When you have a life sim, especially one with season passes and events geared toward special occasions, they can become especially entertaining around the holidays. Disney Dreamlight Valley is a good example. At an initial glance, it might seem like a perfect example just because of the new events or quests. Like Animal Crossing, there are seasonal activities. For example, the Festive Star Path kicked off on December 6, 2022, with cosmetic items like clothing, furniture, motifs, and pets. There are also special quests that involve things like building a snowman and baking cookies. But it’s about more than that. Everything about the game lends itself to being a perfect holiday game.
This time of years is when everyone gets some downtime. Due to the conglomeration of holidays, even if someone doesn’t celebrate one, a number are “off” because of the happy coincidence. Which is one of the reasons why Disney Dreamlight Valley is such a good game for the holiday season. People have time to play it properly. Ideally, it is something you should check in with every day, though a few times each week is also fine. There’s a level of investment required, but not in a massive play session sort of way. But since it is a life sim, it might be intimidating to start it at a busier time of year. So when someone days have a few days in succession with nothing to really “do,” it fits well into a “I can spend an hour making really good progress today” sort of niche.
There’s also a sense of nostalgia and comfort that comes from playing not only an Animal Crossing-like life sim, but a game filled with familiar Disney movie faces. All of the faces are comforting, friendly ones. Upon first moving in, characters like Mickey, Goofy, Uncle Scrooge, and Merlin greet you. All of them, Merlin aside depending on your age, are immediately recognizable. Once you complete The Dream Castle quest, you’re immediately able to unlock access to characters from more recent releases like Moana, Ratatouille, and WALL-E. Recent updates brought Lion King and Toy Story to the village. The picks are covering all kinds of bases, which lends a sense of solace. You know these characters. It’s encouraging to see how happy they are to see you. It’s relaxing to spend time with them.
I must admit that there’s something about getting the daily tasks in Disney Dreamlight Valley when I’m “off duty” too. When I don’t have my day job ensuring I’m writing every day and assisting staff or the usual grown-up tasks of cleaning my house and paying bills, sometimes I miss some minor obligations? I want to feel productive and useful. Also, I’d like to mark the passage of time so I’m not just spending hours catching up on The Great British Bake Off season I missed one episode after another with no breaks. Taking an hour each day during this season means okay, I did something and made a difference. Even if it did only turn out to be a virtual one.
Not to mention another important point. Disney Dreamlight Valley is a great game for this time of year because it is a good general audience title. If you have it on a handheld device like a Switch, you can safely play it around anyone. Nobody will take offense to crafting furniture, cooking meals, gardening, or running errands for Remy or Woody. The nature of it means the consequences aren’t terrible if you let a younger relative explore the world for a bit. Also, given the mainstream appeal of Animal Crossing, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, letting a relative or friend who doesn’t normally game know that you are playing a title like that, only with Disney characters they probably know, could result in some fun conversations or possibly getting someone else interested.
There are certain games that succeed at making players feel at home, and Disney Dreamlight Valley is one of them. It’s a comfort, which is especially appreciated when someone might have downtime and want a low-stakes adventure. Getting to settle in with friendly faces who you’ve known for years is a good way to spend the holidays, even virtually.
Disney Dreamlight Valley is available for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.
