Pocketpair Lead Says Palfarm Won’t Be “Palworld Stardew Valley,” Reveals It Will Be Less Violent and More Cozy

When Pocketpair revealed Palworld: Palfarm, comparisons to Stardew Valley were almost inevitable. However, Pocketpair’s publishing and communications lead John “Bucky” Buckley says players should not expect the upcoming farming simulation to simply replicate the popular farming formula with Pals added to it.

During a Gamescom 2026 interview with Gaming World Interviews, Buckley specifically pushed back against the idea that Palfarm is essentially “Palworld Stardew Valley.” He explained that the upcoming spin-off is taking a somewhat different direction while offering a considerably more relaxed experience than the original game.

Palfarm Will Take Palworld in a Different Direction

Buckley acknowledged that the Palfarm development team has grown significantly and described the project as something that could surprise players.

“I think Palfarm is going to be a little bit different than what people expect it to be,”

he said during the interview.

The biggest difference appears to be its tone. While the original Palworld combines creature collecting with survival mechanics, crafting and combat, Palfarm is designed to provide a much more peaceful experience.

“One thing I will say is it’s not going to be as violent as you might think,”

Buckley explained.

“It is more on the cozier side.”

He added that the game will feel like a “cozy Palworld,” although Pocketpair does not intend to completely remove the series’ distinctive humor.

That distinction is important because Palfarm is not simply abandoning the stranger elements that have become associated with the franchise. Instead, Pocketpair appears to be adapting its recognizable world and Pals into a farming-focused experience while maintaining the series’ tongue-in-cheek personality.

Pocketpair Is Promising More Than a Simple Farming Sim

Official details already show that players will be able to grow crops, cook, craft, build their farms and rely on Pals to perform different types of farm work. Pocketpair also says players will be able to develop relationships with Pals and island residents, explore the island through changing seasons and play cooperatively with friends.

However, Palfarm will still contain some of the bizarre elements fans associate with Palworld. Pocketpair’s official description mentions hostile Pals attacking farms, underground enemies and even a suspicious black market dealing in guns, fertilizer and “lost” Pals.

Buckley also praised the game’s presentation, calling Palfarm “very pretty” during the interview. With its more relaxed atmosphere but unmistakably Palworld-style humor, the spin-off could offer a very different interpretation of Pocketpair’s universe when it eventually launches.