Kingdom Hearts III is finally, mercifully out. Did you think that was enough to keep us satisfied? Well, it was for maybe about a month. By now, the true fanatics have presumably beaten Kingdom Hearts III, which means it’s time to look ahead. While the future of the Kingdom Hearts series remains a big question mark, there’s one thing we all know for sure: there will be plenty of Disney worlds to make chaos in. (Well, we can assume, but there is always that chance that will not be the case, if at least temporarily.)
The lineup of Disney worlds in Kingdom Hearts III were mostly comprised of new additions, and the returning worlds really did feel like new ones. While many did appreciate the selection this time around, it’s impossible to please everyone. However, the fact we weren’t forced to make another return trip to the likes of Atlantica and Halloween Town was appreciated. The worlds of Kingdom Hearts III felt more diverse, expansive, and overall interesting than before.
With that, the next Kingdom Hearts game should have an equally wide and varied set of worlds. There’s no reason it shouldn’t. The Disney of 2019 is different than the Disney of 2002. Heck, Disney will be a completely different company by the end of the 2019! It’s unlikely that these worlds will be featured in the upcoming Kingdom Hearts III DLC, but there’s always future titles to take into consideration!
A couple of factors were taken into consideration when making this list, mainly diversity of environments and source material. With that, here are Disney properties we’d like to see introduced in the Kingdom Hearts series. What would you want to see? Let us know!
Kingdom Hearts Worlds February 2019
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Brave
While reception on this Pixar joint (the first—and so far only—fantasy flick from the studio) is fairly mixed, there's no denying the world of Brave is absolutely gorgeous. Just imagine traversing through the mountains and forests of this ancient Scotland. Plus, who wouldn't want Merida, with her badass bow, as a party member? It'll also probably involve a fight against some bear Heartless, which sounds awesome. Maybe there can even be some horseback combat?
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Gravity Falls
The Disney empire is so vast, why limit ourselves to movies? There are plenty of awesome television properties to parse through, as well. Like this Disney Channel gem. The town of Gravity Falls is full of colorful personalities and mystery. With a supernatural conspiracy bubbling underneath the town, it's the perfect world to investigate. Kingdom Hearts hasn't explicitly dived into the paranormal, so why not take the Gummi Ship to the Pacific Northwest? Sure, it would be a little odd to have actual children Dipper and Mabel join your party and fight, but this is Kingdom Hearts; stranger things have happened. Plus, Mabel has a grappling hook.
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The Haunted Mansion
Just to be clear, this is specifically the Disney attraction, not the Eddie Murphy film. Kingdom Hearts III has already drawn from the Disney Parks realm, so why not develop a whole world from it? No other Disney attraction is as fleshed-out as The Haunted Mansion, or as easily identifiable and full of crazy characters. Exploring the creepy corridors of the mansion and meeting the 99 happy haunts, all while "Grim Grinning Ghosts" plays in the background? Give it to me now.
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Indiana Jones
Yes, everyone wants Star Wars in Kingdom Hearts. But why not take a look at that other Lucasfilm brainchild? Trekking through the jungle with Indy in your party? Working your way through abandoned temples? Fighting Nazis? It's too good to be true. It could be like mini Uncharted within Kingdom Hearts. With a new Indiana Jones movie in the pipeline, the timing couldn't be better. Plus, Kingdom Hearts III showed the series has evolved past the issues previous live-action worlds created.
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Moana
Kingdom Hearts hasn't really done a full-on tropical world, and this is the perfect time to remedy that. Sure, this world could draw comparisons to the The Caribbean in Kingdom Hearts III, but the two are different enough aesthetically to stand out. Moana is a gorgeous film, with vibrant flora and a crystal-clear ocean. Seeing that recreated in a Kingdom Hearts game, while traveling with Moana and Maui, is something all fans should want. Plus, imagine the boss battles!
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The Princess and the Frog
Speaking of environments not seen in Kingdom Hearts games: the bayous of New Orleans. Heck, just the city of New Orleans itself would create for some compelling level design. Sure, this level would totally involve the characters being transformed into frogs (or some other animal), but that's part of the fun of Kingdom Hearts. Hopping around Louisiana is something I wish could've been in Kingdom Hearts III. Guess we'll just have to wait for another game.
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Pocahontas
Yes, the movie is a tad problematic, but Pocahontas still deserves an appearance in Kingdom Hearts. For one, Pocahontas would be the only Disney Princess to not appear in Kingdom Hearts (considering this Brave pipe dream comes true). The sprawling, dense forests of uncolonized North America would make for some truly compelling environments.
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Wall E
No, I'm not saying the garbage-riddled Earth seen in the film should appear (though that could work). Rather, a Wall-E level would likely take place on the Axiom, which would likely travel through space a la Monstro. The Axiom is full of diverse and unique spaces, and it could culminate in a boss fight against the corrupt AI AUTO.
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Zootopia
One of the reasons San Fransokyo was such a delight was because a sprawling, bustling city was not something we've seen in a Kingdom Hearts game. Zootopia established the titular city as a world of its own, full animals of all kinds. There are a variety of locations that were only briefly touched upon in the film, each one completely different than the next. Going on an adventure with Nick and Judy could be one of the most exciting in a Kingdom Hearts title.
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Avatar
Yes, Disney will soon own Avatar. Of all the Fox properties Disney will inherit, Avatar is one of the most likely to be fully brought into the Disney fold. While the film isn't generally remembered fondly, there's no denying this world is stunning. The lush jungles of Pandora are unlike anything we've seen before. Plus, Disney has a vested interest in promoting Avatar as much as it can. Not only can Walt Disney World patrons visit Pandora, but there are four (yep, four!) Avatar sequels planned. I begrudgingly accept that riding on a banshee could be an exhilarating experience. I will accept Sora, Donald, and Goofy as Na'vi, if I must.
