One of the more wholesome releases this season is the new A Rift In Time DLC for Disney Dreamlight Valley – one of the most family-friendly titles you can find. Released by Gameloft and available on all major systems including the PlayStation 5, this expansion introduces Eternity Isle, a lost kingdom tangled in the threads of time due to Jafar’s meddling in magic. Armed with the mystical Hourglass, you must unravel a new story, discover lost treasures, and thwart Jafar’s sinister plot to steal the Spark of Imagination.
The DLC unfolds a fresh narrative, unveiling secrets and treasures lost in time in a story that spans three engaging acts. The quests you are faced with, while occasionally slightly puzzling for younger players, offers a delightful break from routine gathering and crafting tasks. The presence of Jafar injects humor and familiarity into the story, providing the kind of guidance and attitude that we previously saw in other Dreamlight Valley villains. It would have been nice if there had been more of a narrative tie-in to Disney’s original cinematic tales, but Aladdin fans likely won’t mind.
Eternity Isle boasts three biomes – Ancient’s Landing, Glittering Dunes, and Wild Tangle – each customizable with lost treasures and Disney- and Pixar-inspired furniture. Four new villagers, including EVE, Rapunzel, Gaston, and Jafar, join you in your journey. While the new characters bring charm and familiarity, we certainly would’ve appreciated having more new faces in the game – we have a wishlist going.
The introduction of the Royal Hourglass adds an interesting dimension to gameplay. Its ability to repair bridges and extract items from time portals adds both a narrative and strategic layer. The ancient machines crafted using the Hourglass provide automation for activities like gardening and cooking, enhancing island management. However, the necessity to grind Mist (a new currency) for progression and upgrades isn’t that great – it can make unlocking new areas a bit of a drag.
The inclusion of the board game Scramblecoin adds a playful diversion, allowing players to challenge villagers and earn rewards. Visually, Eternity Isle is well designed, with gorgeous landscapes and iconic Disney elements. It successfully maintains the vibrant, colorful style of the base game, ensuring a visually pleasing experience.
As such, A Rift In Time enriches the Disney Dreamlight Valley experience, offering a extension to the already enchanting game world. But while the expansion introduces a few new characters, engaging quests, and a fresh narrative, the grind for Mist and the limited narrative integration of iconic Disney tales are rougher edges. Nevertheless, this is still a really fun Disney-inspired farming and exploration game and it will certainly be played a lot over the holidays.
Score: 7.5/10
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A massive problem with the way Gameloft are selling this DLC as a consumable and not a durable, meaning families would have to fork out for the cost of the DLC per account on one console.
If you buy the base game, it is shared. No consistency and it’s all about corporate greed.
https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamlightValley/s/8S4JCWoJu0