{"id":77523,"date":"2026-08-19T00:03:06","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T16:03:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=77523"},"modified":"2026-08-19T00:03:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T16:03:06","slug":"the-6-kingdom-hearts-4-worlds-we-want-to-see-and-4-better-left-in-darkness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=77523","title":{"rendered":"The 6 Kingdom Hearts 4 Worlds We Want to See \u2014 and 4 Better Left in Darkness"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Twenty-five years into Kingdom Hearts, Square Enix has yet to establish a reliable formula for how the games represent various Disney worlds. Some levels simply insert Sora, Donald, and Goofy into a familiar story from movies like Mulan<\/em>, Tarzan<\/em>, or Aladdin<\/em>. Agrabah returned in Kingdom Hearts 2<\/em> for a loose adaptation of The Return of Jafar<\/em>, while Kingdom Hearts 3<\/em> used the setting of San Fransokyo to create a bonafide sequel to Big Hero 6<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Traditions like a heartfelt romp through 100 Acre Wood with Winnie the Pooh and friends feel mandatory, but beyond those, there\u2019s no telling where Sora might fly his Gummi Ship in Kingdom Hearts 4<\/em> \u2014 if he has a Gummi Ship at all.<\/p>\n

We already know Kingdom Hearts 4<\/em> will send Sora into the Land of the Dead from Coco<\/em>, while Mickey Mouse will explore a papercraft storybook world. A recent trailer revealed at D23 also confirms that Donald and Goofy visit Hades in the underworld looking for Sora, so it feels safe to assume that the world of Hercules, and presumably the Olympus Coliseum battle arena, is back. Those reveals still leave plenty of room for surprises. From one recent Disney blockbuster that feels practically designed for Kingdom Hearts to a long-rumored trip to a galaxy far, far away, here are the six worlds we hope to see \u2014 and five destinations we sincerely hope remain lost in Darkness forever.<\/p>\n

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\n Kingdom Hearts 4 worlds we want to see
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\n 1. Moana
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\"Moana\n <\/picture>Image: Walt Disney Animation<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

If there\u2019s one Disney movie that felt like a glaring omission in Kingdom Hearts 3<\/em>, it\u2019s Moana<\/em>. The movie hit theaters in November 2016, and the game was released a little more than two years later in January 2019. Moana was probably omitted because it arrived so late in KH3<\/em>\u2019s development cycle \u2014 and there\u2019s the fact that the game already featured a seafaring section by loosely adapting the third Pirates of the Caribbean<\/em> movie, At World’s End<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Bringing Moana to KH4<\/em> could function similarly, with wayfaring mechanics aboard a different kind of boat as you explore a variety of destinations. Big monsters like Tamatoa and Te K\u0101 already feel like Heartless bosses, so a mostly straightforward retelling of the first Moana movie feels like the way to go, especially since Moana<\/em>\u2019s cultural footprint has grown significantly between the sequel and live-action adaptation. There\u2019s only room for one ocean voyage in this game, however, so please let\u2019s leave Jack Sparrow out of this one.<\/p>\n

\n 2. Encanto
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\"Key\n <\/picture>Image: Walt Disney Animation<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

At a glance, Encanto<\/em> might feel like an odd fit. There isn\u2019t a traditional villain, the conflict remains almost entirely within one family, and most of the movie takes place in and around a single house. But Casita contains everything Square Enix needs to turn that apparent limitation into one of the series\u2019 most imaginative worlds. Every member of the Madrigal family has their own bedroom that functions like a liminal space that reflects their powers. Encanto<\/em> only took us inside the rooms of Antonio and Isabela (we don\u2019t talk about Bruno). What about the storms in Pepa\u2019s room? The shapeshifting walls of Camilo\u2019s? The endless physical challenges in Luisa\u2019s?<\/p>\n

The story of Encanto<\/em> is also one that focuses on doubt, fear, jealousy, insecurity \u2014 all emotions that the Heartless feed upon. If ever there was a modern Disney story that resonates really well with the themes of Kingdom Hearts, Encanto<\/em> is the one.<\/p>\n

\n 3. Frozen 2
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\"Sora,\n <\/picture>Square Enix<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Arendelle was one of Kingdom Hearts 3<\/em>\u2019s most divisive worlds. Sora climbed a mountain, fell off it, climbed it again, and spent most of the movie\u2019s story watching Elsa from a distance. Even \u201cLet It Go\u201d unfolded as an elaborate cutscene that left Sora with little to contribute. A follow-up can redeem Arendelle.<\/p>\n

Frozen 2<\/em> offers a much more traditional adventure in which Elsa travels rather than running away. There\u2019s an enchanted forest, corrupted elemental spirits, and buried memories, all while a voice calls her to Ahtohallan. Send Sora and co. on that journey with her! All KH4<\/em> really needs to do is say it\u2019s the Darkness making the violent water horse, howling wind spirit, and angry fire lizard act out of character.<\/p>\n

\n 4. Zootopia
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\"Concept\n <\/picture>Image: Cory Loftis\/Walt Disney Animation Studios<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

This may be selfish and unlikely, since we know that KH4<\/em> already features the realistic-looking city of Quadratum. But San Fransokyo presented one of KH3<\/em>\u2019s most interesting worlds. At times it felt like a lighter riff on Marvel\u2019s Spider-Man,<\/em> in the same way that the Caribbean felt like a smaller, less robust version of games like Assassin\u2019s Creed 4: Black Flag<\/em>. Does KH4<\/em> have room for more than one cityscape? If it does, then Zootopia<\/em> seems like a great choice. After all, Zootopia 2<\/em> is Disney\u2019s highest-grossing animated feature ever.<\/p>\n

