Business Review: Disney Solitaire by SuperPlay, Playtika

1. Game Overview

• Developer: SuperPlay (Playtika)
• Genre: Solitaire
• Features: Storytelling and theme collection using Disney IP
• Performance: Ranked #135 in U.S. Top Grossing Charts as of April 28, with steady upward momentum

Disney and Pixar universes have been blended into the classic Solitaire genre. The game offers familiar gameplay while allowing players to encounter a wide variety of Disney characters, objects, and themes. It’s a casual experience accessible to both Disney fans and a broader audience.

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2. First Impressions

The ATT consent, notification permissions, and terms of service agreement were completed within seconds. Immediately following this, a high-quality cinematic intro video (about 10 seconds) was played. The transition from the intro directly into gameplay without any additional funnel preserved the excitement generated by the opening sequence.

The emotional tone of the Disney IP was conveyed with precision—neither excessive nor lacking.

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3. Funnel Flow

• App launch → Permission requests (ATT, notifications, terms)
• High-quality intro video
• Level 1 gameplay: Basic tutorial with a straightforward, easy-to-clear flow
• After completing Level 1:

a) Story video teasing various themes

b) Unlocking of the first theme, ‘Beauty and the Beast’

• Entering the lobby and beginning the tutorial:

a) Introduction to the “Star Collection” → “Object Placement” flow

b) Bringing life to the lobby through animated Beast character (rather than static objects)

• Levels 2–9 gameplay:

a) Gradual unlocking and tutorials for Streak Bonus, Undo, and Wild Card features

b) Smooth gameplay flow maintained (minimal intrusive tutorials, low difficulty)

c) After clearing Level 7, ‘Coin Collect’ feature unlocked (allows coin collection every hour)

• After completing Level 10:

a) Completion of the first theme (Beauty and the Beast)

b) Transition to the next theme (The Little Mermaid)

c) Friend invitation feature unlocked

• After completing Level 12:

a) Starter Pack offer ($3.99) appears (includes 27,000 coins and items)

• After Level 14:

a) Level entry coin cost increases (from 1,000 to 1,200)

• After completing Level 19:

a) ‘Shoreline Challenge’ (Live Ops) opens

• After completing Level 20:

a) Puzzle Collection teaser displayed (scheduled to unlock at Level 40)

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4. Aha Moments

1. The initial excitement built during the cinematic intro
2. The realization that the decorating system features animated characters—not just static objects—heightened expectations
3. The emotionally impactful scene where the completed ‘Beauty and the Beast’ set culminates in a dance sequence

These moments gradually built emotional engagement. When transitioning to the ‘The Little Mermaid’ theme, with the background music changing to “Under the Sea,” the desire to continue playing became significantly stronger.

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5. Highlights

1. The use of Disney IP was incorporated precisely as needed. Had it been excessive, it might have hindered immersion, but here, the balance was carefully maintained.
2. Tutorials were neither excessive nor complicated. While some games disrupt the gameplay experience with heavy-handed guidance, Disney Solitaire kept the onboarding light and intuitive.
3. The in-game economy and resource consumption were naturally designed. Instead of forcing major failures (difficulty spikes leading to purchases), the game encourages “small failures” (use of Wild Cards, additional Decks) to promote spending without frustrating players. The design skillfully mixes rewards (Coin Collect, Live Ops) and penalties (higher entry and item costs) to maintain a healthy currency balance.
4. In the decorating system, the presence of lively animated characters created a clear differentiation from typical static-decoration games.
5. The friend invitation system cleverly strengthened psychological motivation. Instead of the usual “invite one friend to get a reward,” the system pre-adds one friend (the Tinkerbell NPC) from the beginning. This makes the goal feel more achievable by shifting the perception from “0→2” to “1→2.”

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6. Areas for Improvement & Suggestions

1. A minor point: In the Starter Pack offer, the Wild Card item is presented only with an image. Given that early-stage players might not recognize it, it would be better to label it explicitly with the word “Wild” for clarity.
2. There was no visual effect indicating coin consumption when entering a level, leading to a delayed awareness of costs. While adding a consumption animation could improve clarity, it’s also possible that the current design intentionally minimizes spending awareness to encourage smoother progression.

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7. My Take

At first glance, combining a proven genre with a proven IP might seem like a guaranteed success. However, maintaining familiarity while delivering an exceptionally well-crafted experience can often be more difficult than creating something entirely new.

In that respect, Disney Solitaire doesn’t simply lean on the power of its IP. The game itself demonstrates a high level of polish—from early funnel design and psychological flow to UX execution. Based on the initial experience alone, it deserves to be called a “masterpiece.”

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This article was originally created and published by Sungsu Kim (LinkedIn), and remains his independent intellectual property.