Summary
- Play recent action RPGs (FF7 Remake/Rebirth, FF16, NEO TWEWY) to fill the void left by Kingdom Hearts' absence.
- Try colorful, fast-paced titles like Genshin Impact, Hi‑Fi Rush and No More Heroes 3.
- Lost Soul Aside and other character action games deliver stylish combat and epic boss fights while fans wait for Kingdom Hearts 4.
Kingdom Hearts 4, the next mainline entry in Disney and Square Enix’s beloved crossover franchise, was revealed back in 2022. More than three years have passed since its initial announcement and — aside from a few random screenshots — not much has been revealed about this highly anticipated title. Fans of this series have been growing more impatient each day, and many want to play something that will fill that Kingdom Hearts-shaped void in their hearts.
Of course, that’s an almost impossible task to achieve, because no other video game franchise out there can replicate what makes Kingdom Hearts so special. Still, there are a lot of other fun, fast-paced, colorful action RPGs/character action games fans can try while they wait. Keep in mind that this list will only cover games that came out after January 25, 2019, the day Kingdom Hearts 3 (the last mainline entry in the series) came out.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake / Rebirth
This Influential Game Came Back, And Now It's A Real-Time Action RPG
Final Fantasy 7 Remake
- Released
- April 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen due to Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix Business Division 1
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Final Fantasy 7 and Kingdom Hearts are intertwined, as the worldwide success of this influential JRPG indirectly led to the creation of Square Enix and Disney’s crossover franchise. Also, many iconic FF7 characters have made prominent appearances in Kingdom Hearts titles, like Cloud, Sephiroth, Aerith, Tifa, and more.
Because of this, it’s recommended that longtime Kingdom Hearts fans try the first two entries of Square Enix’s ambitious remake project: Final Fantasy 7 Remake and its follow-up, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Unlike the original turn-based RPG from 1997, these remakes are real-time action RPGs with a fast-paced combat system that’s reminiscent of the Kingdom Hearts series. This was likely an intentional design choice. Both FF7 Remake and FF7 Rebirth were directed by the legendary Tetsuya Nomura and developed by Square Enix Business Division 1, the same team behind Kingdom Hearts 2.
Genshin Impact
A Popular Gacha Game With Solid Action RPG Gameplay
Genshin Impact
- Released
- September 28, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Teen / Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- HoYoverse (Formerly miHoYo)
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action, Adventure, Gacha, Open-World
Nowadays, Genshin Impact is famous (and infamous) for being a live service game with gacha mechanics and a large cast of beloved characters. However, it’s easy to forget that it's also a very well-made action RPG with an interesting combat system. The main appeal of its gameplay is that players can create a team of up to four characters and switch between them during combat, even in the middle of a combo.
Each character has their own unique weapons, elemental alignments, and abilities, so Genshin Impact encourages players to try different combinations to get different results. While it was originally compared to Breath of the Wild due to its open-ended approach to open-world game, its gameplay feels more like a combination between Devil May Cry and Kingdom Hearts. And the best part is that, since it’s a live-service game, Genshin Impact is an almost endless experience. It can keep Kingdom Hearts busy for years while they wait for the fourth mainline entry.
NEO: The World Ends With You
The Long-Awaited Sequel To One Of Square Enix’s Most Distinct Projects
Neo: The World Ends with You
- Released
- July 27, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, Square Enix Creative Business Unit I
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Fighting, Adventure
The only other Square Enix IP that has been featured in the Kingdom Hearts series (aside from Final Fantasy) is The World Ends With You. This was a match made in heaven. Both games have similar character designs and art styles, because they share a producer and an art director: the one and only Tetsuya Nomura.
Much to the surprise of the fans of this cult classic, Square Enix released a sequel in 2021, titled NEO: The World Ends With You. Unlike its predecessor, this action RPG is in full 3D, meaning that its gameplay resembles Kingdom Hearts’ gameplay in many ways. But it also has its own set of mechanics that set it apart, like its multiple playable characters and its collection of over three hundred different pins that have varying effects in battle. If there’s one game that Kingdom Hearts fans should try while they wait for the next numbered entry, it's this underrated modern classic.
No More Heroes 3
A Violent Hack-And-Slash Game With Over-The-Top Boss Fights
No More Heroes 3
- Released
- August 27, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Grasshopper Manufacture
- Genre(s)
- Action
Despite their contrasting tones, the Kingdom Hearts series shares a lot of elements with the No More Heroes series, like the fact that fans spent many years waiting for its anticipated third entry. No More Heroes 3 finally came out in 2021, and it did not disappoint. It’s even funnier, more polished, and more over-the-top than any of its predecessors.
