Can't Wait for Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Winter Update? Disney Dreamlight Valley's New DLC Packs Cozy Stardew Valley Vibes to Tide You Over
Sun-dappled, low-stakes, and irresistibly kind, Wishblossom Ranch rides in as the season’s coziest breakout.
Need something low-stress to chew on while we wait for Animal Crossing: New Horizons to drop that surprise 3.0 winter patch in January? Disney Dreamlight Valley just released a new DLC that is basically a love letter to anyone who ever cared way too much about a digital horse.
What Wishblossom Ranch actually is
The expansion is called Wishblossom Ranch, and it opens up a new area anchored by the Wishblossom Mountains. Yes, there are horses. Yes, you can ride them. The whole thing leans into the equestrian fantasy pretty hard, which, frankly, is the correct choice.
Who is joining the Valley this time
- Snow White
- Tinker Bell
- Tigger
- Cruella De Vil
- Maximus from Tangled
- Khan from Mulan
- Pegasus from Hercules
How it plays
Structurally, it is the classic Dreamlight loop with an equestrian twist. You team up with the new arrivals to push back a mysterious destructive force called the Decay, and you do it through quests and puzzles sprinkled around the new region. On top of that, ranch life is very much a thing: you care for horses, including brushing and feeding, and you can ride them. The blurb mentions 'betting' as part of horse care, which would be wild for a Disney title; I am 99% sure they meant 'petting,' but either way, your horse gets attention.
Early player reaction
"the first expansion that actually feels different from the main game."
Over on Steam, the DLC is sitting at a 'Mostly Positive' rating so far. One player calls it their absolute favorite expansion already, pointing to customizable mounts as the clincher. Another review simply reads: 'Man, I love horses.' Hard to argue with that one.
Price, platforms, and extras
Wishblossom Ranch starts at $29.99 and is available on all consoles and PC. There is a Deluxe Edition at $49.99 if you want extra Moonstones and some cosmetic goodies.
As someone who once lost an alarming number of hours to Barbie Horse Adventures, this scratches a very specific itch. It also adds a layer of low-key ranching that gives Dreamlight some light Stardew energy. If you are into farming and life sims, this is an easy relax-and-roam pick for early 2025 while we wait for that Animal Crossing update to land.