Disney-themed life simulation gameDisney Dreamlight Valleyrecently released its second paid expansion, “The Storybook Vale,” introducing players to a mystical world of books and legends powered by stories and threatened by all-consuming ink. While the expansion was decently well-received due to its interesting story, clever use of classic villains and new “story restoration” mechanic, one particular quest has someDisney Dreamlight Valleyfans concerned. While most of “The Storybook Vale” stands on its own, one quest sets a new - and concerning - precedent by requiring players to own both paid expansions to complete it.
“A Romantic Reunion” Features Characters From Both Paid Expansions
“The Storybook Vale” isDisney Dreamlight Valley’ssecond paid expansion; one of the characters it introduces isFlynn Rider, the charming rogue fromTangled.However, Flynn’s love interest, Rapunzel, previously appeared in “A Rift in Time,“Disney Dreamlight Valley’sfirst paid expansion, where she debuted alongside Gaston, EVE, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, and Jafar.
After befriending Flynn Rider, in “The Storybook Vale,” raising his Friendship Level to 10, and helping him write a book in “The Adventures of Flynn Rider,” players can unlock a quest called “A Romantic Reunion,” in which Flynn and Rapunzel finally reunite after their long time apart. Flynn struggles to make the perfect romantic date for the pair of them, and, of course, requires the player’s help. However, because Flynn and Rapunzel come from separate paid expansions, players will need to purchase and own both in order to access this quest. If they do not own “A Rift in Time,” Flynn’s story concludes with “The Adventures of Flynn Rider” and he can only wistfully hope to someday see Rapunzel again.
This Could Represent A Worrying Future Trend For Dreamlight Valley
While “A Romantic Reunion” is a minor quest that does not have any significant plot impact or major rewards - it only gifts some Friendship points - it’s still not a great precedent. Players who want to purchase only “The Storybook Vale” and are not interested in “A Rift in Time” could find themselves disappointed that Flynn’s story feels incomplete, as a major point of his character arc is the fact that he no longer feels worthy of seeing Rapunzel after his time trapped under Maleficent’s curse. To reunite these lovers, players have to fork out a significant amount of real world money for two expansions.
Expansions And Free Updates Often Separate Characters From The Same Property
In general,Disney Dreamlight Valleyhas shown a willingness to introduce characters from a particular film or series in the base game and then limit other characters from the same property to expansions. Belle and the Beast are both baseDreamlight Valleycharacters, but Gaston is found only in “A Rift in Time.” Similarly, the title character of WALL-E is one of the first villagers met in the Valley, but his love interest EVE dwells on “Rift’s” Eternity Isle.Tangledis the film where this separate shows most dramatically - Mother Gothel is in the base game, Rapunzel in the first expansion, and Flynn Rider in the second.
Disney Dreamlight Valley’slatest roadmap revealed thatAladdin and Jasmine fromAladdinwill be the first new characters added in 2025, coming as part of a free update. However, their foe, Jafar, is exclusive to “A Rift in Time,” where he was the primary antagonist. This has caused some worry that some of Aladdin or Jasmine’s quests may require purchasing the expansion, especially as this is the first example of a property first being expansion-exclusive and later added to the base game. Players will discover in 2025 when the next update drops whether this eventuality will come to pass.
