Disney Lorcana: Winterspell Review – When Lorcana Calls a Snow Day
Lorcana’s theming has been impeccable from the start, but Winterspell is on another level. This is everything you would want from a Lorcana winter wonderland. Seeing familiar locations like the Pride Lands, the Hundred Acre Wood, and Kokaua transformed under a fresh blanket of snow is genuinely magical. It’s not just Mickey with a scarf. It is the world of Lorcana fully transformed. With Winterspell, Lorcana continues to prove that its greatest strength is not just its roster, but its sense of place.
Winterspell focuses on worldbuilding and atmosphere
That matters, especially as the game gets older. Since the beginning, there has been this lingering question hanging over Lorcana. What happens when it runs out of Disney IP to mine? Will people still be invested when we are on the 80th Cinderella card? Winterspell makes a strong case that this concern is largely misplaced. With its focus on world building and atmosphere, Winterspell proves Lorcana does not need to rely solely on novelty characters to stay compelling. It is evolving into a place I want to spend more time in, not just a checklist of IP appearances.
Mickey’s Christmas Carol is the clearest example of that philosophy working. It is a perfect thematic fit, and the film is represented throughout the set with care and intention. It does not feel like a token inclusion. It feels foundational to Winterspell’s identity. The result is a warm, nostalgic backbone that ties the whole set together, even if we are opening it in February.
‘Experiments’ are an inspired addition to Lorcana in Winterspell
One of the most inspired choices in the set is the inclusion of the Experiments. A snow covered Kaua‘i is the perfect excuse to finally bring them into Lorcana, and I am thrilled they are here. Slushy, in particular, is a home run, exactly the kind of deep cut, tone perfect pull that makes Lorcana special.
I am a huge sucker for the Experiments, and their debut feels overdue in the best way. That said, I cannot help but notice that Leroy is conspicuously absent. I will remain patient. For now.
Darkwing Duck getting headline focus is another inspired, if initially confusing, decision. On paper, Darkwing does not scream winter set, and his introduction might have made more sense in something more urban or detective themed. Whispers in the Well even feels like a missed opportunity in hindsight. But taken alongside Mickey’s Christmas Carol and the broader winter nostalgia, it clicks. This set taps into a very specific childhood memory space, and Darkwing fits right into that. The villains, the gadgets, the melodrama. It all works.
There are also plenty of smaller wins. Fox and the Hound fans are eating good. Three cheers for my boy Pudge, one step closer to Floodborn Pudge, if you know you know. Winterspell understands how to sprinkle in moments that feel personal without being exclusionary.
Winterspell’s timing could be better
My only real thematic gripe is timing. A winter set released in February feels off, and Winterspell would have landed harder as a December release. That is less a criticism of the set itself and more an unfortunate reality of year round release schedules. The snow still looks great. It is just melting a little faster than it should.
Winterspell’s gameplay potential is extremely exciting
From a gameplay perspective, Winterspell is extremely exciting. These are not subtle cards. A lot of what is here looks poised to make a real impact, and for the first time in a while, I am genuinely eager to sit down and brew.
If Fabled was Lorcana’s new The First Chapter, and Whispers in the Well served to fill out that base set the way Rise of the Floodborn did, then Winterspell feels like our new Into the Inklands. That is high praise. Inklands remains my favorite era of Lorcana to date. But the comparison feels earned. There is a clear sense that the designers understand where the game is now and are actively pushing it forward rather than simply adding more cards to the pile.
Amber is looking strong in Winterspell
Amber, in particular, looks primed for a resurgence. Cards like Lilo - Rockstar, Akood Et Emuti, and Ohana Means Family suggest that the color finally has the tools to be competitive again. I’m not sold on the board wipe as a useful tool or one that belongs in Amber, frankly, but the color has so much going for it this set, I’m eager to see what players come up with.
I am more conflicted about the new cycle of go second cards. Not because they feel overpowered, but because I am not convinced they meaningfully address the problem they are meant to solve. First player advantage in Lorcana is a structural issue, not a tuning issue, and I am skeptical that a handful of conditional rewards will actually influence how players approach the opening coin flip. Angel Siren Singer is genuinely solid, and it is hard to complain about more good Amber cards, but these effects feel too conservative.
Even so, that skepticism does not dampen my overall enthusiasm much. I am more excited to deckbuild and play Lorcana than I have been since rotation, and that is not something I say lightly.
Winterspell’s products feel a bit uneven
On the product side, things are a bit more uneven. Troves continue to offer strong value with a good mix of packs and accessories, but it feels like the product line could use a refresh. New offerings or even something as simple as Trove exclusive promo cards would go a long way toward keeping things feeling fresh.
My own opening experience, unfortunately, was rough. I opened one booster box and a Trove and did not pull a single Epic. That is a miserable feeling. I am inclined to chalk it up to a collation error, but it is not the first time I have run into this. I previously opened a box of Fabled with zero Super Rares, despite what should be guaranteed odds.
At Lorcana’s price point, this should not be happening. Variance is one thing. Missing entire rarity tiers is another. I am curious how widespread this issue is, but even isolated incidents erode player confidence, and that is not something the game can afford as it continues to grow.
Winterspell verdict
Winterspell understands something fundamental about why Lorcana works. It is not just about seeing familiar characters again. It is about how those characters make you feel. This set taps into a very specific kind of nostalgia, the kind that makes you stop and smile before you even finish reading the card text. Between the snow-covered worlds, Mickey’s Christmas Carol, and Darkwing Duck stealing the spotlight, Winterspell feels less like a new release and more like a warm memory you did not realize you were missing. Turns out, it is never too late for a snow day.
