Entering 2025 there has been no word on Kingdom Hearts 4 since the disclosure in 2022. Kingdom Hearts Missing Link was delayed to an unannounced date back in November 2024, and while a 2025 release feels likely, that's also up in the air. The Kingdom Hearts franchise with an unclear schedule is not a new phenomenon, but hopefully, Kingdom Hearts 4 won't take the nearly six years that Kingdom Hearts 3 made to launch. Regardless, 2025 is a new chance for Kingdom Hearts to show signs of life, and its fans will be eagerly awaiting whatever comes next.
Much information has yet to be revealed about Kingdom Hearts 4but the passionate community is more than willing to fill any dead air with speculation. The teaser trailer for KH4along with the secret ending for KH3 and the final scenes of The melody of memoryhave given them plenty to chew on, and like everyone Kingdom Hearts posts, there are sure to be twists and turns and cameos that no one can predict. Guess the Disney world selection for Kingdom Hearts 4 has been a common pastime, but one of the more exciting variations involves puzzling party members that these worlds can provide.
Family
How Kingdom Hearts 4's “Beginning of the End” status could affect its Disney worlds
It has been hinted that Kingdom Hearts 4 will be one of the last mainline KH titles, so its Disney representatives must be chosen carefully.
The Ideal Party Members for Kingdom Hearts 4
Donald and Goofy
While it is important to move on to the new, Kingdom Hearts has always been about paying homage to the classics, and few things are more classic within KH than the trio of Sora, Donald and Goofy. Sora is expected to stay separate from them for most of the time Kingdom Hearts 4s duration, but having a reunion near the end would be a great moment. As always, Goofy can bring his considerable strength and stamina, while Donald's offensive and healing magic can benefit KH4s hopefully refined party AI. Regardless of what happens, fans haven't seen the last of Donald and Goofy, and should be able to go on adventures with them again at some point in the series' future.
Strelitzia
Comes from Kingdom Hearts Union Cross mobile game, Strelitzia, or a girl who looks exactly like her, appears in the mysterious reality of Quadratum to greet Sora. What Strelitzia does in Kingdom Hearts 4 is unknown, but her appearance in Quadratum's ambiguous afterlife will no doubt be explained at some point. To get there faster, it would be perfect and exciting for mobile fans if Strelitzia actually ventures out alongside Sora as a party member. Having a girl join Sora as a permanent party member would be a first for Kingdom Heartsalthough many fans would have preferred Kairi to get that role instead.
Riku
Still, the writing on the wall indicates that Sora's oldest friends will rejoin him before then Kingdom Hearts is over for good, and Riku may be the first. As The melody of memory revealed, he has begun using the Power of Waking to stalk Sora, Riku will no doubt appear in the Realms of Unreal at some point. Whether it is as a particular party member as in Kingdom Hearts 2 again, or as a mid-game addition KH4s team of newcomers, his presence would be welcomed by many fans hoping to see more Sora and Riku team-ups.
Yozora
Riku eventually shows up, but there is someone else already in Quadratum who can take his place. Yozora was introduced as a gag Kingdom Hearts 3s Toy Story world, but turned out to be very real and relevant in KH3s secret ending and Remind DLC. As shown in the trailer for his fictional video game Verum Rex, a Kingdom Hearts The spin-off dedicated to Yozora could give him his own party, but it would be cool to see him lend his monstrously strong bonus boss abilities to Sora's cause. Whether that happens or not, Yozora's many mysteries must be solved.
Other returning Keyblade Masters
Quadratum has not been shown in detail yet, but it seems to be the best place for Kingdom Heartsa large group of original characters to strut their stuff on the battlefield. The Wayfinder Trio from Birth through sleep and the Sea Salt trio from 358/2 days are obvious fan favorites that should be replayable at some point, while King Mickey and Kairi could both use more time to shine. But some Keyblade wielders like Lauriam, Elrena, Ava, Skuld, and even Luxord's Somebody would also get big pops if they appear as party members, and all have some of Kingdom Hearts' hanging story threads to start. Even a reborn Young Xehanort is not out of the question.
Luke Skywalker
For some, however, the biggest question is not which original Kingdom Hearts characters will end up as companions, but rather which Disney characters will appear as world-exclusive allies. Among these, there is little more enticing than the idea of Sora teaming up with Star Warsown Luke Skywalker. Although it is still not confirmed Kingdom Hearts 4 will have one Star Wars world or not, no single character would stand up for as many cool and interesting moments as the original trilogy's young Luke, and KH4 can't miss the chance to make them happen.
New Disney and Square Enix Party Members
Of course, there will be more than one crossover in Kingdom Hearts 4and that means more opportunities for Disney and maybe even Square Enix party members. Franchise it Kingdom Hearts have not visited before should have priority i KH4so some of the more exciting potential additions include:
- Moana — Moana and Maui
- Coco — Hector
- The Incredibles — The Parr family
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Marvel — anyone, but especially Spider-Man
- Treasure Planet —Jim Hawkins
- Final Fantasy – Someone new, though FF15's Noctis would be a good meta joke.
- NEO: The world ends with you — Sho Minamimoto
- Dragon Quest – Anyone
Although it can only capture a few highlights, Kingdom Hearts 4 can host some of the best KH team-ups yet.