friendship with Tau, you even get an adorable Tau plushie for your home.
Tish
Tish is a master carpenter and the leader of the furniture-making guild. She is the friendliest face in all of Palia and is always willing to help out a friend. She moved to Kilima with her brother Reth after their parents died. Before moving to Kilima Tish was diagnosed with a rare and incurable disease. Strangely after moving to the peaceful countryside Tish’s condition seemed to disappear. She currently has 5 friendship levels and is romanceable as long as you’re not wearing her brother’s pin.
Zeki
Unlike the other villagers, Zeki is a Grimalkin, a cat-like alien race that came to the planet centuries ago. He is the shopkeeper in the town’s general store and is said to sell other less-than-legal goods after the magistrate goes to bed. Many villagers will warn you about doing business with him but as you play through his five friendship levels you’ll come to see he has a heart of gold. He is not romanceable, but his friendship is required to progress through Tish and Reths’ quests as well.
Other Great Stories
As you progress through Palia you will discover a plethora of hidden secrets, mini-games, and side quests. Some of the most notable are the temples scattered throughout the world. Making your way through these temples gets you closer to revealing the secrets of what happened to the human race. They also help you get more information about certain NPCs and watch them complete character arcs as you do. Not to mention the great rewards you get from completing the temples.
You also have mini-games to kill time while you’re waiting for that build to finish on your plot. One of the most popular mini-games is Hotpot, found in the underground from six PM to three AM in-game time. This mini-game gives prize wheel coins to win exclusive rewards, gold, and more. Another popular mini-game is The Tower, a platforming level accessed by an arcade game in the underground. This challenging mini-game can take time to master but is worth it if you enjoy the platforming genre.
So whether you’re playing to be captivated by the storyline and complex characters. Or just to chill with your friends while you build the perfect homestead. Palia has something for every player, so go ahead get cozy, and welcome home to the mesmerizing world of Palia.
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