Kingdom Hearts: 15 New Worlds That Should Be in KH4

If the ending sequence of "Kingdom Hearts 3" is any indication, Sora's story is not over yet. Here are 15 brand new worlds that I'd love to see in "Kingdom Hearts 4."

15. Star Wars

The "Star Wars" universe is a long shot, mainly because it is simply too big. There are so many movies and shows that narrowing everything down to a two-hour chapter of a "Kingdom Hearts" game might be a tough task. However, if they could somehow pull it off, seeing Sora in space alongside the likes of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and Darth Vader could be a lot of fun.

14. Marvel

Again, there is simply too much Marvel content these days that stuffing one concise, coherent storyline into a "Kingdom Hearts" game just doesn't seem plausible. However, with KH publisher Square Enix about to release their a stand-alone Avengers video game, the bridge between Sora and Earth's Mightiest may not be as improbable as it once may have seemed.

13. Cars

One intriguing option is the world of Lightning McQueen, Mater and company from "Cars." When Disneyland announced that they were making an entire land based on Radiator Springs, I didn't know how it would work. However, it turned into a completely immersive experience, and one of the best-looking and most fun areas of the entire park. Admittedly, sending "Kingdom Hearts" to the world of "Cars" would likely be one of the most difficult worlds to implement, as it would probably require the transformation of Sora, Donald and Goofy into vehicle-inspired characters. This would, in turn, need a unique set of controls (drive, brake, etc.), but the button configuration used in the "Lion King" world from "Kingdom Hearts 2" was a bit off the beaten path, so it wouldn't be completely improbable. If they could somehow make it work, it would be awesome.

12. TaleSpin

A fun, nostalgic option would be a globetrotting adventure with a handful of new allies like Baloo, Kit Cloudkicker and King Louie. "TaleSpin" is an all-time favorite of 90s Kids and "Disney Afternoon" lovers everywhere, and sending Sora to eradicate the Darkness from the tropical cartoon world of our childhood would certainly be a lot of fun.

11. Muppets

Another interesting possibility would be introducing the Muppets into "Kingdom Hearts" canon. Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo and the gang are some of the most beloved fictional characters under the Disney umbrella, and their presence in video games is practically non-existent. One major benefit of a Muppets arc is that you could have it set pretty much anywhere. I feel like a "Great Gonzo" theme could be hysterical. Here's a thought - Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker could be brought in as part of a scientific side quest, similar to how Chip and Dale are utilized with the Gummy Ship missions or Huey, Dewey and Louie are used as in-game vendors.

10. Up

"Up" is an strange one. There's got to be a demand for it; it's one of Pixar's most popular movies. But how would it work? Certainly, the world can't be confined to Carl's floating house, but would an "Up" level be any fun if it was set in the movie after the house lands in South America? Perhaps the best way to work in characters from this movie is to make Carl or Russell a Summon, or give Dug and Kevin a Link.

9. Finding Nemo

"Finding Nemo" or "Finding Dory" could very easily replace the underwater "Little Mermaid" worlds they've used in previous games. "Nemo" has universal appeal and is basically a license for Disney to print money, and sending Sora to Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef would provide a bright and vibrant upgrade to the somewhat dated purpose that Ariel served in the past.

8. A Bug's Life

One of the most underrated Disney video games of all time has got to be the 1998 adaptation of "A Bug's Life," which I played on Nintendo 64. What a better way to re-introduce those classic characters than to give them their own world in "Kingdom Hearts"? Shrink Sora and the crew down to the size of an ant and let them run amok, fighting off Hopper and the Heartless. That could be a lot of fun. Also of note is the fact that the "Bug's Life" score is awesome, and any excuse to hear that music again would be totally welcome.

