Disney Dreamlight Valley Wishblossom Ranch Expansion: Is it worth it?

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The latest update to Disney Dreamlight Valley finally adds horses – a feature players have been requesting since the game launched in 2022. But is the $30 price tag for this expansion worth it to get these new animal companions?

Similar to previous updates like A Rift In Time and Storybook Vale, Wishblossom Ranch expands on the popular Dreamlight Valley game by introducing new horses, four fresh villagers – Cruella, Tinker Bell, Tigger, and Snow White – a new storyline, and an entirely new world to discover. This new world is filled with recipes, crafting materials, and items to enhance the gameplay experience.

Wishblossom Ranch’s innovative content is paving the way for future growth, even with some minor challenges.

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Horsing around

Horses are a major addition to the game, letting you personalize your own mount and even unlock famous horses like Khan (from Mulan), Pegasus (from Hercules), Maximus (from Tangled), and Sven (from Frozen). This new feature offers a fun and different way to play, and it’s a welcome change after three years of the game being live.

Exploring the game’s lovely and straightforward map – a welcome improvement over the complicated design of ‘A Rift in Time’ – and caring for your horses (and even a reindeer!) really makes this expansion feel like a big step forward. Traveling on horseback is much faster than running, and it fundamentally changes how you get around the game world.

Dreamlight Valley always involves a bit of repetitive work, but it’s not quite as intense as the farming required in Storybook Vale. You’ll still likely spend a good amount of time building a relationship with your horse, or endlessly collecting hay while wondering if it’s all worth it.

Having to spend most of the quest leveling up a horse was annoying. Adding a few extra, smaller tasks like gathering food or crafting items would have made the experience much better.

Even though they take time to train, these animal companions are easily the best feature DDV has added. Riding around the game’s world and creating my own challenges to build our connection feels much more rewarding than doing repetitive tasks like collecting clay for that Minnie quest.

Familiar tail

While The Ranch offers enjoyable horseback riding and a straightforward story perfect for a relaxing experience, it still falls short of being truly exceptional. It shares some of the same issues as past versions, and unfortunately lacks the emotional depth and surprise that make Disney’s best films so memorable.

While the game lets you enjoy its world, it doesn’t quite pull you in as completely as truly great cozy games like Firewatch or Spiritfarer. Meeting the new characters is pleasant, but the main storyline isn’t as strong as those found in A Rift in Time and Storybook Vale.

Fortunately, the fact that Wishblossom Ranch is a single act, unlike the two-act structure of previous expansions, is actually a positive. It makes the expansion more concise, and while the story isn’t particularly compelling, it hasn’t been unnecessarily lengthened. Hopefully, the developers at DDV will realize that this shorter, one-act format should be used for future expansions.

In the end, this addition is more about the enjoyment of horseback riding than the story itself, and it’s definitely a fun experience. It’s hard to go back to simply walking everywhere now that we have horses.

Verdict

Wishblossom Ranch is currently the best expansion pack for Disney Dreamlight Valley. The new horses and stunning environment are well worth the cost, and while the story could be stronger, any Disney fan is sure to love exploring the world on horseback.

Whether you’re already enjoying DDV or are curious about trying it – especially with the recent addition of horses – you’re sure to have fun!

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2025-11-28 19:21