Comparative study of motivational drivers behind players’ selection of Palworld

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 cooperative multiplayer systems as key differentiators. Quantitative analyses confirmed that primary motives for playing Palworld-such as relaxation, achievement, and socialization-were rated higher than for Pokémon, especially in adult groups. We conclude that Palworld's success is not merely due to its visual style but is rooted in its reinterpretation of the creature-taming genre through mature gameplay systems that address an aging fan base's desire for creative freedom and deeper social engagement. The study provides a valuable data survey to support the field of game psychology.