Palia is the perfect game for chill vibes, either alone or co-op

polygon.com:

Cozy games have grown in popularity, and life simulators have gone from a rare treat to a much more populated genre. Palia, an upcoming game from Singularity Six, is a cheerful cottagecore MMO that takes a few comfy, chill gameplay loops and combines them into a delightful package. During the preview period offered to press, I have completed Palia’s first leg of content, graduating from copper to iron and venturing into the game’s second zone over the course of three days. I resent the time it is taking me to write about Palia, because it is time I could be spending on playing more Palia. This game has grabbed me in a way that few games in this genre do, and it did so without any dirty tricks or manipulative microtransactions.

Each individual part of Palia is fun and well made, but the game’s real brilliance is in how it seamlessly loops them all together. In Palia, I play a human who has suddenly materialized out of a dazzling void and into existence. My landing place ends up being pretty sweet; there are verdant fields full of game to hunt, a village full of friendly folk eager to lend a hand, and a big plot of land to settle upon. There is no great threat, no oncoming apocalypse. There isn’t even a Tom Nook to show up and request rent.

Palia most resembles a survival sandbox game or a MMORPG, but Singularity Six has sanded off all of the harsh edges. It’s nothing but good vibes out here, baby, and I’m here to soak up the sunshine. Even the graphics are bright and cheerful, with lots of round shapes and exaggerated motions. Everything is so sweet it verges on saccharine or childish, although I’m starting to suspect that I can coax a more solemn side out of my new neighbors.

The gameplay of Palia can be effectively