Disney Dreamlight Valleywill be moving in a new plot direction following the redemption of The Forgotten and the conclusion of theA Rift in Timeexpansion. An image appearing in the end credits ofA Rift in Timehints at the future ofDisney Dreamlight Valley’sstory, although it does not confirm whether that story will be told in free updates or paid expansions. However, if theA Rift in Timehint does prove true,Disney Dreamlight Valleywill have to be careful not to simply repeat a story already told in theKingdom Heartsseries.
Dreamlight Valley’s Potential Villain Team-Up Resembles Kingdom Hearts
In the firstKingdom Heartsgame, protagonist Sora initially faced down an alliance of Disney villains led by Maleficent fromSleeping Beautyand including Hades fromHercules,Captain Hook fromPeter Pan,Jafar fromAladdin,Ursula fromThe Little Mermaid,and Oogie Boogie fromThe Nightmare Before Christmas.Although later games in the series chose to focus instead on original villains such asOrganization XIII, Maleficent continued to play an antagonistic role, working with Mickey’s nemesis Pete, Scar fromThe Lion King,and many others.
The image shown briefly at the end ofA Rift in Timeshows Maleficent and Hades facing one another in front of an open storybook. It is unclear whether they are collaborating or opposing one another, but the positioning does seem to indicate that they will appear together. This definitely evokes thoughts ofKingdom Hearts’villain team-up, especially with Jafar recently serving as the primary antagonist ofA Rift in Time.
How Dreamlight Valley Can Avoid Copying Kingdom Hearts
In the two years since its launch,Disney Dreamlight Valleyhas done a good job setting itself apart from other Disney-themed video games via its cozy atmosphere, consistent updates, and a wide variety of included characters. Even if aMaleficent-Hades villain team-upis indeed on the horizon,Dreamlight Valleycan set its plot apart fromKingdom Hearts’Villain Alliance in several ways.
Continue Including Original Villains
Dreamlight Valley’sinitial plot focused onThe Forgotten, an original character who had once ruled the Valley before falling to darkness and despair. The Forgotten’s story was generally praised for its uniqueness and handling of important subjects like depression. Including more characters like The Forgotten will helpDisney Dreamlight Valleykeep its own identity.
Don’t Rely On Retelling Movie Events
LaterKingdom Heartstitles drew criticism for focusing closely on retelling movie plots entirely - most notably, fans disliked the in-game inclusion of the entire “Let it Go” musical number fromFrozeninKingdom Hearts 3. Disney Dreamlight Valleyhas so far avoided this - while Jafar did wish to conquer Eternity Isle inA Rift in Time,the story focused on him as a learned vizier and alchemist who conducted many experiments, an often-ignored element of his character. While he was briefly trapped in a lamp, he never became a genie as he did in both the original films andKingdom Hearts.
Alternate Villainous And Redeemed Disney Antagonists
Due to its status as a cozy life simulator,Disney Dreamlight Valleyallows all characters, even villains, to eventually move into the Valley. This has allowed the game to give different roles to different villains - whileJafarand Mother Gothel have been antagonists, Ursula is a generally helpful member of the community, and Gaston was a fully heroic presence inA Rift in Time.Even Scar has been able to coexist with Simba, with his “villainy” limited to occasional attempts to chow down on Donald Duck.Dreamlight Valleyshould continue this trend, letting some villains have their time in the antagonistic spotlight while others adjust easily to Village life as grumpy but willing allies.
Disney Dreamlight Valley
WHERE TO PLAY
Disney Dreamlight Valley is a hybrid between a life-sim and an adventure game rich with quests, exploration, and engaging activities featuring Disney and Pixar friends, both old and new.Once an idyllic land, Dreamlight Valley was a place where Disney and Pixar characters lived in harmony—until the Forgetting. Night Thorns grew across the land and severed the wonderful memories tied to this magical place. With nowhere else to go, the hopeless inhabitants of Dreamlight Valley retreated behind locked doors in the Dream Castle.Now it’s up to you to discover the stories of this world and bring the magic back to Dreamlight Valley.Free the Dream Castle from the insidious grip of the Forgetting, and unlock the unique Realms of well-loved Disney and Pixar characters, including great queens and kings such as Anna and Simba. Each Realm contains unique challenges with puzzles to solve in the quest to bring friendship back to the Valley.You’ll start your adventure in the Valley, but your journey will take you to infinity… and beyond! Explore what lurks in the Forest of Valor and brave the deepest caverns as you take on challenges from iconic Disney and Pixar heroes and villains. Who knows who—or what—you might discover.
