I don’t see the appeal either but this is sometimes what works and pushes a field forward : remixing ideas and techniques into something that feels new. Not that it’s what happened with palworld since any description of this game must rely on references to other games instead of allowing it to exist on its own.

(Also I’m not talking about the creative drought and inability to create something on their own, which they showcase through their products in terms of art direction… Just that some games were considered innovative because they merged the right ideas together, this applies to other art fields too but it’s too late for me to think up an example)