Disney Dreamlight Valley: Thrills & Frills Review (Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Switch & PC)

Who’s that knocking at the door? Is it a bird? Is it a dame? Well, sort of; it’s Daisy Duck. That’s right, folks — Disney Dreamlight Valley has just this moment received its next wave of free DLC, meaning, those who have access to the Season Pass can jump aboard and begin their next adventure in the acclaimed A Rift in Time sequence. It’s all happening over in that corner of the world, and it isn’t just The Forgetting that’s causing a ruckus in Thrills & Frills, but a slew of other issues, too; the Night Thorns are as present as ever, as are the bottomless requests from the creatures and villagers of the ever-evolving Valley. The question is, is now an appropriate time to jump in and contribute towards its economic growth?

If you’re new to Disney Dreamlight Valley, then you’re probably wondering where to even begin in the Thrills & Frills update. Don’t sweat it, though, as the game has made a genuine effort to accommodate even the most inexperienced agricultural aficionados. Aside from it featuring a selection of new characters and premium materials, the game has also paved the way for a tapestry of Valley-wide features to further enhance the experience and incentivize players to explore the faraway quarters of the realms and beyond. So, to answer that initial question — yes, it is a good time to board the wagon and sport those shiny white gloves and matching Mickey ears. With that said, if you’re still unconvinced, then read on. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest DLC for Disney Dreamlight Valley, including the details of its second phase in the Rift in Time expansion, The Sparks of Imagination.

Duck, Duck, Rabbit

To put you in the picture, Thrills & Frills is a free update for Disney Dreamlight Valley—a life and farming simulation game in which players create, cultivate, and essentially conceive new ways to flesh out its world, whether it’s through cooking, fishing, questing, or harvesting an in-game currency to unlock additional biomes, realms, and characters. For the record, the latest expansion, Thrills & Frills, is a direct continuation to A Rift in Time, which launched back in 2023. In other words, it’s Act II of the ongoing season—an expansion that, while not entirely free, is in receipt of its own share of rewards and benefits.

In addition to its new wave of quests and bonuses, Thrills & Frills also includes a hearty selection of premium features; for example, players can now purchase Disney World-themed set pieces for their homes, which include rides, attractions, and other cosmetic upgrades that stem directly from the universally beloved theme park in Orlando, Florida. Furthermore, Daisy Duck and Oswald, too, have made their formal debut in the Valley, which has effectively ushered in an entirely separate web of quests and social interactions to embark upon. So, quite the feast, then.

As the title implies, Thrills & Frills has a good old-fashioned boutique in it, too—a storefront that you can visit to obtain stylish attire for your avatar, as well as try your hand at designing your own brand. This doesn’t come for free, though; in fact, you first have to reconnect Daisy Duck with her star-crossed lover, Donald. And believe me when I say, that’s a whole other journey altogether—one that comes loaded with its own fetch quests and friendship-building-type extracurricular activities, to boot.

To Eternity and Beyond

While Thrills & Frills does feature a solid portion of extra goodies and premium content, the heart and soul of the DLC, really, is its storyline. As a direct sequel to A Rift in Time, the latest installment, aptly titled The Sparks of Imagination, returns you to the desolate depths of Eternity Isle, where you’ll once again continue your quest to oppose the deceitful vizier of Agrabah, Jafar, as he makes daring attempts to not only divide the biomes of Eternity Isle, but use a mysterious power to conquer them, too.

Of course, A Rift in Time is a three-part series, and so, while we can’t exactly comment on the conclusion of the story, we can say that, as far as “middle” sections go, The Sparks of Imagination definitely conjures enough arcs and portals to warrant a sequel. As for what will happen in this sequel, however, is still a bit of a mystery, as it will continue to be until developer Gameloft decides to launch the closing chapter. But, for what it does provide in its current section, there isn’t a huge amount to complain about. Sure enough, it’s DLC, and so, on that basis, it’s pretty easy to praise its positives and its ability to progress from a smaller game to a full-fledged one.

Dreamlight Valley, as a whole, hasn’t changed all that much. Contrary to popular belief, all of the same bells and whistles from the vanilla copy are still alive and kicking, as are the same characters, quests, and biomes. Don’t get me wrong, the game, in general, has come a long way since its inception, and so, if you haven’t been able to experience it yet, then consider this an invitation to get your hands dirty.

Little Room to Grow

If you have been playing Dreamlight Valley since day one, then you’ve probably managed to cram just about every available set piece from Scrooge’s collection into each of the biomes, in which case, you might struggle to locate a vacant plot of land to flesh out your own imitation of Disney World. As it stands, there aren’t any new biomes to explore aside from those featured in the base game and A Rift in Time, and so, if you are struggling to accommodate a lot of the premium goodies, then chances are, you’ll have to banish a few items in order to make way for the next selection of bits and bobs. And that’s a shame, really, as it almost feels like starting from scratch. For new players, though, it’s perfect, as the Night Thorns are the only things preventing you from unleashing your wildest creations.

As far as gameplay goes, Thrills & Frills doesn’t stray all that far from the basic blueprint. As a result of this, the bulk of the experience is spent either foraging for fruits and other natural rarities that you grow from your own farmstead, or using one of several Royal Tools to unlock secret areas of the map and locate certain quest-related items that are needed to either develop a friendship level, or further enhance an ongoing effort to improve the Valley and its surrounding biomes. There’s a little more to it than that, for sure, but for the most part, it retains all of the same basic and beginner-friendly ingredients that comprise a traditional life and farming simulation game. It doesn’t need any more than that, either; it’s a simple premise that, while a little cliche, can be accessed by anyone, regardless of their experience or background in the genre.

Verdict

Disney Dreamlight Valley has once again proven its worth as a genuine contender in the life and farming simulation sphere, and it’s mainly thanks to Thrills & Frills’ generous amount of premium content that it holds that status. It’s also a solid halfway point for the Rift in Time expansion pass, too, given the fact that it makes a good effort to expand on the lore of not only Eternity Isle, but the realm of Dreamlight Valley. Add the fact that it also touts a good selection of fresh and iconic characters from the Disney-Pixar roster, and you’ve essentially got yourself a near-perfect add-on that honestly justifies the price tag, despite being the second piece in a three-tier anthology.

Of course, it’s easy to recommend Thrills & Frills to a returning player, given the fact that it pretty much comes included in the Rift in Time Season Pass, anyway. But, again, if you’re looking for a good starting point for the series, then I’d honestly suggest sticking with the base game — at least until you’ve unlocked several of the core biomes and elevated your friendship levels to the point of being on a first-name basis with the primary characters. If, however, you’d much rather sideline the main objectives and dive straight into building your own park and cramming it to the brim with premium gadgets and gizmos, then take it from me: A Rift in Time is the ideal place to start your journey.