Disney Lorcana TCG may be a dream come true for Disney fans waiting for an approachable trading card game to enjoy, but it’s also a dream come true for co-creator Ryan Miller. Miller has been a Disney fan for most of his life, and beyond that, he’s spent years working in the TCG genre in various capacities. With a passionate Disney fan and TCG veteran heading up the game’s development, it’s no wonder the game has attracted thousands of competitors and attendees to each event during its first season.
Game Rant attended the Disney Lorcana TCG Challenge in Seattle where we witnessed firsthand how Miller’s passion and expertise have shone through the game’s development, with thousands of happy competitors laughing, exchanging cards, and cosplaying as their favorite Disney characters. The game’s competitive events foster a friendly environment for Disney and TCG fans alike, and it’s largely thanks to Disney Lorcana‘s authenticity as a Disney property and as a particularly approachable TCG. During the event, Miller sat down with Game Rant to chat about what he feels makes Disney Lorcana an attractive game for Disney fans and TCG newcomers.
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Interview: Disney Lorcana Co-Designer Ryan Miller Talks Early Days and Making a True Disney Game
Game Rant chats with Disney Lorcana Co-Designer Ryan Miller about the development journey behind creating an authentic and immersive Disney game.
Lorcana’s Card Art and Attention To Detail Make It Feel Like Disney
As a lifelong fan, Ryan Miller knows better than anyone how important it is for a trading card game bearing the Disney name to focus on one of the franchise’s longest-held distinctions: artistry. Disney Lorcana’s cards boast some of the best artwork in the genre, but it’s also authentically Disney. The art team behind Disney Lorcana has illustrated hundreds of Disney characters originating from dozens of 2D and 3D animated films with a remarkably consistent visual style that preserves each character’s essence no matter the original format. If one were to be handed a Disney Lorcana card without knowing the character or the IP, they’d almost certainly assume it to be Disney.
Attention to detail is how we show that love; it’s our love language. Showing the details in the art, the gameplay, and even the names we choose for the abilities. Excellence might sound like a corporate buzzword, but in this case, it means we still have to do great work. At the end of the day, the art is the most beautiful I’ve ever seen in a trading card game. Our creative team has absolutely knocked it out of the park.
Beyond the artwork, Miller noted that the team’s attention to detail in Disney Lorcana‘s mechanics and terminology established its identity as a Disney game, rather than merely a trading card game featuring Disney characters. Examples of this Disney-ness can be seen in abilities like Elsa’s “That’s No Blizzard,” the game’s unique singing mechanic, or how the Rapunzel card is healing-centric. It’s Miller’s goal that Disney Lorcana‘s card collection not only looks like Disney but feels like it, too.
Disney Lorcana’s Approachable Nature Keeps It Accessible To Newcomers
Another objective for Miller was to make Disney Lorcana accessible to Disney fans, particularly those potentially unfamiliar with trading card games. During our time at the Disney Lorcana TCG Challenge, we found every indication that the team met this goal: amidst the thousands of competitors present at the event, a substantial number in attendance were children or even inquisitive grandparents giving the game a shot. Disney Lorcana has labored to make the game as easy as possible to learn thanks to tutorials like Gateway, and the family-friendly environment encourages players of all ages and backgrounds to participate.
We also wanted a game that felt welcoming to Disney fans—something that would say, “If you’ve never played a trading card game before, this is for you.” Trading card games do this very well because they have a basic structure of rules that can be welcoming, while the strategy comes from the cards themselves. I think of it like a house: the basic structure—walls, foundation, and roof—represents the rules. The cards bring in color and make it a home, something you can live in.
That’s not to say Disney Lorcana lacks strategic depth: although it’s an easy game to learn, every mechanical layer invites competitive players to strategize deeply. In particular, Miller pointed out Lorcana‘s ink mechanic; it’s easy enough to choose a random inkable card each turn, but in higher-level play, this is a serious tactical decision every turn. Disney fans may begin as collectors seeking their favorite characters, but in time, Disney Lorcana may turn those players into true TCG competitors.
Disney Lorcana
As an Illumineer, you’ll wield six magical inks to summon glimmers of Disney characters. Glimmers can appear as familiar friends or in fantastically reimagined forms. Recruit glimmers to your team as you travel through the realm of Lorcana.
The Disney Lorcana: Rise of the Floodborn trading card game will be available at Hobby Stores and Disney Parks on November 17th and on Mass retailers and shopDisney on December 1.