8 Games You Should Play While You Wait For Kingdom Hearts 4

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.

As a die-hard gamer eagerly awaiting the next chapter, I can’t help but reminisce about the thrilling announcement of Kingdom Hearts 4 back in the year 2022. It’s been more than three long years since that announcement, and apart from a few tantalizing glimpses, there hasn’t been much information to satiate our growing hunger for this highly anticipated title. Each passing day seems to intensify the anticipation among fans of this enchanting series, as we yearn for a game that could potentially fill the Kingdom Hearts-shaped void in our hearts.

Sure thing!

It’s quite challenging to find a game franchise that can truly capture the unique magic of Kingdom Hearts like no other. However, if you’re looking for action RPGs or character action games to enjoy while waiting, there are plenty of options out there.

To keep things fresh and up-to-date, let’s focus on games released after January 25, 2019 – the day Kingdom Hearts 3 (the most recent mainline installment in the series) hit the shelves.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake / Rebirth

This Influential Game Came Back, And Now It’s A Real-Time Action RPG

The hit Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) Final Fantasy 7 and Kingdom Hearts are connected, as the global popularity of Final Fantasy 7 significantly contributed to the formation of Square Enix and Disney’s collaborative series. Additionally, several notable characters from Final Fantasy 7, such as Cloud, Sephiroth, Aerith, Tifa, and others, have made significant cameos in Kingdom Hearts games.

Given that you’ve been a longtime fan of Kingdom Hearts, it’s advisable for you to give the initial installments of Square Enix’s extensive remake initiative a try: Final Fantasy 7 Remake and its sequel, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Unlike the original turn-based RPG from 1997, these remakes feature real-time action RPG gameplay with a dynamic combat system that bears resemblance to the Kingdom Hearts series. This similarity seems to be by design. Both Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth were helmed by the renowned Tetsuya Nomura and developed by Square Enix Business Division 1, the same team responsible for Kingdom Hearts 2.

Genshin Impact

A Popular Gacha Game With Solid Action RPG Gameplay

Currently, Genshin Impact has garnered both acclaim and criticism as a live-service game incorporating gacha mechanics and a wide array of adored characters. Yet, it’s worth noting that

In Genshin Impact, each character wields distinct weapons, elemental affiliations, and special abilities, promoting players to experiment with various combinations to yield varying outcomes. Initially likened to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild due to its free-roaming style in open-world gameplay, Genshin Impact’s gameplay instead blends elements reminiscent of Devil May Cry and Kingdom Hearts. What sets it apart is that, as a live-service game, Genshin Impact offers an almost limitless gaming experience, ensuring that players will be engrossed for years while they await the fourth mainline entry in the Kingdom Hearts series.

NEO: The World Ends With You

The Long-Awaited Sequel To One Of Square Enix’s Most Distinct Projects

In the Kingdom Hearts series, apart from Final Fantasy, another Square Enix intellectual property that has been included is The World Ends With You. This pairing was divine! Both games have similar visual aesthetics and character designs, as they are both overseen by the same producer and art director – Tetsuya Nomura.

To the delight of fans of this iconic series, Square Enix unveiled a sequel in 2021, named NEO: The World Ends With You. In contrast to its precursor, this action RPG is entirely in 3D, and its gameplay shares many similarities with that of Kingdom Hearts. However, it also boasts unique features such as multiple playable characters and a collection of over three hundred distinct pins, each with different battle effects. If you’re a fan of Kingdom Hearts and are eagerly awaiting the next main installment, this overlooked modern classic is definitely worth trying.

No More Heroes 3

A Violent Hack-And-Slash Game With Over-The-Top Boss Fights

Although the Kingdom Hearts and No More Heroes series have distinctly different moods, they share a common thread: both have kept fans eagerly waiting for new installments, such as the long-anticipated third entry in the No More Heroes series. After much patience, the third game was released in 2021 and lived up to expectations. It’s even funnier, more refined, and more outrageously flamboyant than any of its previous versions.

In “No More Heroes 3,” the character Travis Touchdown engages in a fierce battle against the alien prince FU and his team, the Galactic Superhero Corps. Many of the bosses in this game are powerful aliens with eccentric appearances and distinctive abilities. The game is filled with unexpected twists. The fighting sequences are fast, intense, and gratifying. This game stands out due to its ability to be played with responsive motion controls in certain editions, which was a significant aspect that made “No More Heroes” and “No More Heroes 2” remarkable during the era of the Nintendo Wii.

