One glance through the trailers makes clear that Palworld has a Cast of Expies based off Pokémon, though they are not restricted to that reference pool. As a subject of a parody game, all the Pals will likely have some resemblance to some Pokémon or 'Mon series. Surprisingly for a lot of these creatures, multiple basis come into play for their individual design elements, rather than a whole reference of one monster being the bases of one Pal
For the sake of categorizing, naming the entry and how it's based on a certain Mon /gameplay element/ character with specifics is preferred.
And please, for the sake of politeness, don't add entries just to complain.
Pals
- Lamball resembles a bipedal Wooloo. Its shape/stature, soft nature, and theme of rolling for movement and attacks also brings to mind Jigglypuff (which was also a pure normal type at first).
- Cattiva seems to be a take on the Pikaclone Mascot Mook in its body shape and marketing focus, mixed with Meowth (a small normal type bipedal cat). Its reddish coloration and weak and/or somewhat cowardly nature also alludes to Jibanyan.
- Chikipi does not resemble a Pokémon at all, but rather a Cucco from The Legend of Zelda or chickens from Harvest Moon.
- Lifmunk seems based off Pachirusu combined with, oddly enough, Terriermon.
- Foxparks seems to resemble Flareon or Vulpix as a firey fox. Its body shape, meanwhile is more in line with Nickit with its tail raised.
- Fuack seems based off the fan-made Platypet, which became a Tem from Temtem. It also harkens back to other Water-type duck Pokémon like Psyduck and Quaxly.
- Sparkit is basically Pikachu as a small bipedal feline, with elements of Raichu (its thunderbolt-shaped tail) and Electabuzz (its black zig-zag stripes) thrown in for good measure. It also seems to be based on a common practice of Mon games to make Underground Monkey variants of monsters, since it looks like an electrical Cattiva but is not an elemental variant (such as Relaxaurus Lux).
- Tanzee is a grass-elemental monkey comparable to Pansage and Grookey.
- Rooby is basically Autumn Form Deerling if it was a Fire-type Pokémon.
- Pengullet resembles Piplup. Its obsession with being able to fly is also reminiscent of Bagon, whereas its Partner Skill (shooting it out of a cannon to make it explode on contact) takes cues from the Prinnies.
- Penking is literally just Quaquaval as a penguin and a Pirate King Mook. It being The Dandy not only strengthens the similarity, but also brings to mind Dartrix.
- Jolthog, as a white and yellow electrical hedgehog, resembles Shaymin and Togedemaru. Its Cryst variant brings to mind Alolan Sandslash with its blue spines.
- Gumoss is a combination of several Pokémon, its base (a slime with small hands and a flair on its head) is based on Gulpin, but it also has the acorn cap and brown palette of Seedot, twin leaves that resemble an Applin's eyes, and Black Bead Eyes and a mouth akin to a Ditto. Its orange-ish color, stubby arms, and happy face also resembles many artists' renditions of SCP-999.
- Vixy design-wise is basically the Normal-type equivalent of Fennekin. Some Eevee is certainly thrown in too, with being a Normal-type vixen Ridiculously Cute Critter as well as feverishly popular in-universe.
- Hoocrates looks like Hoothoot, mixed with Murkrow and Honchkrow's color scheme and "hat crest".
- Teafant shares a creature basis and very similar coloration with Cufant.
- Depresso resembles the Espurr line (the large eyes, proportions and mammalian traits) and Toxel (the grouchy look on its face, and poison alignment).
- Cremis is a small fox with a neck-ruffle like Eevee, and its coloration and name are akin to Milcery and Alcremie.
- Daedream is basically just a fusion of Whimsicott and Misdreavus appearance-wise and Darkrai powers-wise. Its base body plan (a small black core to a purple cloud) also brings to mind Gastly.
- Rushoar seems to resemble another unused Pokémon design
◊. - Chillet is very self-evidently inspired by an Ice-type variant of Furret. They even have similar names! The large expressive eyes, tail pattern, visible snout, and secondary Dragon typing also encourage comparisons to Goodra.
- Nox appears to be a fusion between Espeon and Umbreon, if it were to keep its Eevee look through the evolution. Its gloomy mood and association with misfortune (via its fur) brings to mind Absol.
- Fuddler is basically Palworld's equivalent of Diglett and Drillbur, being a common mole with large claws, with the face of Tepig.
- Killamari basically a combination of Tentacool and Drifloon, with the brain-sucking capabilities of Mind Flayers, which much like its body shape, is similar to the Inkay line. It also has eyes akin to Espurr.
- Mau resembles the cut Pokémon Berurun◊, which would look something like this.
- Celaray are a dead ringer for Mantine, another flying manta ray from Pokémon.
