Palia is an early access utopia that relies on its regular patches

polygon.com:

Palia is an adorable and cozy life simulator MMO that generates endless amounts of serotonin and dopamine in my brain. It’s also a clear work in progress from developer Singularity Six; every intriguing clue and tantalizing hint seems to lead to an “under construction” sign or a brick wall. The progression loop holds a certain tension: You can grow crops, build a home, and explore a fantastical and bucolic fantasy world… but the magic will stop at specific boundaries until the developer is ready to cut the ribbon.

In Palia, I play a human who has recently returned to the world of Palia after a long and mysterious absence. The human empire has long since crumbled, leaving only mysterious ruins behind. Palia has been resettled by purple elves called Majiri, aided by helpful golems. I settle in Kilima Village, where the Majiri help me build my own humble home and get resituated in a world that’s been human-free for a very long time.

The villagers I meet, and the interactions I have with them over the course of my adventures, are hands-down the strongest part of Palia. There are just under two dozen villagers, and while all of them start off seeming fairly one-dimensional, the more time I spend with them, the more I get to know and appreciate their hidden depths. The romance options are also surprisingly fulfilling; I’m dating the bad-boy cook and the fish-loving goofy golem, and it’s been very wholesome. (Everyone in Palia is either poly, or pretty cool with it. The chill vibes even extend to dating every single option in the valley at once, so there are no heart-wrenching choices to make.)

The player starts out with plenty of allies, but there’s no real antagonist or enemy in Palia, and as such, there’s no combat — at