Comparative study of motivational drivers behind players' selection of Palworld.

ABSTRACT: Palworld, released in January 2024, rapidly sold over 12 million copies on Steam in ten days, prompting comparisons to the Pokémon franchise due to its creature-taming aesthetic. This study investigates whether Palworld's commercial and critical success stems from superficial homage or from deeper motivational affordances that resonate with an aging fan base. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory (SDT), we conducted a comprehensive analysis comprising a comparative feature review of Palworld versus mainline Pokémon and a survey of 322 Chinese Palworld players (252 of whom also had Pokémon experience). Results show that, while both games satisfy competence needs, players report significantly higher autonomy and relatedness in Palworld, citing its open-ended base-building, combat freedom, and

SUBMITTER: Xing Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12669644 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature