I'm Concerned Disney Dreamlight Valley Has Forgotten About The Forgotten

Disney Dreamlight Valley carries with it several heavy themes of mental health struggles amidst the colorful backdrop of a virtual world where familiar Disney characters are close friends. In this vibrant life simulation game, players can escape into a relaxing world where they get to go fishing with Goofy, farm with Wall-E, or simply run around and pet adorable animals like capybaras with Minnie Mouse. Naturally, there are also storylines told through quests and cutscenes, beginning with a fairly emotional initial campaign featuring The Forgotten.

The following article includes spoilers for the end of the initial campaign of Disney Dreamlight Valley. No DLC story content is expounded on, however.Playing the story of the base game in Disney Dreamlight Valley surprised me with how deeply emotional the storylines can hit. I know I am not alone in having very real tears brought to my face, as I could empathize with the feelings discussed by the characters, particularly with the main characters' past. The story of The Forgotten's fall into the depths of despair is all too realistic and can help promote a better understanding of depression, anxiety, and other struggles that people deal with on a daily basis in their real lives.

The Forgotten Seems To Have Been... Forgotten

DLCs Ignore The Forgotten, And Nobody Mentions Them Anymore

The Forgotten's tale is told in a heavily immersive way with the player seeing first-hand memories of The Forgotten's past, and realizing that The Forgotten is you. Not only does The Forgotten look like a dark and evil version of the player character at all times, but the story shows that this is a personification of the player character's inner child who struggles with the stresses and pain of life. These quests are so emotionally charged that they include a trigger warning for players before progressing too far.

This complex look at mental health is approached with sensitivity and kindness by all the characters as the player character and The Forgotten work through essentially their own version of therapy, digging deep to look at inner turmoil. Yet, once the story has been told and The Forgotten is welcomed lovingly into the valley, that's it. There is no mention of The Forgotten in either A Rift in Time or Storybook Vale, and I have yet to see another character even mention the existence of The Forgotten after the conclusion of the story.

The Forgotten Offers Few Quests, Doesn't Talk With NPCs, And Has No Home

And Looks Dark And Creepy Even After Its Story And Additional Quests Are Done

player character with the Forgotten from Disney Dreamlight Valley

After the main story is completed, there are a handful of quests involving The Forgotten making amends and learning to experience love and joy again. Cooking a meal for Goofy, gathering flowers for Mickey, and writing some poetry, are all used as ways to help the dark character transition back into Dreamlight Valley society, where they can live in harmony with their past friends.

Following these three main quests, however, it feels that everyone just goes on about their business ignoring The Forgotten completely.

Following these three main quests, however, it feels that everyone just goes on about their business ignoring The Forgotten completely. In my game, I have been paying attention in recent weeks to the presence of The Forgotten wandering my various areas, and they never speak with other NPCs or are acknowledged by them. If I speak to her, we can talk, but the conversation prompts are extremely limited and only changes occasionally.

Worst of all, they have no home to call their own. Perhaps players are to assume The Forgotten lives in the player's home as a portion of their own self, or maybe the Dark Castle is still their home, as it is always just a portal away. If so, that is a rather depressing and distant place for an already troubled individual to have to live.

The Mental Health Focus Of The Story Makes This A Bit Disturbing

It Doesn't Send A Good Message

I think what bothers me the most about this lack of continued support for The Forgotten is what it represents for those who face emotional struggles on a daily basis in their real lives. If the main campaign had not delved so deeply into exploring the feelings and story behind the character's past and encouraged people to not only empathize with The Forgotten but also take an introspective look at themselves, then The Forgotten fading into the background would be more understandable. As it stands, this neglect of continuing to include The Forgotten sends the wrong message for some of the more vulnerable players.

Villagers in the valley, including my own character, need to learn from the way Winnie the Pooh includes Eeyore, and continue to welcome The Forgotten.

Opening up to the vulnerability of tough emotions and past regrets is terrifying enough for many people. This can be partly due to the fear of their friends abandoning them or of a person feeling like a burden if they say too much. The Forgotten is perfectly set up for developers to use its ongoing story in the live-service game to show people how to continue loving someone who struggles, and show those who struggle that they will always have value and deserve love.

What Can Be Done In Dreamlight Valley For The Forgotten

Because Right Now It Just Feels Sad

Disney Dreamlight Valley is not marketed as a therapy tool, and developers have already done a lot in bringing awareness of mental health issues into the spotlight through its story. Even if they do not want to continue to explore the emotional possibilities, there are many ways that they could at least make The Forgotten a bit more welcome in the valley, and in players' games.

Give The Forgotten a home of their own, perhaps even one that players can decorate. Alternatively, allow them to live in the player's home with a dedicated room to call their space.
Make the creepy black smoke and swirls stop and give them a makeover.
Additional dialogue for talking to The Forgotten, and have them become involved in other character quests.
Allow them to become a companion to tag along with the player for chores and activities.
Include new quests with The Forgotten.
Have The Forgotten meld with the soul of the main character.

Another thing to consider is that for players who did struggle with the mental health themes discussed in the main story, seeing The Forgotten could be upsetting. Allowing players to have a setting that removes The Forgotten from their game sounds a bit cruel for The Forgotten, but could make Disney Dreamlight Valley a more comfortable and safe place for people who need that.

Personally, I love my Forgotten and want to be able to continue to help her. I would love to welcome her into my home and take her along on quests. Just because someone may have depression or a troubled past is no reason to just ignore them. Villagers in the valley, including my own character, need to learn from the way Winnie the Pooh includes Eeyore, and continue to welcome The Forgotten along in Disney Dreamlight Valley adventures.