Since its release in January 2024, Palworld has often drawn comparisons to Pokémon, the world’s leading creature-catching franchise. Despite Pocketpair’s denial of intentional copying, some of Palworld’s creatures have closely resembled Pokémon, blurring the line between inspiration and imitation.
Foxcicle, the newest Pal added to Palworld, has further fueled this debate. Inspired by the Japanese mythological figure Kitsune, Foxcicle bears striking similarities to Pokémon’s Ninetails and Glaceon. Fans have pointed out its resemblance to the Ice-type Glaceon, as well as the Gen 7 Ice and Fairy-type Alolan Ninetales.
The announcement of Foxcicle has sparked mixed reactions from players. Some have accused Pocketpair of being unoriginal, while others have defended the company’s right to draw inspiration from existing creatures. One player commented, “Sure you can copy my homework, just don’t make it obvious…”, echoing the sentiments of many.
Despite the similarities to Pokémon, Palworld offers its own unique gameplay experience, focusing on base-building and battling Pals. Upon its release, Palworld became an instant hit, selling over 25 million copies and generating over $1 billion in revenue. It has proven that there is a market for creature-catching games beyond Nintendo’s platforms, although it is unlikely that Pokémon will ever release on a non-Nintendo console.
