I raved about Palia when it was first released back in 2023: a free-to-play mmo-ish simulator that was incredibly cute, colourful and cozy as heck. Now, Singularity 6 is adding all new content to the game with Palia: Elderwood, a brand-new expansion bringing more content and mystery to Kilima Village.
First thing first: when Palia released for Nintendo Switch, I was excited to play on a console finally, but was less than impressed with the Switch’s online performance. Hopefully, with the Nintendo Switch 2 coming soon, Nintendo players can look forward to a bit more power behind the game. Good news for other console players, though: Palia is coming to Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 on May 13th, the same day that Elderwood releases!
“Coming to more consoles is a huge milestone for us, because we are finally able to put Palia into the hands of players everywhere, no matter where they are,” said CEO and Co-Founder of Singularity 6 Anthony Leung. I am really looking forward to playing on my Series X from the couch, finally!
“Palia is coming to Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 on May 13th, the same day that Elderwood releases!”
Now, onto Elderwood! Palia: Elderwood is a new high-level zone coming to Palia. To succeed here, you’ll need quality tools. Elderwood is designed to be played after completing the main story in Palia, though players can still access it beforehand. I was told you’ll get the “best story experience” if you finish the main game first.
I only experienced a hands-off preview of the new Elderwood expansion, but I got a good look at the area, and it looks packed with content for players to dive into. Not only will you find an entirely new storyline here—Nai’o introduces the story, and I love that his dialogue changes based on your relationship with him. Whether you’re in a full-on relationship or complete strangers, the story will adjust accordingly.
Elderwood is accessed through Bahari Bay, and right away, you will notice a strange essence infecting the area. It sort of reminded me of the flow-infused items when I first played Palia. However, I don’t know a lot about the story—because spoilers—I know that Subira is also involved.
“Elderwood feels darker and more ominous than other areas in Palia.”
Elderwood feels darker and more ominous than other areas in Palia. It is like a giant spooky forest. One thing made very clear to me during my preview is that exploration is key here, and you will have to locate fast-travel locations in this area before you can use them. It seems a little like Singularity 6 is upping the difficulty in Palia with Elderwood. It doesn’t feel handed to you.
You’ll also find hostile enemies in Elderwood, like the Ogapuu. This is a lizard who runs around spewing slime that slows you down. There are also ponds with a similar goo, so watch where you’re running! There are a plethora of new creatures, like the Shmole and the Elder Clam Mushrooms, that will have pearls or mushroom meat inside them.
What veteran Palia players will enjoy most in Elderwood are all the new collectibles available to discover. Artifacts can be found in rummage piles and turned in for currency, which can then be exchanged for relics. Relics help you gather the infected essence around Elderwood more efficiently. You can find up to two artifacts per day. While you may come across duplicates, the good news is you can trade them with friends and, hopefully, collect them all.
A new area will also bring all new materials and items. This includes new food, insects, creatures, fish, and even mushroom meat that can be substituted to make vegetarian dishes. Ancient Wood is the material found in this zone, which will allow for new weapons, furniture and more. Don’t forget to collect new themed collectables—yes, there will be plushies.
Palia: Elderwood is shaping up to bring a pile of new content to players, and with the added bonus of playing from consoles soon, I am looking forward to diving back in. Don’t forget to use the Refer a Friend program that is coming back for Elderwood, which can earn you the Elderwood Fun Guy in five different sizes. Those who missed out on the program originally will also be able to earn past rewards for a limited time.
Palia is coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on May 13th, and you can dive into the new Elderwood expansion the same day across these platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, GeForce Now and https://Palia.com.
