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In 2023, Palia launched as a new cross-platform cozy game. It’s free to play and designed to build a community of players who want to relax in a magical world. The game combines farming, foraging, puzzles, and mysteries about an ancient human civilization scattered across the land.
For almost three years, I’ve been walking on foot from Kalima Village to Bahari Bay. The maps in Palia aren’t very big, but traveling them takes a while if you’re not familiar with the layout. However, with the Royal Highlands update, we finally got horses.
The Long Road To Mounts In Palia
I recently talked with Maxwell Zierath, the production director, about the long-awaited addition of mounts, which led to the Dawnspur horses in the Royal Highlands. After three years, he said, “The real reason it took so long is pretty simple—development priorities and what we thought would be most fun for players.”
He explained that players had wanted mounts for a long time. “It was always interesting to see players debate whether mounts were really needed in the game,” he said. “Those discussions prompted our team to consider making it happen (we wanted it too!).”
While gliders can help you fly from high spots and stamina lets you climb most surfaces, sometimes you don’t want to walk for hours. In-game carriages aren’t free, and you still have to walk to a signpost to fast-travel.
“After finishing Elderwood, we talked a lot about what to do next,” Zierath said. The team learned a lot about level design through the Temple spaces and Elderwood, which inspired us to create something more meaningful.”
He added that they wanted to attract more of the cozy, community-focused players. “Many players are horse enthusiasts, but we also wanted to appeal to those looking for high-quality visuals. Palia seemed like a natural fit, especially since we were working on the Ranching skill, which pairs well with mounts.”
Inspiration Behind The Mane Characters
When working on the Royal Highlands, the biggest map so far, Zierath shared some development challenges. “The main concern was how large the map would be. We wanted to make a map suitable for the faster mounts, which meant making it bigger than anything we’d done before. That pushed our performance limits.”
Before starting on the Highlands, the team tested map performance and improved their landscape creation tools. These tests showed they weren’t limited by performance but by how much art they could produce. During development, they reshaped the map multiple times to see how much they could create.
“We were amazed at how quickly we got mounts working in Palia,” Zierath said. “Within about a week, we had something playable to explore. From those early versions to the final design, there were many funny issues—like players bouncing on horses or mini-horses popping up.”
Designing horses involves more than just choosing colors. It includes decisions about height, speed, style, and details. The team had been testing mounts behind the scenes for months before revealing them to players.
They aimed to blend fantasy with real-world horse breeds. “We wanted some horses inspired by actual breeds,” Zierath explained. While some players hope for a Clydesdale someday, the team decided to base their designs on the American Quarter Horse and Arabian, which inspired the Dawnspur and Akwinduu Thoroughbred, respectively. The Arabian’s iconic look is popular, and they also created the Phoenixfire Dawnspur, which features a fiery mane and VFX effects.
Everyone Deserves A Horse That’s Just For Them
Palia is free to play, making it easier for players to buy items from the premium store. Buying certain licenses allows for special pets or breeding features, but all players can enjoy raising livestock.
Zierath emphasized, “Everyone gets a mount—the Dawnspur. These horses can be bred to have different traits, colors, and effects. And the best part? Even free players can get one. You just need the glider to start, and then you can head to the Highlands to meet your horse.”
This keeps gameplay balanced for everyone. The team is always working on new items and features, focusing on personal expression, especially with monetization options. When asked what they’re most excited about, Zierath said, “It’s exciting to see how players will interact with mounts and what kinds of horses they’ll breed.”
As Palia’s third anniversary approaches, I asked about future updates for mounts. The team is staying tight-lipped but offered a glimpse: “Right now, we’re sticking with horse-like animals, but we have many ideas for new kinds of mounts. We’re eager to see what else the community will want to ride!”
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