Highlights
- Disney Channel shows have inspired numerous games, with some of the best ones being from the late '80s and early '90s and involving ducks.
- The games based on shows like TaleSpin, Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers, Gargoyles, Darkwing Duck, and DuckTales offer unique gameplay experiences that capture the essence of their respective shows.
- These games provide engaging gameplay, creative level design, and a sense of accomplishment, making them enjoyable for fans of both the shows and the gaming franchise.
Many audiences appreciate Disney for its unforgettable films, but the company has also left its mark on TV shows. The Disney Channel has kept kids enthralled since its first broadcast, expanding on stories established in the movies while complementing them with original programs. Granted, not all of these are winners, but the network still boasts enough engaging series for fans both new and old.
![Mickey Mouse Games](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/mickey-mouse-games.jpg)
9 Best Games That Let You Play As Mickey Mouse
These are some of the best games that let fans play as Mickey Mouse.
As is often the case, success has inspired numerous games. Countless Disney Channel titles have graced home consoles and handhelds. Most of the best ones stemmed from the late '80s and early '90s, as that era birthed some of the network's most revered shows. Incidentally, most of them involved ducks.
6 TaleSpin
TaleSpin
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy , Nintendo Entertainment System , PC , Game Gear , Genesis , TurboGrafx-16
- Released
- December 11, 1991
- Developer
- Radiance Software, Capcom, Sunsoft
- Genre(s)
- Action , Platformer , Shoot 'em Up
This show is one of the most bizarre ideas Disney has ever concocted. The animal characters from The Jungle Book run a cargo plane business, flying over land and sea in weekly worldwide quests. TaleSpin works regardless of that weirdness, and the same goes for the game.
The developers use the series' premise as a promising takeoff point for a side-scrolling aerial shooter. Players travel to a plethora of destinations, shooting at enemies in dogfights as exhilarating as they are whimsical. It's not just about racking up kills, though.
Fans must also gather cargo and money. They then put these toward aircraft upgrades so that they can take on tougher challenges. The cycle is simple yet addictive, and it fosters a genuine sense of growth. Soon, players are determined to build the best plane in the business.
5 Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Entertainment System , Sega Genesis Mini
- Released
- June 8, 1990
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Among the many shows spotlighting the supporting stars, Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers follows the titular chipmunks as they save friends and other small animals from peril. That sounds standard as fantastical journeys go, so one wouldn't think the ensuing game would be anything special.
On the contrary, Chip & Dale's appeal comes from their size. They're minuscule rodents, so the ordinary world looks much larger from their perspective. As such, the developers craft creative platforming levels from regular environments. Even a simple backyard area involves jumping over potted plants, fences, angry bugs, and rabid robo-dogs. Suburbia has never seemed so imposing.
![characters in Disney Dreamlight Valley, characters in Watch Dogs Legion, soldier in Call of Duty Warzone](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/characters-in-Disney-Dreamlight-Valley-characters-in-Watch-Dogs-Legion-soldier-in-Call-of-Duty-Warzone.jpg)
7 Great Games With Numerous Playable Characters
These excellent games let players step into the shoes of a wide range of different characters.
That's doubly true since the chipmunks can't combat these threats. Chip & Dale aren't directly violent, relying instead on ingenuity. Specifically, they must pick up crates and throw them at foes. This tests players' precision in a slightly different way. Granted, Donkey Kong Country later fine-tuned this gameplay, but Chip & Dale still managed plenty of fun beyond their humble stature.
4 Gargoyles
Gargoyles
- Platform(s)
- Genesis
- Released
- 1995-11-00
- Developer
- Empty Clip Studios, Disney Interactive Studios
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
The dark and moody tale of night creatures prowling New York City retains a cult following long after its three-season run. Similarly, the Gargoyles game may not have made a splash compared to other Disney tie-ins, but it still boasts ample support. Fans can definitely enjoy it as a side-scrolling platformer. If only focusing on that area, though, it doesn't stack up to its contemporaries. Luckily, that's not all Gargoyles has.
These are winged beings with more physical prowess than humans. The gameplay is at its best when it embraces that fact. The level design has more verticality than typical side-scrollers. The heroic Goliath can climb walls, swing from ceilings, and flap his wings for extra air time. These moves emanate his inherent power and acrobatic mastery, no doubt enhanced by the fluid animations and smooth physics. Not only does this distinguish Gargoyles from its peers, but it also beautifully emulates the show's gothic thrills.
3 Darkwing Duck
Darkwing Duck
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy , Nintendo Entertainment System , PC , PS4 , TurboGrafx-CD , Xbox One
- Released
- 1992-06-00
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Action , Platformer
A take on superheroes, Darkwing Duck sees the costumed crime-fighter hit the streets to combat nighttime ne'er-do-wells. Batman is obviously a prominent influence, but the game has a different inspiration. It may not be what fans think.
In short, it's a blatant copy of Mega Man. The masked marauder runs and jumps his way through several urban environments, firing his gun to dispatch any enemies in his path. Even the coding feels nearly identical to Mega Man 5, which isn't surprising given both titles hail from Capcom. Some might consider it a cheap knockoff, but therein lies its greatest strength.
![Final Fantasy 7, Dark Souls 3, Halo, Street Fighter](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/featured-image.jpg)
8 Video Game Studios That Should Make Their Own Crossover Fighting Games
With several big companies creating great games, fans might be interested in playing more fighting games with some of their favorite franchises
Mega Man is a solid foundation for any game, especially during this time. Darkwing Duck maintains much of that quality in translation. In addition, the formula fits the property like a glove, as the caped vigilante already spends his nights traversing rooftops and shooting projectiles. The finished product may not be as deep or challenging as its predecessors, but the gameplay is engaging enough. In the end, it should satisfy fans of both franchises.
2 QuackShot
QuackShot
- Platform(s)
- Genesis , Sega Saturn
- Released
- December 19, 1991
- Developer(s)
- Sega
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Imagine Ducktales crossed with Indiana Jones. The result is QuackShot: an engrossing adventure title focusing on Donald Duck and his nephews as they travel the globe. The framework is that of a platformer, albeit one prioritizing exploration and puzzles. As Donald progresses through exotic environments, he needs various tools to proceed. He can blow bubble bombs to demolish barriers, or he might stick plungers to a wall to reach higher ground. The temperamental bird finds these items scattered throughout the levels. Collecting and using them, in turn, unlocks new levels. The process creates an undeniable sense of accomplishment.
That is especially the case with the detailed graphics and level designs bringing these locales to life. Each stage looks and feels distinct, meaning players are always excited to visit the next one. That excitement in itself is the essence of a great adventure.
1 DuckTales
DuckTales
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy , Nintendo Entertainment System
- Released
- September 14, 1989
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Speaking of adventure, how about the show that popularized globetrotting ducks? DuckTales chronicles the exploits of Scrooge McDuck as he and Donald's nephews uncover hidden treasures and lost civilizations the world over. The tie-in game is essentially a more energetic version of QuackShot. It still involves navigating multi-leveled areas in search of artifacts. These artifacts let players challenge bosses, advance the story, and unlock more stages. That said, DuckTales ironically places less emphasis on exploration.
Instead, it focuses more on the platforming experience. The game has infinitely more enemies, all of whom are hectic in their movements. On top of that, Scrooge must jump over greater gaps and obstacles. Adding to that archaic atmosphere is his cane, which he uses as a pogo stick. These elements keep players on their toes without becoming brutally difficult. Rather, they give DuckTales an infectious zest that stands the test of time.