I have a confession to make: I booted up Palworld expecting Pokémon with guns, and I stayed because it kept whispering sweet nothings to my inner Tarnished. Back when Palworld first blew up on Steam, it didn't just beat Cyberpunk 2077 and Hogwarts Legacy in peak concurrent players—it also smashed past Elden Ring's Steam peak. That's no small feat, and in 2026, the game still has that same intoxicating mix of survival crafting, creature collecting, and open-world chaos. But the more I wander its map, the more I realize Pocketpair didn't just borrow from Pokémon and ARK: Survival Evolved. The studio also left a trail of Elden Ring Easter eggs that would make even the most jaded Soulslike veteran do a double-take.

I'm not saying Palworld is a Soulslike. It's not. You don't lose your Pals on death and have to run back through a fog gate—though some boss fights come close. What I am saying is that Palworld's open world is absolutely cooked with FromSoftware references, and once you see them, you can't unsee them. The proof is in the pudding, and the pudding is bright red and full of high-level nightmares.

The Red Zone That Screams Caelid

The clearest homage is the Caelid-like zone northwest of the Rayne Syndicate Tower. If you've played Elden Ring, you know Caelid: the rot-infested, red-tinted hellscape east of Limgrave where everything wants you dead. Palworld has its own version, and when I first stumbled into it, my fight-or-flight response kicked in hard. The land is painted in that same sickly crimson, and the vibe screams 'turn back.' The difference? Palworld's Caelid is way more forgiving at low levels. I didn't get one-shot by a giant dog or a rot-breathing dragon. Still, the visual callback is unmistakable. It's like Pocketpair said, 'Let's make Caelid, but with more cute critters and fewer scarlet rot deaths.'

Churches, Churches, and More Churches

Inside that region, I found the Desolate Church, a ruined cathedral that looks like it was ripped straight from Elden Ring's church assets. Similar ruins dot Palworld's map, suggesting the world once had a thriving religion—maybe a Church of Marika equivalent. In Elden Ring, churches like the Church of Pilgrimage, Church of Irith, and Church of the Plague are where you grab Sacred Tears to upgrade your flasks. In Palworld, these churches are mostly set dressing. They're less 'holy site' and more 'hey, remember Elden Ring?' But honestly? I'm here for it. As a normal player, I love when a game winks at another game without turning into a full-blown copycat.

Sealed Realms Are Basically Evergaols

Then there are the Sealed Realms. In Elden Ring, Evergaols are those circular arenas with a glowing center that suck you into a pocket dimension for a boss fight. Palworld has the same idea: a large arena-like disk, a glowing light, and a one-way ticket to a high-level Pal boss. These fights hit different. They're the closest Palworld gets to a true Soulslike showdown, and I've lost more than a few hours—and Pals—trying to clear them. If you're a Tarnished who also loves catching cute critters, this is your crossover episode. Just don't expect a Site of Grace before the boss door. You get a loading screen and a prayer.

Elden Ring Reference	Palworld Counterpart	My Take
Caelid	Red zone northwest of Rayne Syndicate Tower	Gorgeous, terrifying, but not as punishing
Churches	Desolate Church and other ruins	Pure fanservice, no Sacred Tears
Evergaols	Sealed Realms	Boss fights that feel straight out of a Souls game

Why This Still Matters in 2026

Now, as of 2026, Palworld has been in early access for a while, and it's grown a lot. More Pals, more islands, more quality-of-life updates, and a community that never stops digging. But these Elden Ring references are still there, and they still make me smile. Since the game is still evolving, I wouldn't be surprised if Pocketpair adds even more Easter eggs in future updates. The community is always datamining, and every patch seems to hide something new. If you're exploring Palworld's open world, keep your eyes peeled. You might find a reference that makes you say, 'Wait, that's Caelid.' And if you do, don't panic. Just tame a Grizzbolt and pretend you meant to walk into the nightmare zone.

At the end of the day, Palworld isn't trying to be Elden Ring. It's a survival-crafting creature-collector with a goofy streak and a gun-toting sense of humor. The Pokémon comparisons have been controversial, but the FromSoftware nods feel more like a loving homage than a ripoff. For a normal player like me, that's the best kind of Easter egg: one that rewards you for paying attention. So go ahead, boot up Palworld, build a base, and take a stroll through the red zone. Just don't expect a Site of Grace to save you. No cap. 😎