Top 20 Best Disney Video Games

Combining an already beloved world from a film or TV show with gameplay that feels fun to actually play (even for non fans of the drawn upon IP) is not as easy to do as you might think, and a LOT of developers will phone it in knowing they will make sales regardless. Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to The Rescue is NOT made by those kinds of developers. The HEAVILY underappreciated gem combined a rich world that informed the gameplay, making it fun to explore every nook and cranny, even if you didnt care about the Toy Story films. With an infamous fan made remake YouTube series, were just hoping this game gets the renaissance it deserves.

Possibly one of the most underrated karting titles we've experienced is Mickeys Speedway USA, arguably comparable to Crash Team Racing and the big daddy itself, Mario Kart. The game features an original storyline that drives the gameplay (no pun intended). Enjoy the time trial mode, challenge friends in Contest Mode by destroying their balloons (reminiscent of Mario Kart 64), and connect to the Game Boy Color version using the essential Transfer Pak! This game was filled with dope features, and original concepts that didnt get their time in the sun.

With the success of Activision's Skylanders franchise, Disney responded with its own toys-to-life game, Disney Infinity. This game offered a sandbox experience, along with unique adventures based on iconic Disney brands, including Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. Disney Infinity managed to blend these diverse properties and worlds with a cohesive, angular art style that looked fantastic, something they learned they could do quite effectively through Square Enix.

The NES and SNES may well have been the best era for Disney games (If Kingdom Hearts hadnt paved the way for future consoles), and while the 1994 Jungle Book game largely based its framework off of Pitfall, it still felt like an original and fun masterpiece of the era. As a classic platformer, Mowgli had to navigate environmental obstacles in a perilous jungle. Players swung from vines, bounced off tree branches, and dodged hazards like monkeys. The game featured a solid variety of boss fights, thanks to its source material, including a memorable encounter with Kaa the snake.

Before Marvel joined up with Disney, this adventurous series might have been the Disney cartoon most suited for a video game adaptation, though it arrived later than many of Capcom's other titles. Darkwing Duck was a side-scrolling action game reminiscent of the Mega Man series, featuring a sidearm that shot gas pellets to incapacitate enemies. Darkwing Duck could collect various types of gun elements as he progressed through the stages, making the gameplay feel fresh and adaptive, a recipe for success in games even to this day.

Chip 'n Dale's Rescue Rangers: the formative game of my toddler years. What set Rescue Rangers apart was its playful use of scale. Just like in the cartoon, these chipmunk-sized heroes navigated a (somewhat) realistically proportioned world. In the show, their vehicles were crafted from found objects like yarn spindles and balloons. In the game, this meant tossing tomatoes as big as themselves. It was a cute and clever way to depict these tiny, larger-than-life heroes, a recipe that Disney hadnt worked out by the Alice in Wonderland level of Kingdom Hearts 1... Okay, its not technically Disneys fault, I just wanted to slam that awful, awful level.

One of Disney's earliest licensed games is also one of its best. For this entry, were looking at Ducktales Remastered, because it maintains the original story and characters, and gives it a much deserved fresh coat of paint. Scrooge's unique abilities, the cane pogo and the ability to whack static boxes to ricochet them into other items were unlike anything else on the market way back in 1989 and felt as natural and satisfying as a Mega Man game.

If youre wondering about this entry, and the things I have to say about it, think only back to our entry on Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue, because I may as well just repeat myself. The gameplay worked to make the world and story even better, and the developers did NOT phone it in because the sales were guaranteed, they made a game that was fun to play from start to finish. And color me shocked, both games had the exact same developers, congratulations Travellers Tales, you guys rock.

A game that came in many iterations, its not surprising that people dont remember its brilliance, considering they may not have gotten the same game as someone else. Game Boy Color, Windows PC, PlayStation, N64, PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance, Dreamcast and GameCube This game was put out on more devices than GTA V. The gameplay was enjoyable, and the game was bite sized, meaning it could be completed fairly quickly, making it a gem for the speedrunning community.

The Incredibles on the PS2 stood out due to its engaging gameplay that faithfully captured the film's action-packed essence. I first played this at my best friend Jacks house back in 2004, and if youre watching this Jack, you need to learn to pass the controller more, mate. Each family member's unique abilities offered varied and dynamic gameplay experiences. The levels were well-designed, blending combat, platforming, and puzzle-solving. The graphics were impressive for the time, bringing the beloved characters and vibrant world to life. Additionally, the game's soundtrack and voice acting added to its immersive quality. Overall, it was just a banger, theres nothing else to say.

