There are, fortunately, quite a few games like Palia and today I am here to share the best of the best.
All these games are handpicked by myself and I am 100% sure that, if you enjoy playing Palia and you’re looking for something similar, you’ll find plenty of options below. And they REALLY are games like Palia, not titles that algorithms or whatever other sites use give you as alternatives.
For even more inspiration, make sure to also read my list of the best games like The Sims, as well as a full list of the coziest, most relaxing games you can play.
My Time at Sandrock
My Time at Sandrock is a building, sandbox, adventure life, and farming sim with a surprisingly large amount of content and it is extremely similar to Palia.
You create a character, level up skills, upgrade your house and production machines, complete quests, unlock mounts, explore dungeons, and more!
This is a follow-up to My Time at Portia, but you don’t need to play the previous game to enjoy this one. However, if it’s not enough for you, you can definitely try the first in the series too for more options.
Disney Dreamlight Valley
Disney Dreamlight Valley, in short, is Palia with Disney characters.
Create your character and progress through storylines with some of the most popular Disney characters including Mickey Mouse, Belle, Monsters Inc, Ariel, and more.
If you want the same relaxing casual vibe but with Disney elements, DDV is a must-try.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is the most popular farming/life sim game and is a must-try if you haven’t played it yet. And even if you have, replaying it will bring many surprises and great memories.
Stardew Valley is the OG of the genre and an obvious, easy choice. The main difference with Palia is that Stardew Valley includes pixel graphics and is a single/multiplayer game instead of an MMO.
Littlewood
Littlewood is another pixel graphics game that stands out due to its simple and relaxing vibe – even more minimalistic than Stardew Valley, but still complex and charming.
Romance is simple in the sense that you don’t need to search for each character’s favorite gifts online, while you can fully customize the landscape from the get-go.
Also, one of my favorite elements is that each in-game day ends when you run out of stamina and there is no actual clock or time to make you rush through things. Perfection!
Coral Island
Coral Island is another farming/life sim that stands out due to its amazing graphics and is a great choice for those looking to play something similar to Palia.
Other than the standard farming and romance mechanics, Coral Island introduces a large underwater kingdom with romanceable characters and unique storylines. So, if you want a bit of underwater adventures too – this is the perfect choice for you!
Sun Haven
Sun Haven is a pixel graphics farming sim RPG with multiplayer elements.
Build your farm, romance your favorite NPCs, progress through the seasons, and take down monsters while exploring the game’s unique storyline.
The Witch of Fern Island
The Witch of Fern Island is the most recent release on this list, as it came out in February 2024.
It’s a life sim game with a unique twist of magic. Explore the island, advance your magic skills, and enjoy the unique storyline of the game. A great choice for those who want something similar in aspect and concept, but with plenty of new elements to consider.
Mabinogi
Mabinogi is the oldest game on this list, dating back to 2004, but as it still receives updates and has an active player base, I think it’s worth having it on this list.
It’s an MMORPG that is fairly similar to Palia in the sense that you slowly upgrade your house and character skills, romance NPCs, and collect resources to produce better materials.
Also, Mabinogi has a very immersive and detailed storyline that’s worth trying out!
Moonstone Island
If you want something that has similar elements from Palia, but is also completely different, this deckbuilding / creature collecting / farming sim game is your best choice.
With cute pixelated graphics and plenty of things to do, it will get you hooked instantly with its 100+ islands to explore and plenty of goodies to discover. Make friends, brew potions, collect Spirits, and test your strength in card-based encounters in this game.
Lightyear Frontier
Lightyear Frontier is what happens if you take Palia, move it over to an alien planet filled with crazy, funny characters and visuals and sprinkle in some robot building mechanics just for fun.
It’s an amazing title that offers tens of hours of fun: an open world to explore, a peaceful gameplay experience and plenty of exploration to do with up to 3 friends or solo. So, while not a MMO, it’s still an amazing choice.
Roots of Pacha
From alien planets, we’re moving to the stone age where you are challenged to be part of a small community. iscover “ideas,” domesticate crops, befriend animals, and contribute to the growth of your village
Very similar in approach to Stardew Valley, this pixelated graphics game is charming, cute and complex at the same time – offering a great experience to those looking for a Palia alternative to play solo or in co-op.
Fae Farm
A farm simulation/RPG game for up to four players, Fae Farm goes hard on the magical mechanics – and it does it well.
Craft, cultivate, and decorate to grow your homestead, and use spells to explore the enchanted island of Azoria. You will have heaps of fun!
Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos
If you’re ready to accept a slightly different approach, but one that still keeps close to the roots of Palia, this Harvest Moon game is a perfect choice for you.
Explore the wide world of Anthos with the help of your wacky inventor friend Doc Jr. and many others. Revive the Harvest Goddess and the Harvest Sprites, ride horses and meet wacky characters in this excellent single player game.
Wildmender
I didn’t know there’s such a thing, but here you have it: Wildmender is a desert gardening game with survival elements (so it has a bit of action and fighting added to Palia’s peaceful mechanics).
Start from a tiny spring and cultivate a blooming garden. Explore a vast world amid the sands and uncover its mysteries – your main goal being that of bringing life to this dying world.
As you can see above, there are plenty of great choices when it comes to Palia alternatives. What other games like Palia do you know and would like to recommend? Let us all know by commenting below – I’m always looking for great new games to play.
I also recommend checking out some of my previous articles for some cool gaming inspiration: