Get ready to delve into Disney’s incredible back catalogue of characters and adventures as we take a look at the best Disney games of all time!
There are 61 Disney feature films and 800 characters in the Disney archives to date, so searching through our collections and our aging memories to find the best Disney games was a pretty tough call!
Still, we’ve got some firm favourites from our childhood that had to make the cut which made the process slightly easier, but this list could have well been about 50 titles long at least!
So, which titles made the cut? Which games, characters, and franchises won big, and which have what it takes to get that Retro Dodo seal of approval?
Let’s take a look, shall we?
Table of Contents
1. DuckTales: Remastered (2013)
The results are in, and DuckTales: Remastered takes the top spot on our list of the best Disney games of all time!
Ok, I know it’s a remake of the classic 1989 title, but it’s still the same story and characters with a fresh new look.
DuckTales was always my favourite cartoon as a kid, which is part of the reason that Darkwing Duck also made the cut above.
And Scrooge McDuck’s stick-hopping, space-exploring, treasure-hunting adventure is one of the games that I’d definitely take to my own personal gaming hall of fame!
Join Scrooge McDuck as he adds to his massive treasure horde by finding even more gold. Seriously, how rich is this lad, and he still wants more!
Fight enemies with your cane up close and jump to reach new heights by pogoing on it as you traverse exciting side-scrolling levels.
Health falls in the form of ice creams too – this guy knows how to live!
2. LEGO Pirates Of The Caribbean (2011)
Let’s climb aboard the black pearl for this next title in our best Disney games list, Lego Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Video Game.
Getting the chance to play two player in this game is unreal; the only thing that could be better than playing as a bunch of LEGO pirates is having your friend join you for the adventure too!
So, what adventures await those wishing to swashbuckle their way across the ocean?
Play through the first 4 Pirates movies; The Curse Of The Black Pearl, Dead Man’s Chest, At World’s End, and On Stranger Tides.
The levels all stick to the plot of the films, supercharging the action with that extra slice of humour that we love from the LEGO films. Use Jack’s compass to find items, walk underwater as Davy Jones, and pull off a slick double-jump as Elizabeth Swan!
3. Lion King (1994)
The Lion King is up next, a game that definitely led to me being bald by the time I was 27.
This is a tough game, and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. I love it, but there are elements that made me so angry. If you’ve read my other articles, then you’ll know that I can’t look at giraffes in the same way again.
Players take Simba through the story of the film (with a few extras thrown in) as he embarks on a journey from cub to fully grown lion, getting ready to take on the maniacal Scar.
Hey, you can’t pick your family, and this guy’s uncle is a real piece of work.
Timon and Pumba are playable characters in this game too; take them for a spin in the bonus stages, race on ostriches, and brawl like a beast when Simba grows into his claws.
4. Aladdin (1992)
Disney’s Aladdin is the first of two of Virgin games that usually always appear in our lists back-to-back. Ok, so the Jungle Book was epic too, but these two classics rule the roost every time.
Aladdin is such a famous film that the developers would have been mad to stray too far from the plot. Luckily, they also knew this fact and kept as close to the story as possible, creating some incredible Arabian nights-esque levels and making sure all the characters come along for the ride.
This game oozes that Disney feel. That’s because the Disney animators teamed up with Sega to actually make this title.
That’s like when your boss pitches in with the manual labour because he wants it doing properly, and Disney don’t mess around when it comes to quality!
As a result, the attention to detail is second to none. Instead of a health bar, we have a genie’s lamp and smoke – genius!
5. Split/Second (2010)
Nope, this isn’t a mistake – Split/Second, one of the most explosive and fast-paced racing games of all time is, in fact, made by Disney.
It topped our list of the best arcade racers, a decision that only took a Split/Second to make (I couldn’t resist).
It’s mad to think that this is a Disney game. There’s no mouse in sight, players can explode the track as they drive, and the whole thing feels as far away from Disney’s ethos as possible!
Look at the cars too – it’s no Disney-themed outing, these are some serious supercars!
Cause chaos, the more the better. If you drove like this in real life, then you’d definitely have your license revoked in a heartbeat.
Still, in this game, driving dangerously helps you to fill up your power gauge, which then leads to players blocking off or opening up new areas of track thanks to massive explosions.
A course that changes as you play; now thats our kind of racing game!
6. Castle Of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse (1990)
Disney’s mascot takes the 6th spot in our list, bringing the classic Castle Of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse to our sweaty little palms.
Castle of Illusion is a bona fide classic, and having Mickey bouncing around on the Game Gear never gets old.
Ok, so he’s not Link and he’s not Sonic, but this is a fan favourite that all SEGA-heads can’t get enough of.
Disney definitely took a lot of inspiration from the Mario games for this adventure, utilising the ‘stomp’ on enemies to thwart them and adding in marbles and apples as extra weapons.
If anything, the ‘Illusion’ games are some of Sega’s most important games with regards to appealing to a wide-scale audience. I think everyone had a copy of this game back in the day!
And I know Disney is one of those things that some people ‘grow out of’, but Mickey’s adventure is still a firm favourite here in the Retro Dodo office. The critics loved it, and these critics never grow tired of it!
7. Darkwing Duck (1992)
The super-skilled Drake Mallard takes the 11th spot in our list of the best Disney games of all time, but you might know him better as Darkwing Duck!
You’ll see how much I love DuckTales as we go through this article, and taking Darkwing out on hs own adventure was a huge deal for me.
The levels kind of feel like ‘Batman meets Taz: Escape from Mars’, featuring a duck in a cape.
Still with me? Good; let’s continue!
For someone like me who watched the TV show all the time and had toys based on the series, a Darkwing Duck was always going to make a list of the best Disney games that I didn’t know I would one day write.
Fire your gas gun, upgrading your weapon as you move through the levels while preparing for a final showdown with the dreaded Steel Beak.
These names are so cool!
8. G-Force (2009)
G-Force is up next, one of the best Disney games for fans of espionage guinea pigs.
I know that’s a very small niche, but hey, at least there’s a game to fulfill that passion!
You’ll play as Darwin, the guinea pig who must save the world from being tormented by a find who uses home gadgets for his evil deeds.
A guinea pig vs a blender; I bet you didn’t think that would be the premise of the 7th title in our best Disney games list, right?
Fighting isn’t exactly something that you would expect these little critters to get up to either, but they’re a dab hand at it alright.
Solve puzzles, take out foes, and use a clever little fly to do everything from accessing hard-to-reach places and slowing down time!
I’m never going to look at guinea pigs in the same way again!
9. Quackshot Starring Donald Duck (1991)
Donald Duck doesn’t exactly have the temperament of a hero, does he? Still, he’s trying his best to stay calm and save the day in one of Sega’s most exciting games, Quackshot starring Donald Duck
Hey, if Scrooge McDuck can go searching for treasure, then his nephew can give it a go too, right? Especially with Huey, Luey, and Duey coming along for the ride (and assumedly making things much tougher for Donald in the process).
Reach the Maharajah’s treasure before Big Bad Pete, using a plunger gun that can also fire popcorn and shoot bubblegum.
Donald has been pretty inventive; I’ll give him that!
Ok, so sometimes the controls can get a little tough to get a grasp of, but we can forgive Donald that. He is trying to wield a gun without any fingers, for crying out loud, so I’m sure we can make the best of it too.
You can even fly around from place to place by sticking a plunger onto a bird – maybe Donald is much cleverer than we’ve ever given him credit for!
10. Kingdom Hearts II (2005)
Kingdom Hearts II brings some slick Final Fantasy vibes into the Disney universe.
Yes, if you’ve never played one of these games before then that is going to feel very weird. Seeing Mickey dressed up like a Knight and Goofy holding a shield on a game with ‘Square Enix’ written on it might make some people feel confused, but trust us – this is an incredible game.
