New Disney Dreamlight Valley DLC adds Animal Crossing-esque critter catching, iconic characters like Hades and Maleficent, and new worlds to explore
Oct. 29, 2024The Storybook Vale adds maybe the sim’s most enchanting content yet
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The speculations were true, y’all - the upcomingDisney Dreamlight ValleyDLC is called The Storybook Vale, and it looks like a stunning expansion packed full of whimsical new content including beloved childhood characters like Hades, Maleficent, and Merida.
The Storybook Vale isn’t split into three parts like A Rift in Time was, but rather two, with the first chapter dropping on November 20. The DLC seems downright massive, featuring everything from new characters to mechanics that are sure to add another hundred hours to my overall playtime - and I can’t wait. The first act boasts the ever-fearless princess Merida, Tangled’s Flynn Rider, and Hercules' Hades,Disney’s hilarious god of the underworld.
The second part of The Storybook Vale brings even more characters, including Sleeping Beauty villain Maleficent and an unannounced mystery figure. Alongside the new villagers are features like the net tool, an object that feels like it’s right out ofAnimal Crossing: New Horizons. Players use it to capture “snippets,” origami-style creatures of all shapes and sizes. There’s also a jigsaw puzzle-esque minigame and “trials” of some sort.
According to Gameloft, “trials” are “special quests inspired by fairytales and myths,” but not much else is known about them yet. It looks as though players will need to employ a variety of tools to get through them. Arguably more promising is the mind-bogglingly beautiful world surrounding all this with three fairy tale-inspired regions: The Bind, Mythopia, and Everafter.
The Bind is a cozy book-themed biome filled with autumnal forests, bookshelves, and vibrant colors. Mythopia, on the other hand, is a realm inspired by Greco-Roman culture and ancient mythology, featuring fields of golden wheat, ruins, and cypress trees. Everafter is probably my favorite of the three, though - it’s a Fae-like area drawing on Scandinavian and Scottish folklore with bioluminescent flora topically reminiscent of the Underdark inBaldur’s Gate 3.
Most importantly of all, the new regions harbor adorable creatures to befriend, from baby pegasi to miniature dragons. All in all, I’d say that The Storybook Vale is shaping up to be a highlight of the year for me. It touches on everything that makes Dreamlight Valley so good - the wholesome vibes, Disney-shaped nostalgia, and day-to-day tasks familiar to bothAnimal CrossingandStardew Valleyfans. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have night thorns to clear.
Craving a new cozy adventure? Here are our favoritefarming gamesto play right now.
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After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she’s not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she’s probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she’s spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur’s Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you’ll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.
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