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10% OffDragonVale has been a beloved dragon-breeding park simulator since its 2011 launch, and its sequel DragonVale World (released in 2016) promised a modern 3D upgrade. On the surface, they sound similar – breed and hatch dragons in your own park – but the two games differ in many ways. In this deep dive we compare gameplay, dragons, graphics, social features, and more pocketgamer.bizdragonvale.fandom.com. Whether you’re a long-time player or new to dragon games, here’s everything you need to know to pick the experience that’s right for you.
Gameplay: Parks, Building, and Progression
Both games are park simulators: you build habitats, raise dragons, and earn currency from them en.wikipedia.org. In DragonVale (Original) you create floating island parks in the sky (the “Vale”), adding habitats and decorations to attract visitors. Every dragon produces DragonCash that you spend to expand your park en.wikipedia.org. You clear debris, grow food on treat farms, enter dragons in races, and tackle seasonal quests over time apps.apple.comgameskinny.com.
DragonVale World also has you build a dragon park, but in a fully 3D world on the land below (the “Surface”) dragonvaleworld.fandom.com. The setting is 1,000 years later, after magic folk return to the earth. Here you start on a plot of ground (instead of sky islands) and unlock different biomes (jungles, deserts, etc.) as you play dragonvale.fandom.com. Like the original, you breed dragons by pairing any two; eggs hatch after a timer, and feeding dragons requires growing food gamezebo.comapps.apple.com.
A key difference is in activities and pacing. In DragonVale World, you can juggle many tasks at once – building habitats, breeding, farming food and completing quests – making the gameplay feel more real-time. (As one reviewer noted, DVW “allows you to work on many of these tasks simultaneously,” whereas the original often had you wait on single tasks gamezebo.com.) DVW also adds NPC quests and clan missions (in later updates) that original DV doesn’t have dragonvale.fandom.com. In contrast, DragonVale (Original) relies on features like the cooperative breeding cave, the race track, and limited-time events. You can visit friends’ parks, send gifts and gems, and breed with friends in special caves apps.apple.comgameskinny.com – social touches that DVW only introduced later.
In short, DragonVale World modernizes the formula with exploration and multitasking, while DragonVale sticks to the classic island-park style with rich seasonal events. Both games are free to play with optional in-app purchases (for example, buying extra gems to speed up breeding) apps.apple.comdragonvaleworld.fandom.com. Neither game has a real money subscription – they simply let you buy gems or special items if you choose. Note that the original DragonVale requires an internet connection (so do DVW’s clan features) apps.apple.comdragonvaleworld.fandom.com.
Dragon Breeding and Dragon Variety
Dragons are the heart of both games, but the rosters differ. The original DragonVale boasts a massive catalogue – over 500 different dragons apps.apple.com. These include dozens of basic elementals (Fire, Earth, Water, etc.), hybrids, rares and epics. In fact, the original lists 10 basic elements (Plant, Fire, Earth, Cold, Lightning, Water, Air, Metal, Light, Dark) en.wikipedia.org, plus many hybrid and epic dragons. There are also special seasonal dragons (like the Ghost Dragon for Halloween or Reindeer Dragon for winter) and unique dragons earned from events en.wikipedia.org. As the App Store description boasts: “Breed, hatch, and raise over 500 different mythical dragons.”apps.apple.com It’s a huge collection that keeps growing with updates and events (original DV still adds new dragons each year).
By contrast, DragonVale World launched with a more modest roster. Early DVW had around 200+ dragons to breed dragonvale.fandom.com, including all-new species unique to its world. According to the official FAQ, DVW features “5 familiar faces and tons of all-new dragons”dragonvaleworld.fandom.com, and each dragon even has an Enchanted version providing bonus rewards. In practice, this means DVW’s dragons often come in pairs: the regular version and a recolored “enchanted” cousin. (For example, DVW’s Rainbow Dragon has a whole rainbow of enchanted cousins【43†】.) This enchanted-dragon concept is exclusive to DVW. Below is a screenshot from DragonVale World illustrating this feature:
Figure: A DragonVale World “Daily Dragonsnap” highlights how every dragon has an enchanted cousin in DVW (see text). This 3D view of a park emphasizes the game’s colorful graphics and new dragon styles dragonvale.fandom.comdragonvaleworld.fandom.com.
In short: Original DragonVale has far more dragons overall (500+) with a huge variety of elements, breeds and seasonal variants apps.apple.comen.wikipedia.org. DragonVale World focused on new dragons in a 3D world (about 200 at launch) and introduced enchanted dragon variants (a rebalance to get collectors excited) dragonvaleworld.fandom.comdragonvale.fandom.com. Both games let you crossbreed dragons to discover new types, though some element combinations differ between them. Importantly, you cannot transfer dragons or progress from one game to the other dragonvaleworld.fandom.com – they remain separate experiences.
Graphics and Art Style
Visually, the games are strikingly different. DragonVale (Original) uses 2D, hand-drawn cartoon art. Its colorful dragons and habitats pop on floating islands, but the style is relatively simple by today’s standards gamezebo.com. All dragons are flat sprites (with animations) and the park screen scrolls side to side. DragonVale World, however, goes full 3D. It was described as “more than just a 3D update”pocketgamer.biz, bringing dragons and parks into three dimensions. The graphics are richer and more dynamic: dragons walk and fly around your park, guests move through pathways, and habitats have depth. One reviewer noted that “the visuals have improved a lot … the 3D graphics and art style are unquestionably inviting”gamezebo.com. The animation quality is high too – dragons have unique idle actions (some sleep, others fly) and spells can alter their appearance.
To illustrate, the images below compare the styles:
- Original DV (2D sprites) – Cute, colorful, but flat.
