Making this top Disney games list was way harder than you would think! Despite what you may be thinking right now, there are way more good than bad games based on Disney licenses, so it was hard to narrow this one down. We have a few of the usual suspects on here, but there are a few that are sure to surprise you!
As there are so many good Disney games, there is no definitive list, but this is our list, so we encourage you to tell us what games would have made your own personal top 14 Disney games list in the comments section.
Land of Illusion
- Original Release Date: 1992
- Platforms: Sega Master System, Game Gear
The Sega Master System and Game Gear had a damn fine port of Castle of Illusion, but Land of Illusion is the better game and an exclusive game that did not get a 16-bit version. This is more of the same platforming action starring Mickey Mouse. Mickey controls great and can pick up and throw things to defeat enemies and also to get to harder-to-reach areas. The presentation is amazing, with some of the best graphics on the system that are so full of color and vibrant animation! The Master System and Game Gear actually have a solid library of great Disney games!
Aladdin
- Original Release Date: 1993
- Platforms for Sega version: Sega Mega Drive/Genesis
- Platforms for Capcom version: Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)
Aladdin on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis was a huge hit! Featuring art and animation from actual Disney artists, this game looks phenomenal. It is an action platformer with a heavy emphasis on the action, as Aladdin can use a sword. They managed to capture the look, sound, and vibe of the animated classic perfectly, and it truly is a standout title for Sega’s 16-bit console. This game was such a huge deal that there was a version of the Sega Mega Drive II/Sega Genesis II that had it as a pack-in game!
Capcom handled the Aladdin game for the Super Nintendo and it is just as good as their 8-bit Disney games for the NES. While it may not look as good as the Sega version. Aladdin on the Super Nintendo has tighter controls and is more of a platformer than an action game. The way Aladdin can bounce off enemies gives the game a fun and unique feel, and even though it is very different to the other game, this version still manages to capture the look and overall feel of the movie very well. It may be a tad on the easy side, but it is still a great example of awesome 16-bit platforming.
Phineas & Ferb Across the 2nd Dimension
- Original Release Date: 2011
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, Wii, Nintendo DS
Bet it is a shock for many to see Phineas & Ferb Across the 2nd Dimension on our top 10 Disney Games list, but this game is awesome. Based on the movie from the hit Disney XD series, this game is a 3D action platformer that has a whole bunch of characters to play as. The gimmick is you have these guns that each have different abilities ranging from shooting baseballs, shooting orange soda to being able to pick stuff up. It looks great, has excellent voice acting and is one of the best co-op Disney games you can get, especially if you want a fun game to play with the kids.
Castle of Illusion
- Original Release Date: 1990
- Platforms: Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Master System, Game Gear
Did you know that in the early days of Sega trying to muscle in and be the number one 16-bit system, before Sonic it was often Castle of Illusion that they would use to show off the system? This is such a great game and even though it is a rather early title, it holds up and is still one of the best platforming games the system has to offer. It is just so charming and fun that it is impossible not to have a great time when playing through this. While it is on the short side, it more than makes up for it in charm and fun, it is the kind of game you can play through time and time again and never get bored.
The Magical Quest 3 Starring Mickey & Donald
- Original Release Date: 1995 (Japan), 2005 (Game Boy Advance Western Release)
- Platforms: Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Game Boy Advance
The entire Magical Quest series is awesome and we would love to see Capcom release all three games in a collection for modern systems. The third game features Mickey and Donald on a wild and crazy adventure. Like the previous games, getting new costumes gives the characters new abilities. What is extra fun about this third entry is that Mickey and Donald get different costumes, making you want to play as both characters. While it only came out on the Super Nintendo in Japan, it did get released in the West on the Game Boy Advance.
Disney Infinity 1.0
- Original Release Date: 2013
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS, Microsoft Windows
While there were two other fun in their own right Disney Infinity games, the original just focused on Disney and Pixar and we would argue that the playsets/levels that were made for this game were the best. It comes with Monsters University, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Incredibles, each being their own game! The Toy Story pack that was sold separately is fantastic and who can forget the Toy Box mode where you can make your very own games and just do what you want! While the toys to life thing may have overstayed its welcome, Disney Infinity was a fun and wild ride while it lasted.
The Lion King
- Original Release Date: 1994
- Platforms: NES, SNES, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Game Boy, PC, Amiga
The Lion King on the NES is a 2D platform game that truly captures the spirit of the Disney film. It has challenging gameplay and some entertaining mini-games along the way. In addition, the game’s design was visually accurate to the movie, with many memorable sequences.
