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Developed and published by Gameloft. Dreamlight Valley is a simulation/adventure game released on September 6, 2022 on Playstation 4/5, Xbox One, Series S/X, and PC.
Move over Animal Crossing
Is there anything more satisfying in gaming than a well-executed simulation video game? The popularity of simulation has increased in recent years. Such as Stardew Valley, Story Of Seasons and Power Wash Simulator. But taking the crown at Animal Crossing in family-friendly games is something no one has managed to do. Now we have Dreamlight Valley conquering the hearts of gamers, but is it really that good?
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Gameplay
The story of Dreamlight Valley tells us about the idyllic town Dreamlight Valley that lived in harmony before the forgetting took place. A kind of curse that spreads through the city, leaving nightthorns in its wake. These night thorns also cut through the local residents’ memories, so it’s up to you to restore the city and get rid of the curse forever.
Disney/Pixar and real-time simulation are a mix made in heaven. The idea of helping restore a city with some of Disney’s favorites was something we only dreamed of as kids, but Dreamlight Valley hits the spot. Fishing, planting a garden, building and decorating a house are all part of playing this game.
What makes Dreamlight Valley stand out among others in the same genre is the fact that the entire gameplay takes place in real time. That means if you play at midnight and it’s raining outside. Then it is also midnight and it is also raining in the match. Such gameplay can have its advantages, but it can also have its drawbacks.
When it comes to quests, it really is a game that just doesn’t stop. You will never get bored of things to do. Whether it’s helping the city’s residents, tending your garden, decorating your home or just going fishing. The possibilities are endless and you could easily put more hours into it than you might think. It’s not just about doing quests for other characters, though.
Each character has a level and the more you do for that person, it will upgrade, giving you more opportunities later on. Resources and money are generally easy to find, so you should have no problem with that. There is one problem you will encounter in: Dreamlight Valley and that’s the camera. Sometimes it feels like fighting the camera to get around the map. Plus, there’s the fact that you can’t run.
While this may not be a problem for some people, I personally find it incredibly slow to walk around everywhere. The ability to run would make the game better and also make it move at a faster pace.
Graphics and audio
In the first few days of release, the game had many graphical flaws. It takes a while to load textures, long loading screens, random objects and crops. But luckily the developers have given the game an update and it now plays a lot smoother. As for the graphics, they are generally great. Bright and colorful, but also not too bright that they feel like they are burning your eyes. All the Disney and Pixar characters look exactly like they do in the movies.
The audio is the only real downside of Dreamlight Valley. Each character has only a few lines of dialogue and they sound like their movie counterparts. 95% of the dialogue is in text form. If the game were fully voiced, you would feel more for the characters. But reading the text just seems like a chore and usually you skip it because the speed at which it scrolls forward is painfully slow.
Lifespan
As Dreamlight Valley is a real time simulator, the playing time all depends on how much effort you want to put into the game. The game can last for years as there are always things to do and do. An hour can easily turn into thirty hours. Then that could be a month. Especially since missions and activities are reset every day, so there’s always something to go back and do.
But it is a game that is impossible to do in one sitting. While it is done in real time. The idea is to follow yourself and not exhaust yourself because you are here for the long haul.
Final Thought
My final thoughts on Dreamlight Valley are that the game has built up some speed after a shaky start and is a fun game to play for a few hours. The nostalgia is there for Disney fans with the likes of Goofy and Minnie Mouse. Then there’s the appeal for the new generation with Moana and Frozen. It has the potential to be really addictive if Disney adds new characters sometime in the future like Star Wars then it will definitely take a place in the hearts of gamers.
With that in mind, I’m going to give Dreamlight Valley the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Disclaimer: A code was received to write this review.
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