Disney has wormed its way into pretty much every franchise now. That means that In Kingdom Hearts II, Final Fantasy characters will be rubbing shoulders with Jiminy Cricket, Jack Sparrow, and Tron.
While you don’t need to be a Disney fan to love this game, spotting all of the characters from Bambi to Simba is fun if you grew up watching all of the classic movies. Plus, the game story is super compelling as well and keeps you hooked from start to finish!
11. Jungle Book (1994)
Oo-oo-oo; The Jungle Book is up next!
Now, while Jungle Book is indeed in our Top 3 Virgin Interactive Entertainment games, there are two that always take precedence in our collections.
Jungle Book might not be up there with Numbers 4 and 3 in our list, but it’s still a cracking game based on an incredible tale that remains timeless.
There are only 10 levels and the gameplay is very simple, but it’s still a bright and colourful game that you’ll have no trouble diving into.
Wield weapons that you might find in the jungle like bananas and nuts as well as boomerangs. You’ll need to wield those bananas like a boss too if you want to smash back the rhinos and other creatures that come your way!
The gameplay is simple – collect enough gems to move to the next level and stay alive. There’s a boss battle every two levels, and all of the bosses come from the film. Weirdly, you’ve got to fight Baloo the bear too, but I think that’s just to make the numbers up to account for the 5 fights every other level.
It’s strange, so go easy on him, ok!
12. Disney’s Stitch: Experiment 626 (2002)
Ohana means family, and family means nobody is left behind or forgotten. Don’t worry little guy, we couldn’t leave Disney’s Stitch: Experiment 626 out of this list!
Yes, Stitch’s video game adventure is up next, and it’s a must-have title for all the Lilo and Stitch fans out there (of which there are going to be many I’m sure!).
This game serves as a prequel to the film and shows Stitch on a mission to escape his home planet. Fire guns, crawl along walls, and find DNA samples as you move through each of the stages.
The levels look a little dated now, but the gameplay is superb. I mean, Stitch is one of the coolest, cutest, and gnarliest characters that Disney have ever made; a whole game based on him is always going to put a huge smile on our faces!
13. Epic Mickey (2010)
Now, if you liked the gameplay mechanic of Ōkami, then you’ll be all over this game. As you’ll tell from the front cover, a magical brush is the main weapon in Mickey’s arsenal, and you’ll need it to alter the levels you move through.
Paint scenes or take elements of a level away. Spray painting and careful design are both elements you’ll need to work on if you want to get ahead, as is eventually creating objects that can manipulate how enemies interact with you!
For Disney fans, this is a massive ‘blast from the past’ moment. There are so many characters to uncover that the older games amongst you will have forgotten about over the years.
It looks a lot fresher and easier to follow than some of the classic Disney retro games that have filled the later spots further down this list, and as aforementioned is definitely a ‘go-to game’ for anyone who loves the Celestial Brush from Ōkami!
14. Disney Infinity (2013)
Disney Infinity is one of those games that comes with a lot of accessories. If you’re into your Skylanders figurines or Amiibo, then step right up and get ready for your wallet to become a heck of a lot lighter!
If you buy the starter pack of this game, you’ll get three Disney characters to use – Sully (Monsters Inc), Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean), and Mr Incredible (The Incredibles).
The idea is that you’ll use your figurines and power discs on a receiver that will then put those characters, items, and vehicles into the game, and there are so many different characters and discs to collect!
Players can either play a scenario with the characters from said film franchise or cartoon, or they can go wild and put characters that would never be in the same scene together into the mix and create their own amazing scenes.
Attack, use gadgets, wield weapons, play with your friends, and create your own exciting Disney extravaganza.
Like I said, don’t be thinking that this is going to be a cheap hobby though – you’ll be spending a lot on characters and discs here, so bear that in mind before you become addicted.
