A Parent’s Guide to Disney Illusion Island

Disney Illusion Island Starring Mickey & Friends is a platformer featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy as they explore the island of Monoth. This co-op friendly platformer is a great candidate for family game night given its content. But are your kids fully ready to pick up the controller and collaborate? Find out below!

Is Disney Illusion Island Starring Mickey & Friends Appropriate for Your Kids?

Disney Illusion Island Starring Mickey & Friends is rated E for Everyone with Mild Fantasy Violence. Despite the fact that it is very co-op friendly, it is designed to be played locally – meaning there are no online communications integrated into the game.

According to ESRB’s Rating Summary, the “Mild Fantasy Violence” Content Descriptor points to the player’s ability “to drop large objects onto bosses’ heads.”

Do remember though: Just because a game is rated E for Everyone doesn’t necessarily mean kids of all skill levels will be able to play without frustration! If you think your younger ones may have trouble with some of the jumping and coordination in Disney Illusion Island Starring Mickey & Friends, I recommend checking out some gameplay videos and reviews.

Where Can I Play Disney Illusion Island Starring Mickey & Friends and How Much Does It Cost?

Disney Illusion Island Starring Mickey & Friends was initially released in 2023 for the Nintendo Switch (as Disney Illusion Island), but an expanded version is now also available on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

Disney Illusion Island Starring Mickey & Friends costs $29.99 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It is listed as $39.99 on the Nintendo Switch.

What is Disney Illusion Island Starring Mickey & Friends About?

The game begins as Mickey and the crew receive an invitation to a relaxing picnic on the island of Monoth. Of course, this is a ruse, and the crew finds that they were lured to help the denizens of the island recover three stolen Tomes of Knowledge.

Your kids will be in the shoes of the gang as they venture to three unique biomes around Monoth to recover said Tomes and become heroes to the Hokuns (the critters that live on Monoth).

How does Disney Illusion Island Starring Mickey & Friends Play?

Disney Illusion Island Starring Mickey & Friends is referred to as a “Metroidvania” game. This is a portmanteau of Metroid and Castlevania, the series that established the genre. In Metroidvania games players typically explore a large map separated into many themed areas. One major hallmark of these games is how the world opens up as you progress. For example, you may come across a gap that’s far too wide to jump early in the game. However, a few hours in you could unlock the ability to double jump, allowing you to easily traverse the gap! Likewise, you may find a crumbling wall with no way to break it, only to unlock some special weapon or ability designed to destroy said wall that opens an entirely new area.

The main difference between Disney Illusion Island Starring Mickey & Friends and other Metroidvania-type games is that combat is virtually non-existent in this game. Up to four players will explore, hop, wall jump, and swing together throughout the entire island of Monoth without ever really fighting any enemies. There are enemies patrolling the biomes of Monoth, but the real goal is to avoid or dispatch them in other ways.

This turns the game into more of a puzzle platformer at times. You and your kids will need to figure out the best routes to take through an area to jump over, under, and around wandering enemies. This is best exemplified by the boss fights. Your kids will be tasked with manipulating the environment to drop hazards on boss’ heads to incapacitate them and recover the Tomes. This is a stark contrast to other Metroidvania games where players have all manner of whips, weapons, and explosives to deal with enemies. Likewise, this could make it especially appealing to younger players and families.

And if some of the family struggles to jump precisely through environments, you can refill their health with a nice in-game hug.

Managing Your Mascots’ Video Game Experiences

Let’s face it… the demands of life and parenting means that you almost certainly cannot be exploring in-game with your kids all the time. Fortunately, there are tools freely available to help make sure your kids have appropriate video game experiences no matter where you are.

Starting with checking a game’s ESRB-assigned age and content rating is always a great first step when deciding if a specific video game is appropriate for your kids. But if you need more information, you can also check out a game’s Rating Summary (if assigned) or search for gameplay videos and reviews online.

It’s also helpful to start a family discussion to establish some household rules around video games. This can cover things like screen time limits, online communication with others, spending real money on new games or in-game purchases, and more. This judgement-free conversation is also a great opportunity for you to learn about what your kids are playing, and why they love games. Visit our Family Discussion Guide for some tips and conversation starters.

Lastly, you can back up those household rules with parental controls. Virtually every device – from smartphones, to computers, to consoles – offers parental controls to help you manage what your kids play, when and for how long, with whom, and whether they can spend real money on new games or in-game purchases.