What should you build first?

A workbench, Pal Spheres, a bed, a campfire and a feed box — in roughly that order — so you can catch Pals and keep them working.

Where should the first base go?

Somewhere flat with wood, stone and an ore node in range, ideally near a fast travel point.

When should you start breeding?

Once your base is stable and you have a Breeding Farm plus cake ingredients, usually well before the mid game.

Progression

How do you start playing Palworld?

Answer

Start by gathering wood and stone, crafting a Pal Sphere workbench and a few Spheres, and catching several low-level Pals. Place your Palbox somewhere with wood, stone and ore nearby, build a bed, campfire and feed box, then assign your first workers before pushing outward to towers and dungeons.

Quick answer

Gather materials, craft Spheres, catch a handful of Pals, then plant your Palbox somewhere with wood, stone and ore in range. Add a bed, campfire and feed box, assign workers, and only then start exploring towards towers and dungeons.

The first hour, in order

Gather by hand. Wood and stone from the starting area are enough to unlock your first technologies.
Craft the workbench and Pal Spheres. Catching is the core loop; you want Spheres constantly.
Catch everything early. Low-level Pals give technology points and become your first workers, even the ones you will not keep.
Place the Palbox deliberately. A base with trees, rocks and an ore node inside the radius saves hours of hauling.
Build the essentials. Bed, campfire, feed box, then a berry plantation once you can spare the materials.
Assign your workers. Cover kindling, handiwork, mining and watering as early as you can.

What to prioritise after that

Fast travel. Activate every statue you walk past; the interactive map shows where they all are.
A mount. Overland travel without one is painfully slow.
Technology points. Level-ups and new Pal captures are the main source, so keep catching.
Ore. Almost every mid-game craft is gated behind ingots, so a mining base pays for itself.

Start breeding sooner than you think

New players often treat breeding as end-game content, but it is one of the strongest early accelerators: a Breeding Farm and a supply of cake lets you turn two mediocre Pals into a much better worker or mount. Plan the pairs with the breeding calculator rather than guessing, and use the path finder when your target needs more than one generation.

Frequently asked questions

What should you build first?: A workbench, Pal Spheres, a bed, a campfire and a feed box — in roughly that order — so you can catch Pals and keep them working.
Where should the first base go?: Somewhere flat with wood, stone and an ore node in range, ideally near a fast travel point.
When should you start breeding?: Once your base is stable and you have a Breeding Farm plus cake ingredients, usually well before the mid game.