The game has beautiful levels and an excellent rendition of the original soundtrack. This is a more challenging game than other Disney titles of the era, but with all the levels feeling faithful to the movie, this game is still a unique and remarkable title.
Duck Tales
- Original Release Date: 1989
- Platforms: NES, Game Boy
This game is considered a classic and is ranked among the best games of all time on the NES console. It’s a 2D side scroller with specific mechanics innovations that would be copied for years to come. It also has one of the best soundtracks of any NES game.
The game put players on a quest to locate the “Five Lost Treasures,” with Scrooge McDuck as the main character. The plot takes players through unique levels which the style of play differs for each one. This is one of the best games in Capcom’s impressive library on the NES.
Guilty Party
- Original Release Date: 2010
- Platforms: Wii
This is one of Disney’s games indeed for the whole family. It has excellent gameplay and characters that appeal to all age groups. This is a turn-based game similar to a classic board game, such as Clue, in which a mystery must be solved.
Players move around a 3D game board and try to collect clues to prove if a culprit is guilty while playing different mini-games along the way. Players can choose to play as one of six members of the Dickens family, who are detectives trying to track a criminal mastermind. It’s a very competitive and fun title that never gets boring.
Tron 2.0
- Original Release Date: 2003
- Platforms: PC, Mac OS X
Anyone who saw the movie has wondered what it would be like to step into the computer. Tron 2.0 is a story-driven first-person shooter with lots of action for players to engage in. Like the movie, it has an unusual visual look, and the gameplay ties into the events of the film smoothly.
Every level has a beautiful color scheme that differentiates them from one another, with character models being very well done. If you’re a fan of the movie, this game won’t disappoint. It gives you non-stop action and is easy to jump into if you want to play a quick game.
Chip ‘n Dale’s Rescue Rangers
- Original Release Date: 1990
- Platforms: NES
While you could argue that on a technical level, the sequel is slightly better, the original Chip ‘n Dale’s Rescue Rangers on the NES is way more memorable and it is Capcom their very best on the system. This is just such a fun game to play and it is like you are playing through the actual TV show as they have captured the whole vibe of the show perfectly. It is a platformer, but there is a lot of action here too where you can pick things up and throw them at enemies, you can even play with a buddy if you want some two player action!
Ducktales Remastered
- Original Release Date: 2013
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC, PlayStation Now, Xbox One (Backwards Compatibility)
Look, Ducktales on the NES is an absolute classic and one of the best games on the system, but the Ducktales remake that was made by Wayforward took what was great about that NES game and flat out made it better. It looks incredible, has the original voice cast back, and even adds an actual story. Yes, we love the NES version, but for as good as that is, this is the best Ducktales game ever made and one of the best Disney titles too! Thankfully, this has not been lost as you can still get this now on Xbox One and Xbox Series and we highly recommend that you do as it is one of the best 2D platform action games ever made!
Kingdom Hearts
- Original Release Date: 2002
- Platforms: PlayStation 2, subsequently re-released and remastered on PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC
The original Kingdom Hearts, released in 2002, put together some of the most recognized Disney characters with Square-Enix characters in this tremendous action-RPG title. In addition, it features brilliant 3D animation and modeling, making it the best rendition of a cartoon landscape to be put into a video game.
The game takes you through various locations based on Disney movies such as Hercules’ Coliseum of Olympus while giving the player a great RPG experience. No other Disney game can come close to comparing with this concept in a game that must be played to be fully appreciated.
Toy Story 3
- Original Release Date: 2010
- Platforms: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, PC, Mac OS X, Nintendo DS, PSP
That is right, we feel that Toy Story 3 is the best Disney game of all time! It is one of the best movie licensed games in general! It is a 3D action platformer that looks and plays amazingly well. It follows the plot of the movie, but adds in its own stuff too. It has fantastic voice acting and a great soundtrack and it is just such a joy to play through. However, Toy Story 3 also has the Toy Box mode! This is a massive extra mode where you can do all kinds of fun missions and it would lay the groundwork for Disney Infinity. Just like Ducktales, Toy Story 3 is still playable to this day on Xbox One and Xbox Series!
Thanks for checking out our Top 10 Disney Games list with us today. We are sure that there are a few surprises on there, especially our number 1 and 2 picks! However, we feel that while Disney games were awesome during the 8 and 16 bit days, Disney made great games for years after that too!
Be sure to leave your own favorite Disney games in the comments section!