7. Wreck-It Ralph

Wreck-It Ralph appears as an Summon power in "Kingdom Hearts 3," so it would only be logical for him to have a larger role moving forward. Litwack's Arcade would be an ideal location for a "Wreck-It" world, and I imagine it would be pretty similar to the "Tron" levels they've previously done. Otherwise, a "Sugar Rush" racing course or a "Hero's Duty" shooting challenge could easily be plugged in, either as side quests or mini-games.

6. DuckTales

Wouldn't it be great to see Donald get a portion of the game dedicated specifically to his own world? Donald and Goofy have been there for Sora every step of the way, so why not have Sora visit another beloved "Disney Afternoon" environment - "DuckTales"? Rubbing shoulders with Uncle Scrooge, Launchpad McQuack and our other friendly fowls could play a meaningful role in the further development of Donald's character.

5. A Goofy Movie

But why stop there? Perhaps there are things back home that Goofy needs to check on, as well! "Kingdom Hearts 4" would be a perfect opportunity to introduce characters like Max, P.J. and Powerline, who could give additional depth to Goofy's role in the grander scheme of things. This, of course, would also be an opportune time for Pete - a longtime "Kingdom Hearts" nemesis - to throw a wrench in the works yet again. He and Maleficent seem to have a few loose ends to tie up, so traveling to Goofy and Pete's backyard would make total sense. Also, PLEASE give us a "Lester's Possum Park" musical mini-game.

4. Coco

Visually, no other Disney or Pixar movie begs for a video game more than "Coco." Miguel's journey to the other side lit up the screen, and I'd love to see what a video game recreation of the movie looked like. Thematically, a Day of the Dead-themed world would be a perfect fit for the villains of the "Kingdom Hearts" franchise. Organization XIII would probably be frothing at the mouth to stake a claim on the afterlife, similar to what they've tried to do with Hades' Underworld in the past. I would imagine that there is a very good chance that Sora will be teaming up with the young guitar slinger to eliminate a common supernatural foe in the future. "Coco" could also provide a really cool-looking Keyblade, and I imagine there would be some fun, musical team-up abilities for Sora and Miguel. Give us a "Coco" world, please!

3. The Incredibles

"The Incredibles" would provide a much more succinct option for a superhero world than the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A journey with the Parr family would parallel what Sora experienced in the "Kingdom Hearts 3" world of "Big Hero 6," where he teamed up a similar team of heroes. Story-wise, this is an easy choice, to; a new faction of evil "Supers" has shown up and is terrorizing the city. As usual, Sora and the gang show up and help the Incredibles fight off the onslaught. Here, again, "Kingdom Hearts 4" would have the opportunity to include some really cool team-up abilities, bring in a variety of different characters, and throw players into some large-scale battles in downtown Metroville.

2. Onward

Perhaps no movie provides as many possibilities as "Onward," which exists in a world where literally anything can happen. Sora, Donald and Goofy would fit right into the magical land of New Mushroomton, and it wouldn't be unrealistic for the Darkness, Heartless or the Nobodies to show up in Ian and Barley's backyard. Two intriguing storylines would be for Master Yen Sid, the expert magician of the "Kingdom Hearts" universe, to show up, seeking new Guardians of Light or magic-wielders, or for New Mushroomton to serve as a magical training ground for Sora to hone his craft. He could be trained by Ian and Barley, learning new speels, on top of the typical Fire, Blizzard, Thunder and Water variety that we're used to seeing.

1. Inside Out

Without a doubt, "Inside Out" should be a shoo-in for "Kingdom Hearts 4." Sora's story has always been about heart, friendship and love, making the Emotions perfect candidates for new additions to this franchise. Conversely, Organization XIII (or at least what remains of it) would also thrive in this environment, preying on Sora's nightmares with one the most negative and destructive emotions of all: Fear. Hypothetically, "Inside Out" would be a late-game level, where the story could really ramp up. This would be a place where you could bring in a real heavy-hitter of a villain, something to challenge the player in the final movie-based world before heading off for the final stage, like the Keyblade Graveyard or The World That Never Was.

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Until next time,

May your heart be your guiding key!