Kingdom Hearts 4 will kick off a fresh chapter for the series, shifting to a new setting with a different central story. Sora will explore Quadratum, a modern city that exists in an unusual realm beyond reality. This mysterious world is expected to serve as his new base as he takes on the forces of darkness and possibly new enemies along the way. Despite KH3 featuring some of the best worlds in the franchise, its execution left room for improvement.
Many environments felt overly large but empty, often resembling long hallways rather than interconnected spaces. In contrast, KH2’s worlds, while smaller and more linear, encouraged players to revisit areas, creating a stronger sense of progression. Kingdom Hearts 3 also struggled with pacing, holding back key plot threads until the finale, whereas Kingdom Hearts 2 steadily escalated the conflict by introducing and resolving antagonistic encounters throughout the adventure. Kingdom Hearts 4 should strongly consider taking notes from KH2’s world development.
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Why Another Kingdom Hearts Game Like Birth By Sleep Shouldn’t Be Off the Table
A new Kingdom Hearts prequel sounds like spinning the franchise’s wheels at this point, but there’s precedent showing that it could be the right move.
More Worlds in KH4 Allow for More Disney Variety
The Disney catalog has grown significantly since Kingdom Hearts 3, meaning that KH4 has the opportunity to feature a wider range of films. A return to KH2’s format of more but smaller worlds would allow the game to incorporate recent and classic properties without bloating each world’s scale. Movies like Moana, Coco, and Zootopia could introduce unique mechanics and storytelling elements that might not be feasible if KH4 sticks to the ‘larger but fewer’ worlds approach.
For example, Moana could offer ocean-based exploration and Wayfinder-based navigation, while Coco could use its Land of the Dead setting to explore unique afterlife mechanics. The Emperor’s New Groove, a long-requested addition, could bring a comedic, fast-paced experience with its unique architecture and transformation mechanics.
KH4’s Pacing and Antagonists Need Better Distribution
One of Kingdom Hearts 3’s biggest flaws was arguably its tendency to introduce villains and major plot points without immediate payoff. Many of the game’s Organization 13 confrontations were saved until the Keyblade Graveyard, making the journey feel like a lengthy setup for a rushed climax. KH2, on the other hand, consistently spaced out its major battles, with Organization 13 members appearing as active threats rather than mere foreshadowing. KH4 can learn from this structure by ensuring that villains are present throughout the game rather than clustering significant moments at the end.
For instance, incorporating Marvel or Star Wars worlds would provide natural opportunities for engaging, mid-game antagonist encounters. A Star Wars world could pit Sora against Darth Vader or an Inquisitor, while a Marvel world could introduce a conflict with Loki or Thanos’ minions. Such encounters would prevent the game from feeling frontloaded with story exposition and backloaded with battles. KH4 would benefit from allowing Sora to challenge and overcome threats throughout the adventure, rather than saving everything for the final act.
Square Enix Representation Deserves a Comeback in KH4
Kingdom Hearts 3 scaled back its inclusion of Final Fantasy characters, leaving fans of the series’ crossover roots wanting more. While Kingdom Hearts 4 will likely keep the spotlight on its original cast, bringing back more Square Enix elements could help recapture the franchise’s earlier blend of worlds. One way to do this could be through a Final Fantasy 7-inspired Materia system, adding more customization while giving a nod to Square Enix’s RPG heritage.
In addition to mechanical influences, KH4 could expand upon KH2’s approach of including more Square Enix characters in relevant ways. For example, a Final Fantasy 9 world could introduce Alexandria and its characters, tying into Kingdom Hearts’ ongoing themes of identity and destiny. Revisiting The World Ends With You characters, as seen in Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, could also help reinforce the crossover element that initially made the series more unique.
A return to the KH2 structure of multiple, interconnected worlds would provide Kingdom Hearts 4 with the flexibility to showcase a broader range of Disney properties while maintaining better pacing and antagonist presence. By also reintroducing meaningful Square Enix representation, the game has the potential to satisfy longtime fans while embracing its newer narrative direction.
- ESRB
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e
- Franchise
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Kingdom Hearts
- Platform(s)
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PS5, Xbox Series X|S
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 5