- DVW (3D models) – Larger, more detailed dragons in a living environment pocketgamer.bizgamezebo.com.
| Feature | DragonVale (Original) | DragonVale World (3D) |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics | 2D cartoon style on floating islands | Fully 3D environments, “best in industry”pocketgamer.biz |
| Park Environment | Isometric sky-islands (the Vale) dragonvaleworld.fandom.com | Open landscapes on the Surface dragonvaleworld.fandom.com |
| Dragon Models | 2D sprites with simple animations | 3D models with dynamic animations gamezebo.com |
| Habitats | Static 2D habitats (volcano, rainforest, etc.) | 3D habitats you can rotate and zoom pocketgamer.biz |
| Special Effects | Basic particle effects (fire, water, etc.) | Richer effects and spells to alter dragons dragonvale.fandom.com |
| Overall Feel | Classic, charming, but “older” mobile look | Modern and immersive pocketgamer.bizgamezebo.com |
(This table highlights how DragonVale World modernized the visuals with 3D graphics and new effects, whereas DragonVale retains its original 2D charm.)
Social Features and Community
Social play is important in both games, but DragonVale World aimed to expand it. In DragonVale (Original) your social options are relatively modest. You build a friends list, visit other players’ parks to tap party hats for extra cash, send gifts or gems, and collaborate in the Cooperative Breeding Cave apps.apple.comgameskinny.com. For example, you can invite a friend’s dragon to breed in your park (or vice versa) in special caves. There are no built-in chat rooms or guilds in the original game (players typically coordinate on forums or Facebook).
DragonVale World, by contrast, features built-in clan/guild systems and chat. You can join or create clans of players, chat in real time, and work together on goals (helping each other complete tasks) dragonvale.fandom.com. The store description highlights “Play with friends by chatting and joining clans” and even trading gifts globally dragonvale.fandom.com. These features make DVW more of a social MMO experience. Of course, DVW also allowed gifting and visiting, but the emphasis was on clan cooperation. (Notably, when DVW first launched, some features like Guild quests were added in later updates.)
In summary, DragonVale World adds deeper social layers (clans/guilds, chat and trading) dragonvale.fandom.com, reflecting modern mobile trends. DragonVale (Original) keeps it simpler (friends, visits and gifts apps.apple.com). Both games require an internet connection for social play apps.apple.comdragonvaleworld.fandom.com and have similar cooperative elements, but DVW’s community features feel more built-in.
Monetization and Updates
Both games are free-to-play with optional in-app purchases (IAP). In DragonVale, you earn two currencies: DragonCash (free) and Gems (premium). Gems speed up timers or buy rare dragons, and can be earned in-game or bought with real money en.wikipedia.orgapps.apple.com. The original game has run for over a decade, with regular updates by Backflip/DECA adding new dragons, decorations, and seasonal events en.wikipedia.org. As of 2025, it’s still active on iOS and Android, with milestone updates like “Galaxy” dragons and new epics.
DragonVale World followed the same model when live: it was free to download, with optional gem purchases to speed up progress dragonvaleworld.fandom.com. There was even talk of monthly calendars and event updates to keep content fresh dragonvaleworld.fandom.com. However, a major difference today is that DragonVale World is no longer available. As of November 20, 2019, DVW was removed from app stores and its in-app purchases disabled dragonvale.fandom.com. The company announced the game would become unplayable in December 2019 dragonvale.fandom.com. In short, DVW had a relatively short lifespan (2016–2019) and no longer receives any support. In contrast, DragonVale (original) continues under DECA Games and keeps evolving.
So, if you’re comparing monetization: both use the same free+gems approach apps.apple.comdragonvaleworld.fandom.com. The big difference is support. Original DragonVale is still running and regularly updated; DragonVale World, unfortunately, has been discontinued. That means only the original game is playable today (new players can’t download DVW anymore). This is a key factor if you’re deciding which game to try: DragonVale remains an active game, while DragonVale World is now a piece of franchise history.
Gear for DragonVale Fans
If you love these games, there’s fun merchandise to check out. For example, Backflip Studios released an official Fire Dragon plush for DragonVale dragonvale.fandom.com. This adorable 6-inch plush looks just like the game’s Fire Dragon (minus the fire-breathing!) and is perfect for fans to cuddle or display. It’s collectible game memorabilia and even comes with movable wings for extra fun dragonvale.fandom.com.
Another handy gadget is a dual phone holder – something like the Twins Carry Magnetic Dual-Phone Holder – which lets you mount two phones side by side. This is great if you ever want to multitask or (if DVW were still available) play both DragonVale games together. It’s also useful for streaming or chatting while playing. (You can find such holders on Amazon and at other retailers.)
Disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. These recommendations are products we think DragonVale fans would enjoy!
Which Game to Play?
So, which game should you start with? If you want the only currently available experience, go with the original DragonVale. It’s free, has hundreds of dragons, and is still being updated. You’ll enjoy the classic island theme, constant seasonal events, and a friendly community of long-time players.
If you were curious about DragonVale World, remember it was essentially a one-time 3D sequel that’s no longer online. It introduced lots of new ideas (3D graphics, clans, enchanted dragons) pocketgamer.bizdragonvaleworld.fandom.com, but unfortunately you can’t download it today.
Many players actually enjoy both games side by side, since progress doesn’t overlap dragonvaleworld.fandom.com. But given DVW’s shutdown, the only practical choice now is DragonVale (Original). If you get hooked on dragon breeding, you might even start collecting DV merchandise like the plush above or joining fan forums to discuss tips with others.
Have you played one or both of these games? Which version is your favorite? Drop a comment below and let us know!
Sources: Official game FAQs and store descriptions, game news and reviews, and developer blogs and fan wikis. These were used to compare features and mechanics in detail.
