Kingdom Hearts 4: Open-World?! You Won’t Believe What’s Coming!

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After such a long wait since the last installment in 2019, fans are eagerly anticipating the release of Kingdom Hearts 5. Despite six years passing, much about this upcoming game remains shrouded in mystery, leaving many enthusiasts on edge for new information. It is yet uncertain whether 2025 will be the year that brings a formal announcement for Kingdom Hearts 5, but optimism lingers among the fanbase.

As soon as we get new details about Kingdom Hearts 4, it will be fascinating to observe how the series is deciding to progress, given its distinctive fusion of Final Fantasy and Disney elements which have made it a cherished collection of games for many fans. With current gaming trends potentially impacting long-standing franchises, one can speculate if Kingdom Hearts 4 has drawn inspiration from these changes in the industry. It’s plausible that this influence could manifest in Kingdom Hearts 4 adopting a new trend, possibly an open-world setting.

Kingdom Hearts’ Many Locations Make it Primed for a Switch to Open-World

Exploring Disney-Based Worlds in a New Way

Over time, the Kingdom Hearts series has led players through a sequential journey from one world to another in a straight line. While this approach keeps each new world exciting, the predictability might have become monotonous after years. To spice up the gaming experience while retaining an element of surprise, Square Enix could consider an open-world setting as a fresh change.

An Open-World Kingdom Hearts Game Can Give Players a Newfound Sense of Freedom

Instead of moving through the worlds sequentially like in traditional gameplay, players could have the freedom to roam around freely, potentially leading to thrilling discoveries. The diverse realms featured in the Kingdom Hearts series are a key element of the game, and allowing players to explore at their leisure might be the most effective method for enhancing certain aspects of the shared experience.

Square Enix has yet to reveal what Disney worlds will be featured in Kingdom Hearts 4.

If Kingdom Hearts 4 Embraces an Open-World Map, There is One Major Problem

  • The Kingdom Hearts franchise has been built on linear storytelling.

Intriguingly, an open-world style game like Kingdom Hearts could be enticing, but it might also come with significant risks. Although the unique worlds and levels are one of the series’ highlights, the overall story of Kingdom Hearts is what truly defines it. Transitioning to open-world gameplay would necessitate Square Enix to innovate their storytelling methods, which could potentially lose its effectiveness over time.

Even if Kingdom Hearts 4 maintains a linear progression system that some might find formulaic, preserving this structure is vital for a stronger narrative. After all, even though it seems predictable, the integrity of the narrative should be prioritized.

Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, a mobile spin-off game, was delayed last year.

There’s No End in Sight for Kingdom Hearts 4’s Development

  • Development on Kingdom Hearts 4 began back in 2020.
  • The game was officially announced in April 2022.

Square Enix hasn’t shared much about the development of Kingdom Hearts 4 yet, keeping many eager fans on tenterhooks. The scarcity of news has raised some eyebrows, but there’s still hope that 2025 could be the year when we finally get a release date for Kingdom Hearts 4.

There have been rumors and leaks suggesting a 2026 release date for Kingdom Hearts 4, though this information should be treated cautiously as it has not yet been confirmed by the game developers. Until Square Enix provides an official statement, all speculation about the game’s features remains unverified.

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2025-04-10 16:34