Yes, I finally did it. Clicking on that sweet purchase button was the best thing I did all week, aside from cooking some fried eggs for breakfast. I was hooked, Disney Dreamlight Valley was the remedy I needed for an exhausting week at work. I find myself quickly turning on my PC just to complete those quests bit by bit, even hitting a small goal makes me feel so satisfied.
For a couple of years, I have found simulation games help ease up my mental health, and with a new addition to my library I could take it up a notch. But Disney Dreamlight Valley just hits differently, it feels a whole less stressful when playing the game because of the feel-good goals and simplicity of the overall gameplay.
Disney Dreamlight Valley is a cosy life-simulator and adventure game about living with your favorite Disney characters. Fend off ‘The Forgetting’ which is spreading Night Thorns everywhere in the valley, causing the inhabitants to disappear or lose their memory. Conveniently, you possess magical powers to banish the Night Thorns and restore peace and livelihood to the valley with the help of a witty advisor.
Regardless of the ominous presence lurking around the valley, players would still find a variety of peaceful exploration, harvesting, and collecting resources among other activities. I’ve spent close to 30 minutes exploring the valley without realizing I haven’t touched any of the quests given to me, and it is worth every second of it.
Aside from exploring the valley like a fiery explorer, there’s a plethora of tasks – fishing, mining, foraging, treasure hunting, and growing crops, to name a few – that contribute to your overall quest progress, and your finances. Resources gathered could be used to craft items, cook food, or be sold for a quick buck. Goofy will usually cut you a good deal at his vegetable stall, so it feels great to save up for that sweet-looking outfit you’ve been eyeing at Scrooge McDuck’s shop or just a house upgrade.
Another perspective of the game is the extremely diverse cast of characters, it made me want to “unlock” more characters to interact with. Dialogues with the valley inhabitants never get boring, especially Merlin, who is your chief advisor in your quest to revive the valley. Growing up as a Disney fan, I have my fair share of understanding of each character’s personality, so interacting with them did not feel as stale as I thought it would, they share their feelings, their past experiences, and sometimes, their love-hate relationship for each other, but they keep it such a way that it’s humorous yet entertaining for both children and adult alike.
The music used in the game would immediately pull any diehard fan back to the franchise, it strung up memories of my childhood. The environment and graphics bring about a sense of familiarity, but not to a point where it gets boring or it feels one-dimensional. Disney and Gameloft have truly created a masterpiece of a game. Dreamlight Valley may be a bit too much for those who are unfamiliar with the Disney franchise, but it still brings value by not keeping the story overly complex to understand, and it’s more than just obscure fan service.
The quests in Dreamlight Valley are mostly divided into main, side, and friendship quests. Mostly they require you to collect several items or complete several simple tasks. It may take a little patience to complete them, but the progression is what keeps me coming back for more. It gives a certain sense of satisfaction while the idea of unlocking more of the main storyline entices me to stay up until the wee hours.
Disney Dreamlight Valley will be a free-to-play video game for everyone in 2023, but keen players can opt-in for Early Access on PC, Playstation, and Nintendo Switch. Xbox users can utilize the Xbox Game Pass to gain Early Access too.
Overall, Disney Dreamlight Valley has proven to be an entirely pleasant experience, and I enjoyed every second poured into the game. It brings me so much joy to progressively unlock content little by little while saving up to buy some of my favorite costumes in Scrooge’s shop. It brings back the fantasy I lived as a kid with all the magic and wonders of the Disney franchise. It offered me peace and serenity and an escape from my daily hectic lifestyle, at least I don’t feel stressed exploring the different biomes of the valley. I can see myself indulging in these fantasies for an extended period.
Disney Dreamlight Valley
Publisher: Gameloft
Developer: Gameloft
Available on: PC, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
This review is based on the PC version of this game.
I game, I write, and I game even more. Sometimes my cat jumps on my keyboard.
Review Score
Score - 9.5
9.5
Recommended
Disney Magic!
