Get Ready to Saddle Up: Palia Introduces Realistic Horses in New Expansion

If you’re a fan of games with horses, then you’ll be excited to hear that Palia is stepping up its game! The upcoming expansion, titled The Royal Highlands, is set to roll out on May 12, and it’s bringing a feature that players have long been hoping for: the introduction of mounts—in particular, horses! Unlike typical mounts that merely act as a speed boost, Palia is giving horses a unique spin that’s got even the most devoted equestrian gamers intrigued.

The Royal Highlands expansion boasts the largest adventure zone the game has seen so far, alongside a charming new villager named Eshelon. This update will also include fresh furniture styles and ranches for your home plot, but the real star of the show are the three new breeds of horses that will be available.

One exciting aspect showcased in Singularity 6’s reveal video is a speed meter that accurately reflects different horse gaits. We’re talking about a realistic transition through various movements—walk, canter, and gallop! While I’m no horse expert, it’s refreshing to see a game paying attention to these details. Unlike many MMOs where mounts don’t drastically alter gameplay, Palia promises various gaits and traits that impact how each horse operates. For instance, there’s a breed known as “Bulldozer,” which is faster but has a tougher time turning.

Back at your ranch, you won’t just be riding your horses; you can also feed and pet them! While this may seem standard for horse care games, the breeding system goes above and beyond. Players can produce mounts with unique traits, some of which are quite realistic—like a shiny chestnut coat—while others offer more fantastical elements, such as sparkly effects or special status buffs. It’s probably the closest we’ll get to a proper horse ranching update that fans have been wishing for in other titles like Red Dead Online.

When the expansion drops, players can look forward to three fictional horse breeds: the Dawnspur, Phoenixfire Dawnspur, and the Arabian-inspired Akwinduu Thoroughbred. It seems like the developers are hinting at more mount types and horse breeds in the future, as they mentioned “starting with horses” in the reveal.

But wait, there’s more! Palia has a lot in store this season, with a roadmap detailing an in-game event celebrating a milestone of 10 million players, as well as an upcoming “sunkissed summer” event. So saddle up and get ready for an exciting new chapter in Palia!