Palworld has topped the 2026 game review rankings on Steam250, a result that even surprised its developer, Pocketpair. John "Bucky" Buckley, the company's Head of Publishing and PR, described it as "nothing short of a miracle" and thanked players for their response to the 1.0 version.
Palworld remained in Early Access for a long time before finally launching its 1.0 version recently. Following this major update, the game continues to maintain high popularity on Steam; according to current user review rankings on Steam250, it ranks higher than games released in 2026 such as Valheim.
Buckley expressed that Pocketpair was impressed by the player response to the full release. He also addressed the criticism Palworld faced during development, noting that although debates surrounding the game continue, sales and user reviews have already demonstrated players' attitudes.
When discussing game awards, Buckley joked that Palworld might not receive any nominations. He stated that Pocketpair would not change its approach because of this and would continue focusing on game development; however, he personally would feel disappointed if the game went unrecognized.
Currently, Palworld still boasts a substantial player base and high user reviews on Steam following its 1.0 launch. Whether it will receive nominations or awards at the 2026 game awards remains uncertain.