Based on the teeeeerrible movie of the same name, we arent shocked many didnt bother to pick up the game. As it turns out, this IP is much more suited to video games than film. You'll play as Darwin, a guinea pig on a mission to save the world. Combat isn't something you'd expect from these little critters, but they handle it well. Solve puzzles, take out foes, and use a clever little fly to access hard-to-reach places and slow down time. I'm never gonna mess with a guinea pig ever again! Wait... That makes it sound like I mess with guinea pigs now. Im never gonna mess with a guinea pig!

If Mickey wasnt already loveable enough, lets just throw Epic before his name to make the most 2010 sounding game possible. This Wii adventure game featured a more classic, mischievous Mickey Mouse and used the Wii Remote as a paintbrush. The real treat for Disney fans was the story, which served as a fourth wall breaking commentary on Disney history. Its fun, its informative, its everything youd say to describe a terrible game, and somehow its phenomenal.

Another entry from the classic era comes in the form of the longest title youve ever heard, Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, yknow? Castle of Illusion featured Mickey Mouse venturing into the titular castle to save Minnie from the dark wizard Mizrabel. Like DuckTales, Mickey had a bounce attack to spring off enemies and reach higher heights, and the level design was impeccable. It's still considered one of the best Genesis games of all time. It was so highly regarded that it received a full HD remake in 2013. Which is probably the version you should play... NEXT ENTRY!

The eternally jealous Donald Duck got his own game adaptation in 1991 from Sega right after Mickey. Just wait, Donald, your time in gaming will come in roughly 10 years. In this one, the temperamental fowl took on an Indiana Jones-like role, navigating ancient tombs and dungeons. The game received a warm reception, despite some criticism for its uneven difficulty. With a surprisingly detailed and twisty story for its time, QuackShot remains one of the best uses of Donald Duck in any game. BUT, not THE best.

No, this isn't a mistake, Split/Second, one of the most explosive and fast-paced racing games of all time, is indeed made by Disney. No Donald, no Goofy, no Nissan Pulsars. Players can cause explosions on the track as they drive, making the game feel as far removed from Disneys typical style as possible. The more chaos you cause the better as dangerous driving fills up your power gauge. This allows players to block off or open up new areas of the track with massive explosions. A course that changes as you play? Now that's a racing game!

Heres a more recent entry, releasing in 2023, and still blowing Disney minds in 2024. With an immersive and enchanting world where players can interact with beloved Disney and Pixar characters, Disney Dreamlight Valley will put a smile on even the most hardened of faces. The game combines life-simulation and adventure elements, allowing players to customize their avatar, build and decorate their homes, and complete quests alongside iconic characters. Frequent updates and new content keep the gameplay fresh and engaging, making Disney Dreamlight Valley one of the best recent Disney releases.

We love a two player experience, because you dont get many couch co-op games in the 2020s. If youre willing to rewind the clock a little bit, youll find loads of gems like this one. Play through the first four Pirates movies: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Mans Chest, At Worlds End, and On Stranger Tides. The levels follow the films' plots, enhancing the action with the humor we love from LEGO games. Use Jacks compass to find items, walk underwater as Davy Jones, and perform a slick double-jump as Elizabeth Swann! Bring a friend, and youve sorted out your next weekend off.

Im so glad were talking about this game, because I literally played it today. Aladdin combines a beautiful world with wildly fun gameplay and a difficulty level that feels challenging, but TOTALLY achievable. The Aladdin game may be the pinnacle of the 16-bit era of Disney games and is still widely regarded as one of the best Disney-licensed games of all time. Aladdin is remembered for one thing: it's the silky-smooth pixel animation that looks impressive even by modern standards, adding an extra layer of personality to one of the best Disney films of all time.

Before we talk about how wonderful this game is, its worth noting that its also arguably one of the HARDEST SNES games of all time. In fact, its on our list! But, it also RULES. The action platformer's difficulty spiked early, leaving most kids stuck at the wildebeest stampede or the colorful "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" stage. A level select code allowed players to skip around and see all the highlights, including the dramatic finale. This game makes the list mainly for its historical significance and beautiful animation.

This is one that might split the audience. We decided to just include one Kingdom Hearts entry for this list, and although Kingdom Hearts 1 is iconic, kicked off the series, and changed the Square Enix formula for good, it cant be compared to the second entry in terms of gameplay and worlds. Minor criticisms of the first game were addressed, while the core experience was largely maintained. Disney has always championed creativity, and the world of Kingdom Hearts stands as one of their most original endeavors.