Ever since Kingdom Hearts 4 was revealed, one of the major topics of speculation around the game has been in regard to which Disney worlds it will end up featuring. The third entry came with crossovers that likely surprised many players, and the upcoming sequel's shift in art style has seemingly opened up the door for going even further down this route. With live action firmly on the table and much of Disney's catalog already covered in previous games, there is a high probability that several worlds which fans have been requesting for years could finally make it into Kingdom Hearts 4 alongside brand-new IPs.
In terms of mainline titles, the first and third KH games had nine Disney worlds, while the second featured eleven. This makes the fourth entry unlikely to have more than ten, although it's hard to say for sure. The first two games mostly featured worlds based on 2D animated films, but the third opened the door for a roster of mainly 3D tie-ins. Tetsuya Nomura hinted at live action properties in KH4 potentially filling more of these spots as well, so there is potential for Kingdom Hearts' most diverse variety of worlds yet.
Moana
There is a lot of hype around what some of the more recently acquired IPs under Disney’s umbrella could look like in Kingdom Hearts 4, but there’s one film in recent memory that is a great representative of the company itself. With a possible island and ocean setting alike, Moana could fill the same role as KH3's vast Pirates of the Caribbean world and let players fight alongside the title character and Maui.
Star Wars
Between rumors of it already having appeared in the reveal trailer and the buzz surrounding this crossover, Star Wars may be the potential Disney world that has sparked the most speculation. The possibility of Endor has hinted that Return of the Jedi could be the place in the timeline that gets adapted. The thematic parallels of light and darkness could shine if Star Wars appears in Kingdom Hearts 4, so Star Wars would be a natural fit despite their tonal differences.
The Incredibles
Now that there is a precedent for Pixar in KH following KH3, it makes sense for one of the studio's most well-received films to follow. Kingdom Hearts has avoided the subject of family almost entirely, and having to integrate the dynamic of The Incredibles, who are no strangers to video games, might be a narratively confrontational moment that could even reflect on the personal lives of Sora and his friends.
Marvel
Big Hero 6 took the first step towards this crossover, but the realism of KH4's style presents the perfect opportunity to delve fully into the Marvel universe. It would be doubling up on superheroes if paired with The Incredibles, but the potential for Kingdom Hearts characters getting Marvel superhero costumes and meeting characters like Spider-Man should be utilized. With film rights being a major issue within this realm, it may even be possible to feature many more characters if they aren't explicitly their MCU iterations.
The Emperor's New Groove
Most of Disney’s roster of classic animated films has already been covered across the franchise; this beloved but underrated feature from 2000 hasn't appeared, though, and could provide one of the most humorous worlds in the entire franchise. There's merit to the amount of requests for classics like The Jungle Book, but The Emperor's New Groove not only provides the chance for a strong character arc with Kuzco's journey as a llama, but a memorable villain with similarities to Maleficent in Yzma.
WALL-E
It would require a lot of creativity to allow Sora and his friends to fit into the dystopian future of this Pixar feature, but the Axiom could serve as a great world to explore. It would be interesting to play from the perspective of another small robot if Kingdom Hearts' signature world-based forms continue to appear, an idea that doesn't seem outlandish after how Pixar tie-ins have already been handled. If Toy Story's Woody fought alongside Sora while mowing down waves of Heartless, there's no reason WALL-E and EVE can't do the same.
Treasure Planet
Existing alongside Atlantis: The Lost Empire as an underrated Disney adventure movie, Treasure Planet could feature one of KH's most stunning depictions of space yet. While KH has a previously established sense of outer space that may contradict Treasure Planet's, the new concept of Unreality and the different flavor of pirate spaceships in this IP could lead to innovation if the Gummi Ship returns in Kingdom Hearts 4.
The Princess and the Frog
Following the precedent of featuring the worlds of Disney princesses, this movie is one of the few that has yet to be represented in Kingdom Hearts. With a charismatic villain in Dr. Facilier and the distinct vibe of 1920s New Orleans, The Princess and the Frog could provide a highly memorable experience even if it just recaps the events of its plot like Frozen's Arendelle in KH3 did. Considering the spell that makes Prince Naveen into the titular frog forms the primary conflict of the story, this world could benefit from a simple retelling more than most.
Cars
A Cars world would necessitate new forms for Sora and friends, while almost guaranteeing racing and driving gameplay. It would be an uncanny crossover, which makes it a risky proposition, but a Cars world could be a ideal representative of Pixar in the Kingdom Hearts franchise if pulled off correctly. If Sora has been everything from a lion cub to a merman already, joining Lightning McQueen as a sentient automobile is hardly out of the question.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Falling under the umbrella of Disney despite its many other character cameos, this movie would be a worthwhile licensing nightmare. Who Framed Roger Rabbit rides a line as an example of an edgier family-friendly picture that could help showcase Sora's growth, and would basically be layers of meta crossover on top of what KH is already fundamentally based on. It might be impossible to utilize every character from the film, but the IPs that Disney and Square Enix have access to could supplement Toontown as a more mature Kingdom Hearts world and make history.
Kingdom Hearts 4
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
Kingdom Hearts 4 is an action RPG developed by Square Enix and represents the fifteenth installment in the franchise. Players once again are put in the shoes of Sora who is suddenly trapped in a more realistic world called Quadratum, with companions like Donald and Goofy attempting to rescue him. Kingdom Hearts 4 is a direct sequel to Kingdom Hearts 3 and Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory.
