Disney Dreamlight Valley is one of the biggest AAA simulation games based on a major IP to hit the genre. Since its early access back in 2022, Disney Dreamlight Valley has been delighting both cozy gamers and Disney fans. Like every game, Disney Dreamlight Valley still has improvements that should be made despite its massive success. By looking at other games currently making waves in the simulation genre, Disney Dreamlight Valley could find the perfect inspiration for these changes.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure is the new kid on the block, so to speak, when it comes to IP-based simulation games. Initially making its debut on Apple Arcade, Hello Kitty Island Adventure was released for PC and Nintendo Switch in January, with plans to expand to PlayStation 4 and 5 later this year. The Sanrio-themed simulation game has brought fresh and fun takes on staple gameplay features of the genre. Considering how frequently Disney Dreamlight Valley updates, it would make perfect sense for Gameloft to take notes on the successful parts of Hello Kitty Island Adventure going forward.
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Hello Kitty Island Adventure's Companions Give Players a Boost
Like Disney Dreamlight Valley, Hello Kitty Island Adventure’s Villagers are based on the iconic characters from its source material. This means that players explore Friendship Island alongside familiar Sanrio faces like Kuromi, Badtz-maru, and, of course, Hello Kitty herself. As players participate in standard simulation gameplay like fishing, Critter collecting, and gathering various resources, these companions literally tag along. This is yet another feature Hello Kitty Island Adventure and Disney Dreamlight Valley share.
However, as mentioned, this is one such feature Hello Kitty Island Adventure has placed its own unique twist on. Specific Companions have unique abilities and boosts that help players out as they travel around Friendship Island. For example, My Melody’s ability is called “Big Smile.” With four levels dedicated to her skill, players that choose My Melody to follow them around will receive an increased chance of getting extra items in return for gifting. Companions eventually receive a second ability once their friendship with the player has reached a certain level. My Melody’s second ability, “Handy Helper”, which unlocks at Level 9, reduces the repair cost of visitor cabins by one strawberry crate. These benefits may seem incredible on their own, but after completing the “Together Forever” quest, players can run around Friendship Island with two Companions in tow for twice the impact.
How Disney Dreamlight Valley Could Implement this Feature
Disney Dreamlight Valley would greatly benefit from a similar feature. After all, the game has a wide roster of Villagers that is continuously growing, just like Hello Kitty Island Adventure. While Villagers can follow players around in Disney Dreamlight Valley, there is no obvious benefit to this feature. Oftentimes, this game of follow-the-leader occurs when the player is working on a character-specific quest. With no benefit attached to the feature, players have often complained about Villagers following them around, though there is a way to get rid of the pesky followers if players wish.
Giving each Villager their own unique boosting ability could be difficult for Disney Dreamlight Valley considering its impressive and growing roster. Therefore, some Villagers might have the same ability if the feature was implemented. Nevertheless, these boosting abilities would not only lead to rapidly finishing Friendship Quests, but give players grinding out DDV’s Star Paths a significant head start.
Star Paths have increasingly become a grind mechanic that frustrates Disney Dreamlight Valley players. The season pass’ tasks are often repetitive and boring, regardless of the rewards they offer. Including Villager-boosting abilities would not only justify Villagers following around players, it would alleviate a mechanic that Disney Dreamlight Valley players have long complained about. Of course, Disney Dreamlight Valley would need to put its own unique twist on this Hello Kitty Island Adventure feature, but the benefits it would provide clearly make it a necessary addition to the hit simulation game.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 75 /100 Critics Rec: 77%










- Genre(s)
- Life Simulation, Casual