15. Cars 2: The Video Game (2011)
Cars 2: The Video Game takes everything we loved about the first Cars game and supercharges it to 11. It’s filled with all the famous faces from the first two Cars cartoons and players must do a series of different modes in order to progress.
We’re talking racing, battles, attack, collecting levels – the works!
Any game where unlocking characters is an option is always going to be great in our books. There’s just something about working to complete a character roster that drives us crazy and that we can’t stop ourselves from finishing.
The graphics look amazing too – I know it’s the PS3 so you would expect as much, but look at how crisp and clear Lightning McQueen looks up there!
16. Stunt Island (1992)
Stunt Island takes the 16th spot in our list of the best Disney games of all time, a game from 1992 that players can use to create and make their own stunts from 50 different crafts and 1,000s of props.
It’s essentially Sim City for stunts, and anything is possible!
Fly around making stunts and earning money, or create your own mad stunts and try to pull them off!
Honestly, it looks simple (and it kind of is), but it still packs a punch and is super exciting to play. It’s one of those games that just eats up hours and chews into your free time, so prepare yourself (and clear your schedule).
17. Toy Story Racer (2001)
Let’s get back to a racing title and bring Buzz and Woody into the mix with Toy Story Racer.
Ok, so I know that it’s not as graphically amazing as the PS1 version, but for me, having a portable racer on the GBC with some of my favourite characters was, and still is, incredible.
There are only 4 characters to play as, so you don’t need to worry about taking ages to pick your driver. Go for Mr Potato Head, Bo Peep, Buzz, or Woody.
Racing through Pizza Planet while on the bus or in the office is fantastic. It’s simple and the levels aren’t super detailed, but that doesn’t really matter.
If you love all things Toy Story as I did when I was a kid and have a GBC or an Analogue Pocket, then grab a copy and let us know your thoughts!
18. Disney’s Goof Troop (1993)
Disney’s Goof Troop is up next, a game that is criminally underrated in my opinion. I know that it will probably fall by the wayside a lot compared to some of the more modern Disney games in this list, but I would strongly recommend any fan to go back and give it a try.
Pete and PJ have been taken by Keelhaul Pete. For those of you that don’t know, that’s a clone that’s the spitting image of Pete who dresses like a Pirate.
So, Goofy and Max go through the jungle and dungeons while fighting pirates. Sign me up!
Go treasure hunting, dodge cannon balls, solve problems and puzzles, and save Pete and PJ from walking the plank.
It looks a little like Link’s Awakening meets Bomberman, which is a combo that we can always get behind.
And, it’s just nice to see Goofy holding his own and actually doing well too. When he puts his mind to it, he can actually do stuff and not make a mess of it!
19. Gargoyles (1995)
How many of you can remember the TV show Gargoyles? I used to love watching this on a weekend, and the Disney game is just as epic.
Take Goliath through 18 Levels as you search for the Eye of Odin, a mystical relic that could destroy the earth.
No pressure then, Goliath!
Obviously being a Gargoyle, you’ve got to get on with your day as soon as the sun sets. And Goliath isn’t just hanging out in his own time, either.
Players will go through time, travelling over 1,000 years to face everything from Vikings to Robots.
Use your claws and wings to destroy enemies and progress through some dark and ominous dungeons. It’s basically a goth’s dream game!
20. Mickeys Speedway USA (2000)
Mickeys Speedway USA kickstarts our list of the best Disney games of all time, and it’s one of the most underrated karting titles we’ve ever played too.
Chasing Weasels across the United States in order to save Pluto and his diamond collar is original, I’ll give Disney that!
The fact that there’s a story to follow means it’s more like Diddy Kong Racing than Mario Kart, but the premise is basically the same.
Pick up items to make things like explosive baseballs and remote control planes to make things tougher for your opponents.
Compete in the time trial mode, battle your mates in the Contest Mode and destroy their balloons (just like Mario Kart 64), and hook up to the Gameboy Color Version of Mickeys Speedway USA using the all-important Transfer Pak!