- Direhowl seems inspired by Mightyena, though it also resembles Lycanroc.
- Tocotoco is appearance-wise a fusion of Xatu and Toucannon, and gameplay-wise they function as the resident feared Action Bomb much like the Voltorb line.
- Flopie is a fusion character of both Whimsicott and Sylveon.
- Mozzarina is a milk-producing cow like Miltank, but sports both Snorlax's body shape and sleepy face (the only difference being the Cute Little Fangs pointing down instead of up). In addition, it has a passing resemblance to the cows from Story of Seasons in its shape.
- Bristla is basically just a fusion of Bellossom, Gossifleur, and Tsareena.
- Hangyu resembles Klefki with some traits of Chimecho.
- Woolipop resembles Mareep/Flaaffy and Alcremie.
- Caprity seems to be based off Gogoat.
- Melpaca look like Story of Seasons Alpacas that share traits with Flaffy,
- Eikthyrdeer resembles Sawsbuck, albeit without the leafy antlers.
- Nitewing has design aspects resembling Braviary and Staraptor.
- Incineram combines Houndoom's patterns and typing with Zoroark's body shape and bipedal stance.
- Arsox mainly resembles a Gogoat that is Playing with Fire instead of having a Green Thumb.
- Dumud is reminiscent of Clodsire, with Sobble's frill and the facial features of Slowpoke and Slowbro. It also has the Delayed Reaction of the latter two.
- Cawgnito's hat-shaped feathers are directly based off Murkrow and Honchkrow's. Its mask-like face makes it comparible to the Spritzee line due to the Plague Doctor origin.
- Galeclaw bears a slight resemblance to Unfezant.
- Robinquill is clearly similar to Decidueye (having the same archer motif and a similar color scheme) with the avian elements removed, though the name also implies inspiration from Robin Hood. Its features and Hu Mons nature also harkens to Gallade.
- Gorirat has some resemblance to Passimian. Its fighting temperament is reminiscent of the Mankey line.
- Grintale's overall appearance and basis of the Cheshire Cat is similar to Gengar. However, its facial features are very similar to Galarian Meowth's, featuring the same yellow eyes and Cheshire Cat Grin. It also has ear design like the Skitty line and Digimon's Gatomon and a split-tail like Jibanyan's bakeneko origins. The "frayed cable" look of the tail and its thin whiskers also look like Dedenne's.
- Swee and Sweepa are actually based off of cut Pokémon Wolfman and Warwolf.
- Univolt seems to be based off Zebstrika. Its appearance as a brightly-colored electric Unicorn seems to be inspired by Electricorn.
- Pyrin seems to be inspired by Arcanine, but with the Kirin taking the place of the Shiisaa.
- Foxcicle's overall design harkens to Alolan Ninetales, with some traits of Glaceon (particularly its eyes and hair) thrown in.
- Dazzi resembles a member of the Kami Quartet, and could even pass off as a common pre-evolution of all four.
- Lunaris resembles Mega Mewtwo Y with its psychic powers, twin head-fins, and the long "pigtails". The extraterrestrial origin also brings to mind Deoxys. The Dummied Out Pal Dark Mutant, which is implied to be a subspecies of Lunaris due to it having the file-name "Mutant", has an even closer resemblance to Mewtwo Y despite the black coloration due to having a single long "ponytail" and three-toed feet instead of the legs ending in points.
- Dinossom gets its body shape and ears from Goodra, its color scheme, type and face design from Meganium, and Liligant's head flower. Its temper is reminiscent of Gyarados, as it's hard to calm down.
- Digtoise is clearly based off of Bowser with both of them being large, armored tortoises with a spike-covered Studded Shell. To further the drive home the similarities, the mining animation is a dead ringer for Bowser's Whirling Fortress attack from Super Smash Brothers.
- Tombat's base looks like a feline version of Gligar and especially Gliscor with its pose. Its wings/cape are decorated with stars like Lunala, and its ghostly fire brings to mind the Litwick line.
- Lovander seems to be based off Salazzle, minus the tail and with more trailing frills, among other details.
- Bushi's humanoid form seems to have a similar color scheme and leggings as Mawile, while its hat appears to be based on Hisuian Decidueye's. Its overall look as a wandering samurai with a large hat and an actual sword looks like Yo-kai Watch's Gleam and Sheen.
- Beakon and Ragnahawk draw inspiration from Zapdos and Galarian Zapdos respectively, with the latter's Paldeck entry even mirroring the Pokédex entry claiming that the two aren't actually related and just look similar through convergent evolution.
- Katress's witch hat and robe bear a distinct resemblance to Mismagius, another witch-themed Mon, in color and design.
