The open-world beat-em-up, ‘Knuckle paradise’, is coming to Steam in 2027
Press release:
April 24 2026 - ARTE France and independent studio Flying Oak Games reveals Knuckle P[...]
There are few brands that have been able to move with the times quite like Disney. Fresh off the back of the worldwide success of the newest version of Beauty and the Beast, Disney has again proven that even in a world that has changed dramatically over the 90-plus years the brand has been in existence, they are still as relevant as they ever have been. From movies to television, music to fashion, Disney’s influence in popular culture continues to be as prevalent as ever, and is showing no signs of slowing down.
One area where Disney’s impact has been far-reaching is the world of video games. You see, while the company recently halted production on their Disney Infinity franchise, the popular toys-to-life series that was a key part of Disney’s gaming division becoming a universal hit, the brand’s impact on the gaming industry as a whole is clear for anyone to see. The 10th best-selling game of 2013, Disney Infinity sold more than three million units in its first year, establishing itself as the best and most popular toys-to-life franchise, outselling both Skylanders and LEGO’s efforts.
“Mickey Mouse” (CC BY-ND 2.0) by Thomas James Caldwell
But while the days of Disney Infinity are now over, Disney’s influence in the gaming world is still as strong as it has ever been. The brand has inspired a range of video games, as well as popular casino slot games such as Arabian Nights and Twinkle – based on popular Disney characters Aladdin and Tinkerbell respectively. To fill the Mickey Mouse-shaped void, developers Capcom have actually announced plans to launch a new collection of classic 8-bit Disney games for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC. So, as we prepare for this awesome selection, let’s take a walk down memory lane and have a closer look at some of the best Disney games from over the years.
Lion King (1994 – Sega Genesis)
The ’90s was a great decade for Disney, and a really great time for Disney-inspired video games. The Lion King will go down as one of the most popular Disney movies of all time, grossing more than $500 million and spawning one of the brand’s most successful video games as well as a hit stage show. Created for the Sega Genesis, the game saw Simba on his journey from scared cub to king. Dealing with all the ups and downs seen in the movie, this game also included bonus levels where you could control Timon and Pumbaa.
The most modern game in our list, Epic Mickey, could well be one of the most underrated Disney video games ever. Going against the “feel-good” vibe Disney has modelled a lot of its brand on, Epic Mickey had something of a dark storyline to it. The gameplay bore some resemblance to Super Mario Sunshine, allowing players to take control of Mickey as he painted his way through the game. While the game took Disney in an entirely different direction to many of its other games, it gave the Mickey Mouse brand a huge boost after being overshadowed by a lot of newer characters.
One of two video games released featuring Aladdin, the Sega Genesis version has long been viewed as being the superior of the two. Made by Virgin Interactive, the graphics were in keeping with the original Disney movie. Featuring a brilliant soundtrack, some very slick graphics for the time and an awesome story, few games have captured the true magic of Disney as this game did. It’s perhaps no surprise that iGaming developers such as Playwire have used Aladdin as inspiration for the likes of their aforementioned Arabian Nights.
Mickey Mania (1994 – Super Nintendo)
Even though this game was released in 1994, it brought with it a whole load of nostalgia for those who had followed Mickey Mouse from the days of Fantasia to the original Steamboat Willie cartoon. Packed with everything you could want from a game based on Walt Disney’s favorite and iconic character, this was the first taste of success of the Traveller’s Tales, now known as TT Games. Sure, the graphics could have been better and other releases had better gameplay, but this was a game that really put Disney on the gaming map.
And with that said, which Disney games are your favourites? Let us know in the comment section down below!
Seb Whitehead
Seb likes to write about anything to do with technology, comic books or entertainment.
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Tags: Disney, Disney Infinity, Gamer, Gamers, Gaming, Gaming legacy, Retro games
