Developer Pocketpair has unveiled Palworld! More Than Just Pals, a dating sim set in the universe of their hugely successful monster-catching game. And no, this isn't an April Fools' Day prank (though, given the timing, you might be forgiven for thinking so).

On March 31, the team behind the 2024 hit Palworld — often dubbed a Pokémon-like survival experience — announced their intention to add a dash of romance to their lineup. While this news might typically be taken at face value, the imminent arrival of April 1st and its tradition of fake game reveals and bizarre announcements have left fans skeptical.

Palworld! More Than Just Pals promises to be a unique addition to Pocketpair's universe. The game invites players to enroll as a transfer student at Palagos Private Academy, where they can befriend and potentially fall in love with a diverse cast of student Pals. The official Steam page introduces characters such as the "cute" and "mysterious" Katress and the "timid" Chillet, drawing names directly from Palworld's creature roster.

"You, the protagonist, enroll as a transfer student in the prestigious Palagos Private Academy," Pocketpair's official description states. "You will meet unique friends (pals) and enjoy school life through friendship and romance. It's up to you whether you stay friends with the pals, develop romantic relationships with them, or even dismember and eat them."

This doesn't concern April Fools :)

— Bucky | Palworld (@Bucky_cm) March 31, 2025

As Palworld marked its one-year anniversary in January, it continues to evolve with new updates. These updates, including crossplay support, Blueprint upgrades, photo mode, and more, should help tide fans over until Palworld! More Than Just Pals arrives. Meanwhile, those dreaming of a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Palworld have a glimmer of hope, but even if a Switch port doesn't materialize, there's always the possibility that Palworld! More Than Just Pals might make its way to the console in the future.