Unlocking Potential: How the Descendants Franchise Could Elevate Disney Dreamlight Valley

As Disney Dreamlight Valley keeps adding new characters, it’s essential for both players and Gameloft to remember that Disney’s animated classics won’t last forever. When the well runs dry, the game might look beyond Walt Disney Animation and Pixar for fresh faces. Instead of automatically turning to massive franchises like Star Wars or the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it might be wiser to stick with something more true to Disney’s core essence—like the Descendants franchise.

Disney Channel Original Movies and various animated series are treasure troves of content that would strike a familiar chord with Disney Dreamlight Valley’s audience. These productions are steeped in fantasy and magical elements, much more fitting for the game than, say, a non-fantastical live-action series like Hannah Montana. With its status as one of the top-earning Disney Channel franchises, Descendants seems like an ideal candidate for expansion.

The story of Descendants revolves around the offspring of well-known Disney characters, particularly the children of villains like Maleficent’s daughter Mal, the Evil Queen’s daughter Evie, Jafar’s son Jay, and Cruella DeVille’s son Carlos. These kids grow up isolated on the Isle of the Lost, until Prince Ben—the progeny of Belle and the Beast—invites them to join society at Auradon Prep, a prestigious mainland school. Encouraged by their villainous parents to uphold their wicked ways, the kids ultimately choose a different path as they navigate their new environment. The saga includes three main films and a prequel, Descendants: The Rise of Red, which premiered on Disney+ in summer 2024.

Fans of Disney Dreamlight Valley are likely to draw parallels between the redemptive arcs of Mal and her friends and the themes in the game itself. Like Descendants, Disney Dreamlight Valley frequently focuses on the transformation of villains, giving players the option to redeem these characters if they wish. This thematic resonance makes Descendants a fitting addition, further reinforcing one of the game’s central motifs.

Incorporating Descendants into Disney Dreamlight Valley might initially raise eyebrows due to its live-action origins and association with characters already in the game. However, there are compelling reasons to overcome these hesitations. For instance, Descendants: Wicked World could provide a foundation for the characters’ animated designs, given the game’s history with stylized character portrayals. Working from an animated reference like Wicked World helps avoid the pitfalls of translating live-action characters, ensuring they fit seamlessly into the game’s aesthetic.

Currently, two of the Isle of the Lost’s children have parents who are part of the game or expected to join soon—Jafar appears in the A Rift in Time Expansion Pass and Maleficent is set to debut in the Storybook Vale expansion. These portrayals align with their original stories, not the Descendants narrative. Establishing a dedicated Descendants Realm could provide a distinct space for these new characters, keeping clear boundaries from existing ones.

Disney Dreamlight Valley’s underlying lore also provides a narrative vehicle for introducing multiple versions of characters. While the game might not be venturing beyond Walt Disney Animation and Pixar anytime soon, the Descendants franchise presents a solid case for consideration.