Scramblecoin was introduced to Disney Dreamlight Valley through the A Rift in Time Expansion Pass. Players can play the board game Scramblecoin with the Valley's various villagers, which will often be referred to as a “Bonus Game” by Eager Villagers. Additionally, players can challenge any Villager to Scramblecoin on their own.
Disney Dreamlight Valley has added new features since entering early access in 2022, both in updates and DLC. One of the game's latest post-launch additions has not only been a fun new mode of gameplay but could be a great inspiration for the various simulation games that Disney Dreamlight Valley is in competition with. While this addition shouldn't necessarily be a mainstay for all simulation games, this one fun feature in Disney Dreamlight Valley is well-suited to the Animal Crossing franchise and Tales of the Shire specifically.
Mini-games are one of the most iconic aspects of simulation games and Disney Dreamlight Valley is no exception. One of the later mini-game additions to Disney Dreamlight Valley is also one of the most fun acts as the perfect inspiration for other games in the simulation genre.
The board game is played on a board of 8x8 tiles with random lakes, rocks, and fences of varying sizes acting as obstacles. Like chess, Scramblecoin uses multiple unique figures that each have their own distinct path they can take. For example, Stitch must enter the board by its borders and has three cross movements. Each figure also has its own unique ability, with Stitch being able to pass through walls and destroy them.
Winning or losing games of Scramblecoin affects a player’s Rank Value. The number of Ranking Points a player can earn is higher if they are playing against an Eager Villager. Additionally, different villagers have different difficulty levels and their own set of pieces that they use in each game. For example, Belle is a Level 3 Scramblecoin player and has a set figure lineup that features Cogsworth, Fairy Godmother, Lumiere, Mickey Mouse, and Remy.
Rewards for playing Scramblecoin obviously include Ranking Points, but 200 Friendship will be gained with the opposing Villager per completed game, or 1,000 Friendship if the Villager is Eager. This makes Scramblecoin a fun, and somewhat challenging, way to earn Friendship outside of grinding away at character interactions and quests.
If utilized properly, a game similar to Scramblecoin could be a perfect addition to both Animal Crossing's latest title and Tales of the Shire. Though details about both games are still speculative as Animal Crossing's next title has yet to be announced and Tales of the Shire will officially launch in March, certain features confirmed in previous Animal Crossing titles and in Tales of the Shire's early access are congruent with Disney Dreamlight Valley.
Interactions with villagers will obviously occur across both games. While a true friendship leveling system was first introduced in New Horizons, befriending villagers has been a mainstay of Animal Crossing for quite some time. Considering how common this is in other simulation games, Tales of the Shire will likely follow suit. Adding a fun game, distinct from Scramblecoin, to level up friendship could be a great way for players to learn more about each of these games' villagers while progressing.
Both games also have their own unique villagers, which could inspire the pieces on this hypothetical game’s board. A board game for Animal Crossing's next title could feature some of the franchise's most sought after Dreamies as pieces. In contrast, Tales of the Shire's pieces could be of iconic characters from The Hobbit, as the game takes place prior to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, including Gandalf the Grey and Bilbo Baggins. While a Scramblecoin-esque game is not a necessity for Animal Crossing or Tales of the Shire, its role in Disney Dreamlight Valley
