The Descendants Series: A Hidden Treasure for Disney Dreamlight Valley

As Disney Dreamlight Valley continues to introduce new characters to its lineup, both players and Gameloft are bound to eventually feel the limitations of Disney’s animated offerings. One day, the game might need to explore additions from outside Walt Disney Animation and Pixar Studios. Instead of venturing into realms like Star Wars or the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), a more fitting choice might be to delve into a franchise like Descendants, keeping close to Disney’s original essence.

The Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOMs) and other animated projects from Disney Channel deliver content that resonates well with Disney Dreamlight Valley’s audience. These productions are often steeped in fantasy, making them a better fit than live-action shows without fantastical elements, like Hannah Montana. Standing out among DCOMs, Descendants provides a perfect opportunity for character additions thanks to its fantastic success and thematic richness.

In the world of Descendants, audiences follow the children of iconic Disney villains. The story centers on Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos, offspring of Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Jafar, and Cruella DeVille, respectively. Born and raised on the villainous Isle of the Lost, they are invited by Prince Ben, the son of Belle and the Beast, to integrate into society through Auradon’s prestigious school, Auradon Prep. These young villains are initially encouraged to follow their parents’ footsteps, but they ultimately choose redemption. The franchise has three main films and a prequel, Descendants: The Rise of Red, which debuted on Disney+ in the summer of 2024.

Players who enjoy Disney Dreamlight Valley will likely appreciate the parallels in Descendants’ redemption storyline. The game also offers players the chance to redeem villainous characters, aligning with Descendants’ core themes. This makes the inclusion of Descendants characters particularly suitable for reinforcing this aspect of the game.

Some players might be hesitant about incorporating a live-action property or characters that present different interpretations of those already seen within Disney Dreamlight Valley. These reservations are valid, yet Descendants deftly avoids these pitfalls. The animated series Descendants: Wicked World can serve as the design basis, allowing character designs to mesh seamlessly with the game’s style. This point is crucial because animated references provide a consistent design quality, avoiding potential mismatches that could arise from adapting live-action properties.

Currently, two of the four Descendants characters already have their villainous parents either appearing in Disney Dreamlight Valley or slated to join soon. Jafar has entered the scene through the A Rift in Time Expansion Pass, and Maleficent is set to appear in the upcoming Storybook Vale expansion. These appearances are rooted in their original stories, not the Descendants universe. Introducing a Descendants Realm could effectively delineate these new characters from their existing counterparts, maintaining clarity within the game.

Disney Dreamlight Valley’s lore adeptly handles multiple character versions, making it plausible to branch out without forsaking its roots in Walt Disney Animation and Pixar Studios. Adding Descendants to Disney Dreamlight Valley seems to be not only a feasible idea but a compelling one.