RimWorld was cited as a major inspiration for Palworld’s colony-simulation elements.
Pocketpair discussed the idea of making the colony-sim aspect of RimWorld more interesting in a three-dimensional world. That influence appears in Palworld’s bases, assigned work, production chains, resource management, and the use of creatures as active contributors to a settlement.
RimWorld is a science-fiction colony simulator in which players manage survivors stranded on a procedurally generated planet. Colonists have skills, traits, needs, and relationships, while an AI storyteller generates crises and changing situations. Palworld translates some of that management appeal into an action-oriented open world where players personally explore, fight, build, and organize Pals.
RimWorld is not the only cited influence. Dwarf Fortress helped shape the broader colony-simulation tradition, while Factorio is associated with automation and production. The question asks for the game specifically identified as a major inspiration for Palworld, making RimWorld the canonical answer.