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Disney Dreamlight Valley plays host to a wide variety of critters, many of which can be fed, petted, and even recruited to accompany you on your travels. Interacting with such critters can also earn you more Dreamlight, which can be used to unlock biomes, castle realms and items in Scrooge's shop.
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Here's everything you need to know about Disney Dreamlight Valley's official launch.Once you've fed a critter you will begin the process of enabling it to be selectable as a companion, alongside Pua who comes from a quest, and several other companions from events. While companions provide no tangible benefits, they will follow you around and look adorable.
Updated January 3, 2024, by Zoë J. Osik: Having an animal companion is crucial to living out the life of a Disney character, and we've updated this guide to include more tips on how to befriend the Disney Dreamlight Valley companions in both the base game and A Rift In Time. You'll also find helpful links to other ways you can bond with your companions in the village.
How To Approach A Critter
When you see a critter, it will respond in one of four ways and how it acts will depend on when you can feed it. Here's what to look for and how to respond.
Red/Green Light
Critters with this behaviour will have a 'danger' position and a 'safe' position. You need to approach them slowly when it is safe.
Crocodiles are safe to approach when their heads are down, but stop when they are up. Feed them once they are led down.
For Raccoons, approach when they sit down, stop when they are standing. Feed them once they visibly relax.
Cobras are easy to scare, so wait for them to lower their heads before approaching. They will lay down when you can feed them.
Chase
These critters like you to chase them once you've spotted them. Run after them until they stop again.
Foxes and Rabbits both like to play tag. You'll have to do the same with the monkeys over on Eternity Isle.
Wait
These critter types will scope you out before they'll let you feed them.
Ravens will circle your head. Allow them to finish flying around. Sea Turtles will stay in their shells. Sit close by and wait for them to appear.
No Games
Some critters have no time for games and will allow you to simply approach and feed them straight away. These are the easiest critters to befriend and ensure you have the opportunity to unlock new Disney Dreamlight Valley companions without having to play any games with them.
Squirrels will expect food immediately so be ready with something for them in your inventory!
All five types of Sunbird will also take food from you on sight.
Additionally, Capybaras will walk right up to you for food.
How To Feed A Critter
To feed a critter simply approach one slowly (after following the responses above) and interact with it by pressing A on Xbox or Switch, X on PlayStation, or E/Left Click on PC.
By interacting with an animal, you will have the option to feed it one of the food items in your Inventory. Every animal variant has its own favourite type of food, though you do not need to know it in order to recruit it to your Companions.
All animals can be fed any available food, but there are benefits to choosing their favourites.
If you spot a Purple Friendship Star when handing over a food item, then you can rest assured that you've discovered their favourite food. By successfully handing it over you will complete additional Dreamlight Duties, which will, in turn, net you more Dreamlight to spend around the Valley.
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Halloween events wouldn't be complete without a costume.Each Critter's Favourite Foods
All critter types have favourite foods and liked foods. These don't change between colour variants, except in the case of Sunbirds. Here's what to look for:
How To Recruit A Critter As A Companion
If you'd like to recruit a critter to keep you company while carrying out your Dreamlight Duties, then you will need to feed it two to three times.
As you can only feed each type of animal once per day, you will need to revisit your chosen friend a second time after a period of 24 real life hours has passed.
If you try and feed the same type of animal a second time in the same day, the food will simply vanish.
You must feed each critter again to increase your friendship until you can add it as a companion. Critters also have a chance to drop items if fed their favourite foods.
How To Check If A Critter Is Now A Companion
To see if a critter has become a companion yet go to Main Menu > Collection > Critters. All the critters in game are shown here and as you recruit them they will be highlighted on this menu.
You can also click any companion in this menu to find out which biome it is located in, as well as if it is around on the current day. Remember that your game will always sync with your device clock.
Some variants will not appear in the collection, but they will appear in the companions section of your inventory. This is usually for special companions that are limited-time rewards.
How To Equip And Switch Companions
To access the companion menu go to Inventory > Wardrobe > Companions. Here you will see any companions you have from quests or events, alongside any recruited critters.
All you need to do to equip them is simply select them by clicking the picture. Now you can exit the menu and your new companion will follow you around.
To switch, go back to the same menu and select a different option or click the companion again to deselect it.
Your companion will stay with you all throughout Dreamlight Valley, until they are dismissed. If you enter the main castle your companion will vanish until you return to the valley.
Companions are not summonable in other realms.
How To Place Companions In Your Village
You can craft the Cozy Companion Home to place more of your Disney Dreamlight Valley companions around your village. This lets you select up to four animals per home, letting them walk freely around the village near their new dwelling.
You can place as many Cozy Companion Homes as you'd like!
This allows you to not only see them, but pet them as well. You can place toys in the village for them to play with as well, creating a homey atmosphere. Getting to bond with your animal companion in Dreamlight Valley makes the game much more cozy and engaging. You can even take photos together!
