Disney Dreamlight Valley

Verdict: Recommended Best for players who: Love cozy games like Stardew Valley, Palia, Sun Haven or Fields of Mistria. Disney fans, decorators, completionists and Sims players looking for something relaxing with seemingly endless things to work toward will probably find a lot to love here. Skip if you: Need games to have a clear ending or dislike repetitive tasks, resource gathering and the occasional grind. If the general cozy life sim formula does nothing for you, Dreamlight Valley probably will not change your mind. Final Review: I bought Disney Dreamlight Valley on July 29 and somehow already have 184.9 hours in it. I know, I know. The simplest way I can describe it is Stardew Valley with Disney characters, easier fishing and a whole lot more magic. It has quickly become one of the best games I have ever played and I can genuinely see myself putting thousands of hours into it. What surprised me most is how much heart it has. There are wholesome emotional journeys that occasionally dig a little deeper than I expected. The game is full of positive messages and gentle reminders about self care while still acknowledging that life is not always sunshine and rainbows. Some of the writing feels like it is quietly teaching real life lessons without turning them into a lecture. It came into my life at the right time and has been tugging on my heart strings in the most magical way. It also manages to make Disney characters and worlds feel much more personal than I expected. At times it feels like experiencing Disney movies from the inside, including movies I have never even seen. It is almost like walking through a live action Disney World that happens to be partly animated. The everyday gameplay is generally very relaxed. Fishing is easy, farming does not feel overly complicated and gathering nearby resources is usually simple. Fast travel is an absolute lifesaver, especially once you have a lot going on around the valley. Companions are a life saver. That does not mean everything is perfect. Some quests and realms can become a little grindy, especially when they require specific resources. Character positioning can also be annoying. Companions sometimes stand exactly where you need to interact and the distance between your character and an object or another character can occasionally make interactions more awkward than they need to be. I would also love more adjustable settings around gathering and interaction behavior. Performance has been solid for me overall with only minor issues and the game feels extremely polished. Mind you, I'm playing on a laptop while my much more powerful PC is in the shop. The visuals are beautiful and the music is excellent. I also really appreciate the inclusion of a streamer mode for people creating content who need to be mindful of copyrighted music. As for value, I think it is worth full price. I originally picked it up because I wanted something different and cozy and happened to get a good deal, but after this much time with it I would have been perfectly happy paying full price. I have over 6,000 hours in The Sims 4 and Dreamlight Valley is one of the first games that has made me think I could eventually put that kind of time into something else. Had I started playing this when it first released, maybe I could have saved myself a few hundred dollars in Sims DLC while continuing to wait for spiral staircases. Alas. There is no traditional ending here and that is part of the appeal. You can play at your own pace, decorate, collect, quest, explore or simply spend time with characters you love. I have never felt like the game was wasting my time. There is always something I want to do next. It is simply magical. Also, Disney, please make this into a movie or series. I would watch it immediately.