Disney Dreamlight Valley has surprised many since its early access release in September 2022. The life sim-adventure draws from multiple well-established games and genres, but brings iconic Disney characters to inhabit the titular Dreamlight Valley. Interacting with fan-favorite characters is enough of a selling point for many players, but Dreamlight Valley offers so much more than just this.
Players can experience Disney Dreamlight Valley however they want, whether that involves farming, cooking, exploring, moving through storyline quests or customizing the village's layout. Enjoying a game that encourages such creative freedom can subsequently introduce these players to numerous new games with similar themes, concepts, and characters.
10 Dinkum Is A Fun Australian Twist On The Sim-RPG Genre
Dinkum was released in the middle of 2022. It is a fun simulation role-playing game with characteristics of Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing and Minecraft, but with an unmistakable Australian twist. Like Stardew Valley, Dinkum is another success story from a one-person project, with James Bendon making a fun and unique experience.
Dinkum may not have Dreamlight Valley's draw of iconic Disney characters, but it doesn't need that sense of familiarity. It thrives on its twist of the Australian aesthetic, with players able to build a bustling town in their own image while tending to countless animals, crops, and so much more. Cooperative play is another feature that helps to make Dinkum a thoroughly enjoyable game that more people should be playing.
9 House Customization Is Rife In The Sims Games
The Sims franchise is the first name that comes to mind when thinking of the top life simulation titles. Many gamers grew up with the god complex that came with The Sims, creating characters and having complete control over their lives.
While Dreamlight Valley is very different in terms of its premise and how characters interact with one another, its furnishing, building, and customization aspects draw comparisons to The Sims. There is a certain charm to both, with the feeling of accomplishment when finishing the reconstruction of a building or entire neighborhood. There have been several The Sims games over the years, but Sims 3 is often regarded as the best and most refined.
8 The My Time Games Are Perfect For Those Who Love The Building Aspects Of Dreamlight Valley
My Time At Portia has been a great addition to the simulation RPG genre since its release in 2019. The aim of the game is all about reviving the town and building it in the player's own image, but this is by no means a limitation to what one can accomplish.
As of May 2022, there is now a second addition to Pathea's My Time franchise, with the early access My Time At Sandrock. Sandrock maintains the core of the first game, but showcases many improvements that could catapult it beyond its predecessor. Regardless of its future success, those who love Disney Dreamlight Valley should check it out and My Time At Portia.
7 Disney Universe Is A Fun & Silly Disney Experience
Disney Universe is not as immersive as Dreamlight Valley, but it has plenty of light-hearted fun for any Disney fan. With cooperative play, players can enjoy Universe with their friends, as they all dress up as their favorite Disney characters to complete various challenges and objectives.
Disney Universe introduces numerous Disney worlds to explore, just like with Dreamlight Valley, and these involve more action and hands-on interaction than the Dreamlight Valley realms. Disney Universe is not the greatest game ever made, but its multiplayer will delight those who want some Disney fun.
6 Story Of Seasons: Pioneers Of Olive Town Is The Logical Next Game For Dreamlight Valley Fans
Unbeknownst to many, the Story of Seasons games are actually in the same series as Harvest Moon. Harvest Moon is the huge inspiration behind the now iconic Stardew Valley. Thus, it comes as little surprise that the latest addition to the franchise, Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town, is another exceptional simulation game.
Olive Town draws parallels to Dreamlight Valley in that it needs saving with the help of numerous companions. Pioneers of Olive Town provides another strong entry for those who love constructing a town from the ground up and reaping the rewards of building a true feeling of community.
5 Animal Crossing: New Horizons Always Finds Itself Being Compared To Dreamlight Valley
The first thought that comes to mind when playing Dreamlight Valley is that it has similar concepts to Animal Crossing: New Horizons. New Horizons is well-established as Nintendo's main social simulation title, but Dreamlight Valley has arrived as its multi-console competition.
New Horizons is perfect for those who enjoy the premise of gathering resources and materials, then building a town from the ground up. Harvesting fruit trees, growing crops, and fishing are concepts that both games share, but New Horizons has an extra sense of immersion with its catchable bugs. The museum helps to stamp importance on venturing into nature and collecting as many species as possible. In fact, it is a really underrated aspect of this popular game.
4 Grow: Song Of The Evertree Is A Fantastical Twist On The Genre
Grow: Song of the Evertree is another twist on a game like Disney Dreamlight Valley. Its breathtaking fantasy setting welcomes a compelling story on top of its building and simulation concepts. The Herculean task of restoring the Evertree is a grand motivation for a game, and players can have endless fun trying to restore nature in this captivating world.
Grow: Song of the Evertree's evil of the Withering has similarities to the Forgetting of Disney Dreamlight Valley. Both present a disaster threatening the natural order of things rather than a specific villain taking the spotlight away from the intended experience.
3 Kingdom Hearts Is Packed Full Of Disney Goodness, But With A More Intense Story
The idea of a stranger exploring Disney realms and finding familiar faces has been done long before Disney Dreamlight Valley. The Kingdom Hearts franchise has thrived on fictional worlds full of unlikely crossovers, from Disney and Pixar to various Square Enix properties.
Kingdom Hearts has multiple games that can be played in a complex order for the maximum exploration of the franchise, but the mainline games explore the crossovers at their fullest. Kingdom Hearts I, II & III introduce new worlds with new Disney characters, with them contributing to the story either as passive NPCs or as active party members. Fans of Dreamlight Valley should certainly check out the main trilogy, with many valuing Kingdom Hearts II as the best entry.
2 Bear And Breakfast Is A Fun Time All Around
The idea of playing a game where players run their own bed and breakfast might seems plain, but it's not beyond being an enjoyable experience if done right. Bear and Breakfast injects plenty of creativity and fun into it, with the premise of the player controlling a bear named Hank, exploring and building as they aim for total customer satisfaction.
Bear and Breakfast is a laid-back management adventure sim with a pleasant charm. Like Dreamlight Valley, some quests can feel repetitive, but this is inevitable. Bear and Breakfast will certainly appeal to those who enjoy the furnishing and exploration aspects of Dreamlight Valley.
1 Stardew Valley Redefined The RPG & Simulation Genres
Stardew Valley has reached the unprecedented position of being the top dog of simulation RPGs. ConcernedApe's masterpiece has amassed such an adoring fan base that this indie game has inspired waves of new games with similar concepts to rise up since its release in 2016.
In Stardew Valley, players are rushed through the days, weeks, and months, with dynamic time and seasons allowing for ample progression. Yet, Stardew Valley remains an open-ended experience, with players being free to do as they please. If they wish, players can remain on their farm and tend to their crops, they can go and make friends in the town, or they can focus all their attention on vanquishing monsters. This freedom and overall quality is what has cemented Stardew Valley's legacy, and has fans excited for ConcernedApe's next project, Haunted Chocolatier.