Disney Dreamlight Valley is a vibrant hub for numerous critters, each ready to be fed, petted, and even joined by your side during quests. By engaging with these adorable animals, players can earn Dreamlight, which is essential for unlocking different biomes, castle realms, and shopping options at Scrooge’s store.
Once you’ve fed a critter, it begins the journey toward becoming a companion, in addition to other characters you might meet through quests or events. While these companions don’t offer functional advantages, they certainly add charm to your adventures by following you around.
Updated November 23, 2024, by Zoë J. Osik: Our guide has been refreshed to include tips on how to befriend the new critters found in Storybook Vale, such as owls, dragons, and baby pegasi. Here’s everything you need to know to make these new companions your friends.
How to Approach a Critter
When you encounter a critter, it will respond in one of four ways, depending on its mood and readiness to be fed. Pay attention to its behavior, as this will guide your interaction.
Red/Green Light
Some critters will have a "danger" position and a "safe" position that reflect their willingness to be approached. You must approach them carefully when they are in a safe state. Here are a few examples:
- Crocodiles: They’re safe to approach when their heads are down. Stop when they raise them, and feed them once they lower again.
- Raccoons: Move closer when they sit, but freeze when they stand. Feed them once they appear relaxed.
- Cobras: Approach only when they’ve lowered their heads, as they are easily frightened. They’ll lay flat when it’s time to feed.
Chase
Certain critters will enjoy being chased once you spot them. Run after them until they stop, then you’ll have a chance to feed them. Remember to have the right treats on hand!
Critters that love to play chase include:
- Foxes in the Frosted Heights.
- Rabbits in the Peaceful Meadow.
- Monkeys in Ancient’s Landing.
- Baby Pegasus in Mythopia.
Wait
Other critters prefer to observe you before they’ll accept food. They may curl up or hover nearby to watch you for a few moments. Here’s a list of critters that like to take their time:
- Ravens will circle your head; let them finish their flight.
- Sea Turtles will stay inside their shells. Sit near them and wait for them to poke their heads out.
- Baby Dragons will curl up, and you should stand still until they’re comfortable to engage.
No Games
Some critters are straightforward and will allow you to approach and feed them immediately. This makes it easier to befriend them without needing to play any games.
The following critters fall into this category:
- Squirrels will request food upon your arrival, so have something ready in your inventory.
- All five types of Sunbirds will accept treats as soon as they see you.
- Capybaras will trot right up to you for food.
- Owls in the Bind will readily accept snacks.
How to Feed a Critter
To offer a critter food, approach slowly based on the earlier behaviors and interact with it by pressing A on Xbox or Switch, X on PlayStation, or E/Left Click on PC.
Once you engage with an animal, you’ll see the option to offer one of your food items. Each critter type has its favorite food variety; however, knowing this isn’t necessary to recruit them as companions.
Each Critter’s Favorite Foods
Every critter has specific favored dishes and preferred snacks. These preferences remain consistent across color variations, except for Sunbirds.
Here’s what you should observe:
| Critter Type | Variant | Liked Foods | Favorite Food |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crocodile | Classic, White, Red, Blue, Pink, Golden | – | – |
| Fox | Classic, Black, White, Red, Blue | – | – |
| Rabbit | Classic, Black, White, Brown, Calico | – | – |
| Raccoon | Classic, Black, White, Red, Blue | – | – |
| Raven | Classic, White, Brown, Red, Blue | – | – |
| Sea Turtle | Classic, Black, White, Brown, Purple | – | – |
| Squirrel | Classic, Black, White, Red, Grey | – | – |
| Sunbird | Emerald, Golden, Orchid, Red, Turquoise | – | – |
| Capybara | Black and White, Blue Striped, Classic, Gray Spotted, Red and White Striped | – | – |
| Cobra | Blue and Red Striped, Classic, Green and White Striped, Pink Spotted, Yellow and Purple Striped | – | – |
| Monkeys | Beige, Black and Brown, Black and Gray, Classic, Red and Beige | 4-Star and 5-Star Desserts | – |
| Owls | Brown Owl, Dark Owl, Light Owl, Purple Owl | – | – |
| Baby Dragons | – | – | – |
| Pegasus | – | – | – |
How to Recruit a Critter as a Companion
To bring a critter into your circle, you must feed it two to three times. Remember, you can only feed each type of animal once per day, so be prepared to return after 24 real-life hours for continued interaction.
Note: Attempting to feed the same animal twice in one day will result in the food simply disappearing.
Building your friendship through feeding is essential for adding them as companions, and they may drop unique items when fed their favorite foods.
How to Check if a Critter is Now a Companion
To verify if a critter has become a companion, head to Main Menu > Collection > Critters. All in-game critters will be displayed, and those you have recruited will be highlighted.
You can also click on a companion in this menu to see which biome they inhabit and whether they’re around on that day. Keep in mind that the game syncs with your device’s clock.
It’s worth noting that some special variants won’t show in your main collection but will appear in the companion section of your inventory, usually as limited-time rewards.
How to Equip and Switch Companions
To access the companion menu, navigate to Inventory > Wardrobe > Companions. Here, you can see all your companions from quests and events, as well as any critters you’ve recruited.
To equip a companion, simply select them by clicking their picture. Once you exit the menu, your newly selected companion will follow you around the valley. To switch companions, return to the same menu and select a different one or click the current companion again to deselect them.
Your companion will remain with you throughout Dreamlight Valley until they are dismissed. Keep in mind that companions disappear when you enter the main castle and will reappear upon your return to the valley.
Note: Companions cannot be summoned 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 allows you to select up to four animals per home, letting them roam freely near their new dwelling.
You can set up as many Cozy Companion Homes as you desire!
Not only will this enable you to observe and interact with them, but you can also place toys around the village for them to enjoy. Bonding with your animal companions in Dreamlight Valley enhances the cozy and engaging atmosphere, and you can even capture memorable moments through photos together!