- Wixen takes cues from Delphox (which Katress shares appearance-wise), being a fire-element magical Funny Animal fox.
- Vaelet seems to be inspired by Celebi.
- Verdash appears to be a cross between Cinderace and Leafeon.
- Sibelyx appears to be an icy, fuzzy moth like Frosmoth, even sharing a color scheme, but has a body and hat shape based off Nihilego and Hatterene.
- Azurobe appears to mainly be based off of Serperior and Dragonair, with some design elements taken from Suicune's streamer-like tails, Primarina's hair, and Milotic's elegant sea serpent theme.
- Cyrolinx's hands resemble Golisopod's hands.
- Blazehowl and Blazehowl Noct appears to based off of Monster Hunter's Teostra and Lunastra, respectably.
- Relaxaurus is a theropod dinosaur with Quagsire's smooth and rotund body shape, blue/indigo coloration, and bead eyes. The curled tail and pear-shaped body also suggests some inspiration from Goodra.
- Relaxaurus Lux gives it elements of Toxtricity with its electric mowhawk.
- Broncherry resembles Meganium.
- Petalia seems to be inspired by Liligant and Floette.
- Reptyro seems to be based off Heatran.
- Mammorest has some resemblance to Mamoswine, despite their typings being different (Mammorest has a Green Thumb whereas Mamoswine is An Ice Person who is Dishing Out Dirt). The sharp eyes and layer of grass along its back — from trunk to tail — also brings to mind Donphan, and the rock-like growths on its back and its color scheme resemble Torterra.
- Wumpo appears to be based on a fusion of Tangrowth and Snover.
- Warsect seems to based off of Heracross.
- Fenglope gets its color scheme and some design elements from Cobalion.
- Felbat has a striking resemblance to Darkrai, particularly in the shape of its head and legs along with its overall color scheme.
- Blazamut resembles a cross between a Behemoth and Ifrit from certain games in the Final Fantasy series, with its name referencing Bahamut, another summon from said franchise.
- Helzphyr's wings are nearly the same as Yveltal.
- Menasting's face is nearly the same as Giratina's.
- Astegon resembles a flying Aggron.
- Anubis has the same origin that Lucario has.
- Jormuntide takes cues from Gyarados and Seadramon. Its Ignis counterpart brings its shiny counterpart in mind.
- Grizzbolt takes design cues from the Elekid line, including its evolutions Electabuzz and Electivire, and has a body shape similar to Totoro. Its hefty stature and usual lax temperament is like Snorlax. Lastly, its basic design — mammalian, zigzag patterns on its bristly fur (particularly across its belly), bushy tail and large claws — make it akin to an electrical Zangoose.
- Lyleen is inspired by Liligant and Mega Gardevoir.
- Orserk appears to be Garchomp if it was themed after an electric orca instead of a ground hammerhead shark.
- Faleris seems to be based off Corviknight.
- Shadowbeak takes parts from both Silvally and Arceus, despite being a griffin-like creature. Its backstory leans more heavily on Silvally with elements of Mewtwo, as a Genetic Abomination spawned from mad science trying to make the strongest creature alive.
- Frostallion and its variant Frostallion Noct seem to take inspiration from Glastrier and Spectrier in terms of inspiration and elemental typing.
- Jetragon seems based off Salamance and Latias/Latios, while having Cyclizar's color scheme and the wings of Iron Moth/Iron Jugulis. Its high speed and ability to launch missiles brings in the idea of Monster Hunter's Valstrax.
- Bellenoir appears to be based off Mega Gardevoir.
- Dragostrophe resembles Reshiram with Zoroark's color scheme.
Humans
- The Palpagos Islands Defense Force is a blatant copy of the Japan Self-Defense Force. Marcus, their leader, is a pastiche of Dirty Cops from other games, notably Frank Tenpenny.
- Human enemies take cues from various villain teams, such as the Rayne Syndicate's MO and uniforms being modeled after Team Rocket and the Free Pals Alliance having a similar design to Team Plasma.
- Rayne Syndicate leader Zoe, with her pink-and-black punkish aesthetic and electric Signature Mon, bears a passing resemblance to Marnie from Sword and Shield. Her pink hair, twintails and punkish demeanor is also likely design-wise a call back to Junko Enoshima.
- Victor, one of the five faction leaders, has some resemblances to Satoru Gojo, including a similar black uniform and blindfold covering his eyes. Character-wise, he's basically Alexander Ashford with the personalities of Oswell Spencer, Albert Wesker, and Lucas Baker.
Other
- The various Skill Fruits used to teach Pals moves are reminiscent of Pokémon's own Technical Machine (TM) system, but their appearance is also stylized similarly to One Piece's Devil Fruits.
