Kingdom Hearts 4 is one of gaming's most anticipated JRPG titles and looks to finally shift the series towards a more mature tone. During the franchise's 20th Anniversary event in April 2022, developer Square-Enix shared the first trailer for the title. To the surprise of many, the trailer depicted Sora with a much more mature, Final Fantasy-esque look, with the character dropped into a busy, hyper-realistic city. This is something that fans have wanted for quite some time, as many believed Kingdom Hearts 3 to be a step back in terms of its tone. With this more mature Sora confirmed, fans could see a chain reaction ripple throughout Kingdom Hearts 4’s worlds, based on properties and plot elements intended for an older audience.

Kingdom Hearts 4 appears to be a fresh start for the series, perhaps even a soft reboot, following the events of Kingdom Hearts 3 ReMind leading him to Quadratum. While this location is likely to serve as the tutorial space or central hub, akin to Twilight Town, there’s no doubt that Sora will eventually make his way to Disney-inspired worlds. To differentiate itself from the previous saga, these worlds must differ from those of Kingdom Hearts 1-3. One way in which this could be easily accomplished is if Square-Enix adapted modern and more mature properties for Sora’s next big adventure.

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What to Expect From Kingdom Hearts 4 in 2024

All has been quiet on Kingdom Hearts 4's front throughout 2023, but that could be in preparation for some huge reveals in 2024.

Kingdom Hearts 3 Failed to Maintain The Series' Trajectory

Kingdom Hearts 2 was a near-perfect sequel to the original collaboration between Square-Enix and Disney. Building on the surprisingly compelling mix of lighthearted Disney fair and 2000s Final Fantasy edge, Kingdom Hearts 2 managed to move the series forward in nearly every way. Not only were Sora and his pals older, bringing more gravitas to his search for Riku and Kairi, but the game’s dialogue and environments felt like an appropriate shift as well. By its end, it felt like Sora and the world of Kingdom Hearts had grown and matured in preparation for a final confrontation with Xehanort.

Unfortunately, Kingdom Hearts 3 proved this notion wrong, replacing the growth of prior titles with a Sora, Donald, and Goofy who acted more childish than even their first iterations. What’s worse, the dialogue was cringey and, at times, downright dumb, as Sora lacked the basic knowledge necessary to understand even the most simple plot information. To match, Kingdom Hearts 3’s new locations were a step backward, featuring more lighthearted properties, such as Monsters Inc., Toy Story, and Tangled. What resulted was a rather frustrating and inappropriately whimsical conclusion to the Dark Seeker Saga.

Kingdom Hearts 4's Sora Requires More Mature Worlds

While Kingdom Hearts 4's more mature Sora is a step in the right direction, the character requires appropriately themed environments in which to showcase that evolution. While Disney doesn't have any mature original IP, per se, its catalog does feature some titles that would feel aimed at older kids and teens. Original IP such as Raya and the Last Dragon, Moana, and The Incredibles could all make for solid worlds in a future Kingdom Hearts. Additionally, Disney's acquired properties, such as Marvel and Star Wars, are rife with opportunities for darker and more mature worldbuilding. Adapting these properties could easily help to differentiate the series' newest saga from what fans have experienced thus far, and, more appropriately, it will course-correct the series' overall tone toward where Kingdom Hearts 2 left off.

Little is known about Kingdom Hearts 4, nearly two years after its announcement. That hasn't stopped fans from developing very high hopes for Sora's adventure in Quadratum, and his more mature appearance has led many to expect a more mature tone overall. If Square-Enix and Disney hope to make good on the concept, they need worlds that feel like a step up from those found in Kingdom Hearts 3, in both tone and variety. While it is unlikely that fans will learn exactly which Disney IP will be featured in Kingdom Hearts 4 anytime soon, they remain hopeful that their patience will pay off with a big reveal in 2024.

Kingdom Hearts 4

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.