Bayonetta 3

Everyone’s Favorite Stylish Witch Came Back

As a die-hard gamer, I’ve been eagerly awaiting my next thrilling ride with Bayonetta in Bayonetta 3. After what felt like an eternity, the third installment of this iconic action game series has finally arrived! Just like our wait for Kingdom Hearts 3 and No More Heroes 3, patience was key.

In this new adventure, I find myself embarking on a mind-blowing, multiversal journey alongside Bayonetta, battling Singularity and the Homunculi. Along the way, I encounter captivating alternate versions of my favorite characters – including some pretty cool variations of myself! This global escapade promises to be nothing short of epic.

The storyline of Bayonetta 3 is complex, peculiar, yet appealingly endearing, making it a perfect fit for many fans of Kingdom Hearts. However, the most notable feature of this action-packed game is its superb combat system. It offers an exhilarating gaming experience with a wide array of wild weapons to use during fights. A fresh mechanic called Demon Slave was also introduced in this game, enabling Bayonetta to command and control colossal demons amidst battles.

Hi-Fi Rush

One Of The Most Creative Character Action Games On The Market

The gaming world was taken aback when Tango Gameworks (creators of The Evil Within) unexpectedly launched Hi-Fi Rush in January 2023. Remarkably, it swiftly turned into a substantial hit in both critical acclaim and sales within a short span of time. With its lively and vivid visuals, endearing characters, and side-splitting humor, this game appeals greatly to fans of the Kingdom Hearts series.

What really sets Hi-Fi Rush apart is its unique rhythmic fight system, meticulously designed for an engaging gaming experience. The protagonist, Chai, needs to keep his eyes on the environment to synchronize his attacks with the rhythm of the game’s background music. This unconventional gameplay might require some initial adaptation, but once mastered, it offers a truly fulfilling and innovative hack-and-slash adventure in the gaming industry.

Final Fantasy 16

The Closest Thing To A New Kingdom Hearts Game Since KH3

As a passionate gamer, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the next installment in the iconic Final Fantasy series. Given the immense success of games like Final Fantasy 15, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and the Kingdom Hearts series, it came as no surprise that the latest numbered entry in the Final Fantasy franchise followed suit with a real-time action RPG format. However, unlike its predecessors, Final Fantasy 16 was not under the direction of Tetsuya Nomura. Instead, part of its development was handled by the Kingdom Hearts team within Square Enix Creative Business Unit I, with some additional help from PlatinumGames. This suggests that Final Fantasy 16 carries a significant genetic link to Square Enix and Disney’s beloved crossover series, Kingdom Hearts.

At first, the battle system in Final Fantasy 16 feels a bit sluggish, but as Clive Rosfield uncovers the abilities of the other Eikons, it becomes more complex and fulfilling. By the end of the game’s narrative, Clive can perform an array of spectacular moves that keep gameplay engaging. The most appealing aspect of Final Fantasy 16 is its extraordinary boss battles, which are dramatic and challenging clashes against massive monsters, sure to amaze fans of action-based characters.

Lost Soul Aside

A Love Letter To Kingdom Hearts & Final Fantasy

In the year 2016, an ambitious new developer named Yang Bing unveiled his personal project, aptly titled “Lost Soul Aside“. This high-energy action game was influenced by renowned titles such as Final Fantasy 15, Devil May Cry, Bayonetta, and Kingdom Hearts. Over the course of nine years, Yang Bing built a dedicated team around him. With financial support from Sony Interactive Entertainment along the way, “Lost Soul Aside” was eventually released for both PS5 and PC in August 2025.

Lost Soul Aside isn’t flawless yet, but Yang Bing and his team have certainly produced an engaging hack-and-slash game with a top-notch combat system. The combos flow smoothly, the mechanics are finely tuned, and evading and blocking play a significant role in the gameplay. Each of the four weapons is enjoyable to handle, and as you might expect, the boss fights are thrilling confrontations against adversaries capable of launching stylish yet potent attacks. Although we have some time before Kingdom Hearts 4 releases, Lost Soul Aside offers an appealing alternative for Kingdom Hearts enthusiasts in the meantime.

2025-09-05 23:25