No More Heroes 3 sees Travis Touchdown fighting against the alien prince FU and his Galactic Superhero Corps, and most of the bosses are powerful aliens with bizarre designs and unique abilities. This game is full of shocking surprises. The combat is fast-paced, violent, and satisfying. It’s elevated by the fact that it can be experienced with solid motion controls in some of its versions, which is what made No More Heroes and No More Heroes 2 so special back in the days of the Nintendo Wii.
Bayonetta 3
Everyone’s Favorite Stylish Witch Came Back
Bayonetta 3
- Released
- October 28, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Platinum Games
Bayonetta 3 is yet another third entry in a popular action game series that took a lot of time to come out, just like Kingdom Hearts 3 and No More Heroes 3. On this occasion, Bayonetta’s battle against Singularity and the Homunculi leads her to a globe-trotting multiversal adventure in which she meets fascinating alternate versions of herself and her friends.
The plot of Bayonetta 3 is confusing, strange, and surprisingly endearing, which means that it's right up the alleys of most Kingdom Hearts fans. But, of course, the biggest highlight of this hack-and-slash game is its excellent combat system. It feels great, and has a large variety of wacky weapons to wield in combat. The game also introduced a brand-new mechanic called Demon Slave that allows Bayonetta to summon and take control of gigantic demons in the middle of the battle.
Hi-Fi Rush
One Of The Most Creative Character Action Games On The Market
Hi-Fi Rush
- Released
- January 25, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated T: Fantasy Violence, Language
- Developer(s)
- Tango Gameworks
- Genre(s)
- Action
The entire gaming community was shocked when Tango Gameworks (developers of The Evil Within) shadow-dropped Hi-Fi Rush in January 2023. Yet, it still managed to become a massive critical and commercial success in just a few days. This game has a vibrant and colorful art style, a cast of lovable characters, and a hilarious sense of humor, all elements that make it perfect for fans of the Kingdom Hearts series.
The thing that made Hi-Fi Rush stand out was its brilliantly designed rhythmic combat system. The main character, Chai, will have to watch his environment closely in order to land his attacks on the rhythm of the beat of the background music. This gameplay style may take some time to get used to, but once it clicks, it turns into one of the most satisfying and refreshing hack-and-slash experiences in the industry.
Final Fantasy 16
The Closest Thing To A New Kingdom Hearts Game Since KH3
Final Fantasy 16
- Released
- June 22, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Due to the popularity of Final Fantasy 15, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and the Kingdom Hearts series, the most recent numbered entry in the Final Fantasy series was yet another real-time action RPG. While Final Fantasy 16 was not directed by Tetsuya Nomura, it was partially developed by the Kingdom Hearts team in Square Enix Creative Business Unit I (with some assistance from PlatinumGames). This means that it shares a lot of its DNA with Square Enix and Disney’s classic crossover series.
The combat system of FF16 starts off a tad slow, but it gets a lot more technical and satisfying when Clive Rosfield begins unlocking the abilities of the other Eikons. By the end of the story, he can pull off a variety of over-the-top techniques that make the gameplay dynamic and enjoyable. The biggest selling point of Final Fantasy 16 is its collection of incredible boss fights, which are cinematic and intense encounters between giant monsters that will leave any fan of the character action genre speechless.
Lost Soul Aside
A Love Letter To Kingdom Hearts & Final Fantasy
Lost Soul Aside
- Released
- August 29, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rating Pending
- Developer(s)
- Ultizero Games
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Adventure, JRPG
Back in 2016, newcomer developer Yang Bing revealed his solo passion project, Lost Soul Aside, a frantic hack-and-slash game that was heavily inspired by action games like Final Fantasy 15, Devil May Cry, Bayonetta, and Kingdom Hearts. He eventually formed a small but passionate team and, after nine years of development (plus some funding from Sony Interactive Entertainment), Lost Soul Aside finally came out on PS5 and PC in August 2025.
This game is far from perfect, but at least Yang Bing and his team succeeded in making a solid hack-and-slash title with an excellent combat system. The combos are fluid, the mechanics are polished, and dodging and blocking are a key part of the experience. All four weapons are fun to use and, of course, the boss fights are epic encounters against characters that can unleash stylish but powerful attacks. There’s still a long way to go until Kingdom Hearts 4 comes out, but Lost Soul Aside can scratch that itch for any Kingdom Hearts fans in the meantime.
5 Canceled Kingdom Hearts Games, Explained
Surprisingly, even a series as popular and successful as Kingdom Hearts has had several exciting entries canceled by Square Enix over the years.