Summary
Disneyhas been a staple in the hearts and minds of kids and adults worldwide since the company was created in the 1920s. Disney has created some of the most beloved franchises and characters of all time, so it’s no surprise that there are a plethora ofDisney video gamesacross various platforms as well.
We’re going to be looking at some of the absolutebest Disney video games of all timethat are memorable, iconic, and unique. These games are not only great licensed titles, but they also do justice to the behemoth that is the Disney brand.
10Disney Mirrorverse
Fantastic Character Designs, But A Standard Mobile Game
Disney Mirrorverseis a mobile game set in a parallel universe of the established worlds from the Disney canon. Players take on the role of various Disney and Pixar characters from alternate realities. These alternate Disney heroes are called Guardians, and can be unlocked via Crystals. Each character has special skills and falls under one of four categories: melee, ranged, tank, or support. This action RPG features fun and engaging gameplay, allowing players to create interesting combo attacks with the various characters in their team. However,Disney Mirrorverseis most notable for its fantastic character designs.
All the Disney and Pixar characters get epic RPG makeovers inMirrorverse, and the result is some truly creative and brilliant designs that deserve much more attention. From Rapunzel’s long blonde locks being wrapped around her body and weapon to Woody’s human sheriff form, the designs are unique and fantastical, but still true to each individual character. AlthoughMirrorversehas been criticized for its use of microtransactions (acommon sin in mobile titles), the amazing character designs and surprisingly fun combat more than make up for it.
Next up is the PlayStation 1 and PC version of the gameHercules, based on the Disney animated film of the same name.Herculeswas a unique gamein that, although it was mostly 2D, some elements of the game would switch to 3D when traveling to other planes, bridging the gap between the previous 2D Disney games and the upcoming future of 3D Disney games.
Not only wasHerculesunique in this way, but it was also a highly enjoyable side-scrolling platformer. The animation and sprites are incredibly well-made, as are the elements of the game that utilize hand-drawn animation.Herculeswas certainly one of the better-licensed games of the 90s, even if it was a little generic in certain places.
8Epic Mickey (Wii)
A Platformer Starring A More Mischievous Mickey Mouse
The Nintendo Wii gameEpic Mickeywas an interesting one, as it was an attempt by Disney to rebrand Mickey Mouse’s overtly cheerful persona and make him a little more mischievous and brave. The game intended to do this by making him a hero of epic proportions, hence the title. It succeeded in its different approach to Mickey’s character, though the change was only truly maintained in the game and its sequel.
Epic Mickeyis a platforming action-adventure game that allows the player to think of creative solutions to work their way through levels. The game also features a morality system, with different quests and alliances only available through certain choices.
The decision to incorporate choice-based gameplay and give players some freedom in terms of how they complete levels was a change from the Disney games that came before, but it was well worth it.Epic Mickeyis still remembered as a great Disney game, so much so that it got its own remake,Epic Mickey: Rebrushed.
7The Disney Afternoon Collection
Six Games For The Price of One
TheDisney Afternoon Collectionbrings together six classic Disney games and puts them in one nostalgic package. The six games were originally released for the SNES between the years of 1989 and 1994 and are fondly remembered by gamers for their side-scrolling platforming fun.
The modern-day ports maintain the original styles of all six titles, as well as their gameplay mechanics. However, a time rewind feature was implemented to allow players to go back and correct any immediate mistakes. Classic games tended to be brutal when it came to do-overs, so this is certainly a positive new feature.
The collection also allowed players to compete in leaderboards online, and included behind-the-scenes features from the originals, such as additional assets and concept art. Kids who are getting into gaming and adults who have fond memories of playing these games are all sure to find something to enjoy with theDisney Afternoon Collection.
Three Classics Together Under One Title
Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion King
Two of the most beloved Disney games of all time make their long-awaited return to modern consoles in Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion King! This unforgettable package of Disney classics is filled with tons of new features, enhancements, game modes, and display options, plus multiple versions of the games! Join Aladdin and his sidekick, Abu, as they race through the marketplace toward their date with destiny. Relive Aladdin’s classic adventure as you travel through Agrabah, the Cave of Wonders and more to defeat Jafar and rescue Jasmine. Jump, fight, dodge and carpet-ride your way through this adventure, collecting gems along the way. The Lion King brings to life the majesty and mystery of Africa through the tale of Simba, a lion cub faced with the challenging transition to maturity. Now, you too can be part of the adventure! Driven into the wilderness by his evil uncle Scar, Simba finds salvation and Hakuna Matata with Pumbaa the warthog and Timon the meerkat. Tackle heinous hyenas in the elephant’s graveyard, avoid the trampling hooves of stampeding wildebeest as you battle through 10 levels to ensure Simba claims his rightful place as The Lion King.
Similar to the aforementionedDisney Afternoon Collection, theDisney Classic Games Collectionis another trip down memory lane that brings together three Disney classics in one title. Originally released in 2019 — and only includingThe Lion KingandAladdin —the collection was re-released in 2021 to include the SNES version ofThe Jungle Book.
All three of these games were considered classics for the SNES when they first came out in the 90s, and this collection brings them back to life with updated visuals and modern features, such as the rewind mechanic used in theDisney Afternoon Collection. This is another great choice of Disney game for kids and adults alike, especially for those looking to get particularly nostalgic.
