Kingdom Hearts fans recently got a surprise treat with the unveiling of the next game in the action RPG series. The announcement was made as part of the 20th anniversary of the original title's debut on the PS2 in 2002. 20 years since that launch, players have gotten to explore many different worlds based on various Disney properties.
With Kingdom Hearts 4, the hope is that we'll once again be joining Sora, Donald, and Goofy as they embark on a brand new adventure to previously uncharted territories. Now that we've gotten our first glimpse of what the game might look like upon release, let the speculation run wild as we go over some of the new locations we'd like to see in this next entry.
5 Casa Madrigal - Encanto
Given the tremendous success Disney got with the release of Encanto in 2021, it shouldn't be that big of a stretch to imagine the film's location and its colorful cast of characters crossing over into the Kingdom Hearts universe.
Its overall aesthetic wouldn't feel out of place next to the likes of existing locations like Agrabah, nor would the individual members of the Madrigal family. Places of interest should include Casa Madrigal, the magical house that is central to the movie's plot and was already shown to hide worlds of its own within the confines of its four walls. Then there is of course the village plaza, where the local people can be found going about their daily lives, as well as the nearby river and surrounding forests.
4 Kumandra - Raya And The Last Dragon
Although we got some Ancient China representation in the form of The Land of Dragons from Mulan in Kingdom Hearts 2, Kumandra is another world based on Southeast Asian culture we would like to see in Kingdom Hearts 4.
It is a post-apocalyptic nation where many of its people have been turned to stone by a plague known as the Druun. It is also home to the five clans that occupy its five regional kingdoms, namely Heart, Fang, Spine, Tail, and Talon. Each one has a rich culture of its own, which would make getting to explore them all in a Kingdom Hearts game all the more rewarding. Raya herself would make a worthy addition to the growing roster of side characters, with her martial arts skills and quick-witted disposition.
3 The Avengers Compound - Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is home to several worlds and universes in and of itself, so there is definitely lots to pull from for a potential Kingdom Hearts crossover. But if we were to narrow down all the potential locations we'd like to see from the MCU in the next Kingdom Hearts game to just one, then it would have to be the Avengers Compound in New York.
Not only is the place the base of operations of most of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, but it has also been the target of several of their villains, which could make it an ideal setting for whatever conflict the team at Square Enix might be able to cook up. And while the current state of the Avengers is still a bit nebulous following the events of Avengers: Endgame (with the compound itself lying in ruins by the end of that film), shows like Loki have shown us the existence of multiple timelines, so the precedent for its reappearance has already been set.
2 Paradise Falls - Up
Up is one of the most beloved animated films by Pixar and most of that stems from its unlikely group of heroes, which includes an old man, a boy scout, a talking dog, and a giant, flightless bird. They were all recently featured in the Disney Plus limited series, Dug Days, giving fans another taste of their quirky group dynamic.
But perhaps what makes the film prime for a Kingdom Hearts crossover is its setting of Paradise Fall. The South American wilderness was breathtaking to look at in the 2009 film, and judging by how gaming technology has evolved since then, replicating it in real-time on the current crop of game consoles shouldn't be too much of a hassle. The place is also home to the villainous Charles F. Muntz and his army of dogs, who could pose an interesting challenge to Sora, Donald, and Goofy should they happen to cross paths.
1 Endor - Star Wars
Another Disney-owned property that has no shortage of iconic locations is the epic saga Star Wars. The original trilogy introduced us to the deserts of Tatooine, which has since been featured in movies, games, and TV shows more times than arguably any of its other planets.
But if the Kingdom Hearts 4 reveal trailer is any indication of Square Enix's current plans, then it looks like we might instead be getting the forest moon of Endor as an explorable setting for the upcoming adventure. The main clues in question come during a dreamlike sequence in the trailer, in the form of a forested environment where what looked like the foot of an AT-ST can be seen. The location (and the various Ewoks that call it home) was recently featured in LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for another appearance here.