As Disney Dreamlight Valley keeps expanding its character lineup, both players and Gameloft need to remember that there’s only so much animated content Disney can offer. This means that eventually, the game may need to look beyond Walt Disney Animation and Pixar Studios to find new characters. Instead of turning to blockbuster live-action franchises like Star Wars or the Marvel Cinematic Universe, sticking with something closer to Disney’s traditional roots—like the Descendants series—might be a smarter move for Disney Dreamlight Valley.
The Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOMS) and other animated series from the channel are filled with content that the game’s audience would instantly recognize. These shows often contain fantastical themes, making them a more fitting choice for Disney Dreamlight Valley than, say, non-fantasy live-action series like Hannah Montana. Among the top contenders from the Disney Channel portfolio, Descendants stands out as one of the most successful DCOM franchises, making it an ideal addition to Disney Dreamlight Valley.
The Descendants series introduces us to the children of well-known Disney characters, specifically focusing on the offspring of villains like Maleficent (daughter Mal), the Evil Queen (daughter Evie), Jafar (son Jay), and Cruella DeVille (son Carlos). These children, isolated since birth on the Isle of the Lost, get a chance to join society thanks to Prince Ben—the son of Belle and Beast—who invites them to Auradon Prep, a prestigious school on the mainland. At first, their villainous parents urge them to continue on a villainous path, but throughout the first movie, these kids begin to turn over a new leaf. This series, comprising three main films and a prequel titled Descendants: The Rise of Red that debuted in summer 2024 on Disney+, showcases a similar redemptive arc for villains, much like Disney Dreamlight Valley.
Fans of Disney Dreamlight Valley will find the storyline in Descendants familiar. The game emphasizes transforming villains, though it allows players the final say in whether to redeem these once-evil characters. This shared theme of redemption is a compelling reason to consider integrating Descendants into the game’s universe.
Integrating the Descendants characters into Disney Dreamlight Valley may present some concerns, especially for players wary of live-action stories or alternate versions of existing characters. Still, Descendants could sidestep these issues wisely. The animated spin-off, Descendants: Wicked World, can provide the necessary design framework, preserving the distinctive animated style that players love. In fact, opting to adapt a live-action property without an animated reference might disrupt the character designs, which is where Wicked World becomes invaluable.
Two out of the four villain offspring have parents currently in the game—or ones that are expected to join soon. Jafar appeared in the A Rift in Time Expansion, and Maleficent is set to make an entrance in the second chapter of the Storybook Vale expansion this summer. Importantly, these characters are drawn from their original stories, not the Descendants universe. By introducing a dedicated Descendants Realm, developers can clearly differentiate these characters from their classic versions in the game.
Disney Dreamlight Valley’s narrative flexibility also allows room to explain varying character versions. While departures from Walt Disney Animation and Pixar Studios might not be on the immediate horizon, incorporating the Descendants universe into Disney Dreamlight Valley seems like a natural fit.