Buzz Lightyear to the Rescueis a stylish 3D platformer that allows players to roam around various areas seen in theToy Story 2movie, such as Andy’s House and Al’s Toy Barn. Unseen areas are also explorable, such as the neighborhood around Andy’s home. While it wasn’t exactly a huge, bustling open world, it certainly had at least a semi-open-world feel to it, as each level has a uniqueness as well as plenty of ground to cover and explore.
Players control Buzz on his mission to rescue Woody from toy collector Al. There’s plenty of platforming to be had, but Buzz can also attack enemies with the laser on his wrist and with his spin attack. When using his laser, Buzz can aim more precisely via a first-person view. Extending Buzz’s wings also allows him to double jump.
With a surprising amount of exploration possibilities, appearances from familiar characters, and genuinely engaging and challenging gameplay,Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescueis a particularly memorableDisney and Pixar game.
4Toy Story 3 (Xbox 360 & PS3 Versions)
Terrific Toy Box Mode
Video game adaptations of movies were a dime a dozen in the 2000s, andToy Story 3was a game adaptation that came around right at the very end of that era in 2010. The story mode was good, but didn’t really offer anything to write home about. It was the Toy Box Mode where the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions ofToy Story 3truly shined.
Toy Box Mode is essentially a town management sim that puts players in charge of a western-style town. Players can roam the town freely and customize it to their liking while also engaging in missions. Completing missions allows players to buy new toys and expand the gameplay. With a surprising amount of customization, fun missions, and plenty of unlockable items — such as toys and costumes — the Toy Box Mode fromToy Story 3is more than enough to earn the game a spot on this list.
The sandbox gameDisney Infinitywas a massively ambitious projectwhen it was released in 2013. The game was essentially a huge sandbox-like world where players could play as their favorite Disney characters, so long as they had the corresponding action figures.
The core selling point ofDisney Infinitywere the aforementioned figures, as well as discs that were used to bring characters into the game by placing them on the Infinity Base. There were two ways to play withDisney Infinity: Play Sets and Toy Box Mode.
Play Sets were purchasable game worlds themed around particular franchises. When placed on the Infinity Base, users could play through a story mode that incorporated the chosen franchise and characters. Players couldn’t mix and match characters in Play Sets, unlike in Toy Box Mode, where any character could be used within the sandbox world. Toy Box Mode was particularly innovative, allowing players to create their own worlds with any character they wanted.
The downfall ofDisney Infinitycame from the costly nature of the figurines and discs needed to access all the available content. It was officially retired in 2016, although the game and all figurines and discs released are still available to purchase today. The innovative nature ofDisney Infinity,along with the engaging and creative content, make for an awesome — and frustratingly expensive — Disney game.
Cozy games have become more and more popular in recent years, and Disney got in on this trend withDisney Dreamlight Valley.Dreamlight Valleytasks players with restoring a cursed valley inhabited by Disney and Pixar characters to its former glory. The player can befriend characters and accompany them as they work throughout the valley. Characters can level up as they travel with the player, with each character level unlocking themed items, such as outfits and furniture. The valley can be customized to the players liking too, as can their house and clothing.
There are plenty of missions to complete inDisney Dreamlight Valley,as each character has their own tasks and challenges, but there are also plenty of story missions that are not character-specific. There are a lot of great interactions between characters too, such as expert chefs Tiana and Remy the Rat debating over how they are going to split the valley’s cuisine services. Of course, there is also the standard cozy game fare to be found here too, such as gardening, fishing, and cooking.Disney Dreamlight Valleymight not be complex or revolutionary, but it is a great take on the cozy genre that has the potential to continue for years to come.
Confusing Plots, But Epic Gameplay
Kingdom Hearts
KINGDOM HEARTS: Fear locks the light in darkness. Courage is the key.When a supernatural storm transports 14-year-old Sora to a distant land, he sets out to track down his missing friends. Teaming up with Court Wizard Donald and Captain Goofy, join Sora as he embarks on a valiant quest to find his friends and defeat the evil ‘Heartless’.Explore new and familiar worlds featuring over 100 Disney characters. Beware of the Disney villains and their devious intentions. Team up with Disney heroes as you battle evil. Experience stunning graphics and authentic voiceovers.
When it comes to the best Disney games, the crown has to go to theKingdom Heartsseries, a crossover game between Disney and several Square Enix franchises (mainlyFinal Fantasy). The game follows a young boy named Sora, who goes on an epic journey with classic Disney characters Donald Duck and Goofy to find his friends — Riku and Kairi — and save the world from dark beings called the Heartless.
The plot expands into a complex, lengthy, and confusing narrative, but despite this, the gameplay is incredibly engaging, and the worlds that Sora explores are fantastically designed and esthetically gorgeous. Throughout the thirteen games available — and the three mainline games — players explore various Disney worlds. Not only that, but Sora, Goofy, and Donald’s designs will change depending on the world they are in, such as turning into animals when inThe Lion Kingworld inKingdom Hearts 2or becoming toys when in theToy Storyworld inKingdom Hearts 3.
Despite the plot being a bit of a head scratcher at times, the depth of the individual Disney worlds, the well-designed combat, and the seriously fun gameplay make theKingdom Heartsseries some of the absolute best Disney games around.
