So you downloaded Palworld, jumped in expecting Pokémon with guns, and now you’re surrounded by chaos, adorable creatures, and way more crafting than you bargained for. Welcome to the ride. Your first 10 hours in Palworld will be equal parts thrilling, confusing, and hilarious. We’re here to break it down so you don’t end up like us (running from a level 38 Pal with nothing but a stick).
1. You Will Die A Lot
No one tells you that your first 10 hours in Palworld are basically a crash course in controlled failure. You’ll freeze, starve, fall off cliffs, and maybe even get curb-stomped by a Pal who looks too cute to be deadly. Death is part of the learning curve here, so lean into it. Every time you respawn, you’ll understand a little more, like why crafting torches isn’t optional, or how fast nighttime gets deadly. It’s brutal, but once you accept that early-game death is inevitable, you’ll start to actually have fun with the chaos.
2. The Crafting System Is Way Deeper Than You Think
During your first 10 hours, you’ll probably think, “Oh cool, I’ll just craft a bed and maybe a campfire.” Cute. But then you’ll realize you need a workbench to make Pal Spheres, and then a Palbox to actually store your creatures, and then a feed box to keep them from revolting. Crafting is core to surviving, thriving, and not getting absolutely demolished by the elements or your own Pals. You’ll end up building more than you ever planned to, and it’s weirdly satisfying when you finally get a functional base up and running.
3. Your Base Will Be a Disaster
Even if you’ve played survival games before, your base during the first 10 hours in Palworld is going to look like a junkyard. Pals running into walls, beds placed too close to fire pits, walls facing the wrong direction. It’s all part of the charm. But it’s also part of the frustration. You’ll want to keep tweaking things constantly, and it’ll never feel “done.” Eventually, though, you’ll figure out how to place things in a way that doesn’t result in Pal mutiny or base-wide fires.
4. You’ll Bond With the Weirdest-Looking Pals
Sure, you’ll want the badass, rare, ultra-powerful Pals eventually, but during your first 10 hours, it’s the goofy ones that keep you alive. Maybe it’s the chicken that poops eggs (bless them), or the one that shoots water from its mouth so you don’t burn down your base. You’ll form ride-or-die attachments to the early Pals who helped you survive the wilds, and honestly, it’s kind of wholesome. These oddballs will carry you through the early game and maybe even become your favorites long-term.
5. It’s Way More Morally Complex Than It Looks
Let’s be real, Palworld walks a strange line between cute and dystopian. During your first 10 hours, you’ll start to notice this tension. You’re not just catching and cuddling creatures, you’re putting them to work in factories, sending them into battle with guns, and occasionally letting them starve if you forget the feed box. There’s a subtle commentary here, and whether you love or hate it, it’s going to make you think. It adds a layer of dark humor and unexpected depth to what seems like a lighthearted survival game.
6. Multiplayer Is Both Amazing and Chaotic
Jumping into co-op play during your first 10 hours can either be the best decision or the beginning of total anarchy. Teammates can help you gather, build, and catch Pals or they can steal your loot, aggro bosses, and abandon you mid-fight. It’s hilarious either way. The chaos multiplies with every person you add to your server, and it’s both frustrating and addicting. If you’re planning to play with friends, communicate often, and maybe set some ground rules before the Pal poop hits the fan.
7. Time Management Is a Skill You’ll Learn the Hard Way
Between building, battling, and babysitting your Pals, your first 10 hours will fly by in a blur. You’ll constantly be putting out metaphorical fires (and sometimes literal ones), forgetting to eat, and trying to figure out why your Pals are mad at you again. Learning to prioritize tasks, like crafting gear before picking fights, is key to making progress without total burnout. The game doesn’t hold your hand, and it’s easy to get distracted by a cool rock or a weird bird when you really should be making a furnace.
8. It’s Okay to Look Things Up
Some people treat survival games like sacred trials where guides are forbidden. Not here. Palworld throws a ton at you in the first 10 hours, and the in-game tutorials barely scratch the surface. Don’t be afraid to Google recipes, maps, or how to find that one resource you’ve been wandering three in-game days to locate. It doesn’t make you weak, it makes you smart. Trust me, future-you will thank you when you’re not still running around in level 1 pants wondering how to make a proper pickaxe.
9. The World Is Bigger Than It Looks
At first, it might feel like you’re stuck in the same two biomes with the same three Pals. But as you explore, especially during your first 10 hours, you’ll start to uncover how huge Palworld really is. Hidden caves, challenging bosses, unique biomes, and weird NPCs with lore that raises more questions than answers, it’s all there if you keep pushing outward. The game rewards curiosity, so don’t be afraid to wander far from your starting point.
10. The Grind Is Real, But It’s Worth It
The final thing you won’t hear enough: your first 10 hours in Palworld will feel slow. Leveling up takes time, getting the right resources can be a chore, and figuring out your Pal team might mean making tough choices. But the payoff? That moment when everything clicks, your base runs smoothly, your gear slaps, and your Pals obey commands like champions. That’s when the game really begins. Stick with it through the awkward early hours, and Palworld becomes something genuinely special.
Palworld is a wild ride, and your first 10 hours are just the warm-up. You’ll laugh, rage, bond with a duck wearing goggles, and maybe question your ethics once or twice. But that’s the magic. Whether you’re a seasoned survival gamer or just here for the creature chaos, there’s something special waiting once you make it past those messy early hours.
What surprised you most about your first 10 hours in Palworld?