The big draw here: when Sora and friends enter increasingly unrealistic worlds, their bodies morph to fit in. When entering the Pride Lands of The Lion King<\/em>, he became a lion. What happens when he enters Zootopia? A bipedal golden retriever to match his personality? More importantly, what happens to Donald and Goofy? Do they both stay the same, do they change ever so slightly in uncanny ways? This one is also one of those rare instances where I want to see a unique adventure rather than have it follow the story of either movie. It could be as simple as working with Nick and Judy to track down outbreaks of Heartless throughout the city.<\/p>\n

\n 5. Toy Story
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\"kingdom\n <\/picture>Square Enix\/Disney<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Toy Box was one of KH3<\/em>\u2019s best worlds because it understood that simply replaying Toy Story<\/em> would be less interesting than letting Sora genuinely befriend Woody and Buzz. Its story takes place after Toy Story 2<\/em> and separates a small group of the toys from Andy, leaving Sora to help them navigate a copy of their world created by Young Xehanort. The result felt like an authentic missing adventure rather than a tour through familiar scenes \u2014 especially when Woody gives Young Zehanort an epic verbal beatdown.<\/p>\n

A follow-up in KH4<\/em> should also feature a similarly original tale, but with five Toy Story <\/em>movies now, there\u2019s plenty of settings that might be explored. Woody and Sora already have one of the series\u2019 most convincing Disney friendships, and Toy Box ended without fully restoring the world or reuniting every missing toy.<\/p>\n

\n 6. Star Wars
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2022\u2019s original KH4<\/em> announcement trailer includes a clip less than 10 seconds long that shows a lush forest unlike anything that the series has featured before. Midway through, there\u2019s a metallic dome-like object that many sharp-eyed fans have identified as the foot of an AT-ST from Star Wars. That makes for convincing evidence that KH4<\/em> might take Sora to the Moon of Endor as depicted in the events of 1983\u2019s Star Wars: Episode 6 \u2013 Return of the Jedi<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Bringing Kingdom Hearts to the galaxy far, far away has been the dream ever since Disney bought Lucasfilm back in 2012, if only so we can give Sora a Keyblade-lightsaber hybrid weapon. And if the game series successfully explores worlds like that of Star Wars, then Marvel begins to look like a much stronger possibility.<\/p>\n

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\n Kingdom Hearts 4 worlds that should submit to the Darkness
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\n 1. The Little Mermaid
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\"kh\n <\/picture>Image: Square Enix<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Atlantica has already given us an awkward underwater action level and a rhythm game in which Sora the merboy, Donald the octopus, and Goofy the sea turtle sing about marine life. No Disney world needs a third chance after covering that much ground, especially one that isn\u2019t particularly fun to play. The first Kingdom Hearts<\/em> restricted Sora\u2019s movement while asking players to fight in three dimensions, so combat became much more cumbersome. That\u2019s probably why KK2<\/em> replaced those battles with musical mini-games and delivered one of the strangest levels in the franchise.<\/p>\n

If you simply must give us a marine world, then do Finding Nemo<\/em>. Or just double down on Moana<\/em> with an extensive sequence in Lalotai, the land of beasts where Tamatoa resides. Leave Atlantica under the sea.<\/p>\n

\n 2. Pirates of the Caribbean
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\n \"kingdom-hearts-3-press-image-5.jpg\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The Caribbean deserves a respectful retirement. Its first appearance in KH2<\/em> dipped way too far into the uncanny valley with photorealistic actors, undead pirates, and cartoon heroes. KH3<\/em> returned with a remarkably ambitious adaptation of At World\u2019s End<\/em> and delivered a legitimately satisfying pirate adventure.<\/p>\n

Sora captained a ship, sank enemy vessels, explored islands, dove beneath the ocean, and fought a towering sea monster. There isn\u2019t much left for another visit to prove, particularly when the remaining Jack Sparrow sequels are hardly crying out for adaptation. Let Moana<\/em> inherit and improve those sailing mechanics. Also, we have no interest in seeing Johnny Depp talking to Disney characters again.<\/p>\n

\n 3. Aladdin
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\"kingdom\n <\/picture>Image: Square Enix<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

No Disney world has dragged us back to the same exact world more than this one. Agrabah adapted Aladdin<\/em> in the original game, returned for a loose version of The Return of Jafar<\/em> in KH2<\/em>, and appeared throughout the handheld games. Sora has fought Jafar repeatedly, escaped the Cave of Wonders, flown on the Magic Carpet, and heard Genie explain friendship enough times to understand the concept.<\/p>\n

That technically leaves Aladdin and the King of Thieves<\/em>, but the prospect of meeting Aladdin\u2019s father doesn\u2019t justify squeezing through Agrabah\u2019s familiar streets again. Genie will always be welcome in Kingdom Hearts<\/em> as a summon or something like that. But there is no need to retread old ground. Give us something new instead.<\/p>\n

\n 4. Tron
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\"kingdom\n <\/picture>Image: Square Enix<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Disney may have revived Tron, but Kingdom Hearts<\/em> doesn\u2019t need to follow it back onto the Grid. The series has already adapted both of the franchise\u2019s previous movies: KH2<\/em> reconstructed the original Tron<\/em> as Space Paranoids, and Dream Drop Distance<\/em> sent Sora and Riku into the world of Tron: Legacy<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The digital premise should suit Kingdom Hearts, a series filled with artificial worlds, replicated people, and hearts emerging where no one expected them. In practice, its sterile environments and severe characters have always felt cold beside the warmer Disney worlds surrounding them. And, in this medium, the Grid is frankly not that fun to look at. Two trips through the computer were enough. Unplug it. And if we need a new digital space, then have Wreck-It Ralph<\/em> fill that void.<\/p>\n