It's nice to have a Metroidvania game like Disney Illusion Island which is so clearly geared towards families. By providing abilities like being able to hug your fellow players to give them additional health (which is a lovely mechanic that more games desperately need) to a wide range of customizable assistance options, Disney Illusion Island sets itself in such a way that a 4-year-old, a 13-year-old, and two adults who are starting to get self-conscious about their own age can all have an entertaining experience together.

There's no combat in Disney Illusion Island. Instead of fighting through hordes of enemies like in most titles of this nature, it is instead up to the team of Disney heroes to avoid and outmaneuver enemies. Players select one of four characters - Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, or Goofy - but only the first player controls the camera. This is ostensibly meant for the parent, or at least the most senior player in the group, as giving control of the screen space to someone who isn't quite sure where they should be going can be a recipe for frustration.

A Gorgeous Adventure With Lots of Heart

Disney Illusion Island's animations are beautifully detailed, and it's especially nice how much attention was given to making each of the four playable characters unique but still in line with their established personalities. Foodie Goofy performs his wall jump ability by stabbing the wall with a giant fork (and, if the process of wall jumping is too complicated for young players, there's even an option to have characters stick to the walls instead of sliding off) while the eternally put-upon Donald Duck must rely on a plunger, for example. In the above image, note how Mickey is using a propeller while Minnie is floating by way of a polka-dot umbrella. It's a nice touch and speaks to the level of dedication the development team has for the Disney brand and the characters on offer.

Related: Every Nintendo Switch Exclusive In 2023

Speaking of the Disney brand, it wouldn't be a Disney game without lots of callbacks, references, and easter eggs related to previous Disney properties. While the main game itself can be finished in under ten hours (and honestly, probably under five depending on your team's playstyle) collecting little orbs of light called Glimts, which are scattered all around Disney Illusion Island's three distinct biomes, unlock rewards like concept art, pictures from old Disney cartoons, and in-game items like additional hearts. Unfortunately, additional hearts don't really feel necessary in a game where all attacks can be easily avoided, health can be instantly returned to teammates, and taking damage can be disabled altogether.

Delightful, But Quite Simple

Disney Illusion Island is a fantastic kid's game, with incredible attention to detail, lovely music, and charming characters, but it is in no ways difficult or mind-blowing to people already familiar with what a Metroidvania game is. It's Ori and the Blind Forest by way of Steamboat Willie, and will likely serve as a great introduction to young players who are unfamiliar with the genre, but all but the most die-hard Disney adults might have a harder time powering through to the end out of sheer lack of challenge. That's not necessarily a bad thing, considering who this game is clearly developed for.

We've had a great time playing Disney Illusion Island in multiplayer as a family, and I can't help but think that's the only "right" way to play it. It would be nice if there was a bit more voice acting, since the gameplay is simple enough that even kids who can't quite read yet are able to pick it up and play mostly effortlessly, but even considering these few flaws it's still one of the best family games of 2023. It's a well-made adventure that, despite the many assistance features and lack of combat, still manages to be entertaining and enjoyable to players of varying ages. While it probably won't be everyone's favorite Metroidvania of all time, it's absolutely worth playing if you have kids.

Disney Illusion Island releases on July 28, 2023, for the Nintendo Switch. A download code was provided to Screen Rant for the purposes of this review.