As a Kingdom Hearts fan, it’s hard not to feel disappointed by how long and agonizing the wait for the next entry has been. It’s one of those video game franchises that seems to require both patience and a longer-than-average lifespan just to get your hands on the next chapter. We’ve talked at length about how waiting isn’t always simple and clean.
The good news? A Kingdom Hearts game is on the way. The catch? It’s not the highly anticipated Kingdom Hearts IV, the direct sequel to Sora’s story, but rather the long-speculated Pokemon GO-style mobile title Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link for Android and iOS.
Missing-Link adopts the familiar formula Niantic popularized and gives it a Kingdom Hearts twist. Players can engage in the series’ signature flashy 3D combat, but at its core, the gameplay revolves around a GPS mode that can be played anywhere, anytime.
What sets Missing-Link apart is that it's not trying to encourage fitness or force players to walk miles every day. Instead, it features a dedicated "Touch Mode" that lets players teleport to any location globally, removing virtually any need for physical movement.
Narratively, players can expect some major revelations tied to the series’ main canon—similar to how Union X and Dark Road were essential to understanding Kingdom Hearts III. That said, story details are still sparse. According to the official site, the plot takes place during a “blank era” in Kingdom Hearts history—whatever that ends up meaning.
Fans hoping to see returning characters may be in luck. Since Missing-Link is set between Union Cross and Dark Road, there’s potential for appearances from the Organization XIII members, the Foretellers, or even younger versions of Final Fantasy characters.
And of course, because this is still Kingdom Hearts (and a Disney project) Disney characters will also show up. They’ll appear as collectible “Pieces” scattered across the GPS-based world. Players can team up with them to battle Heartless and perform Keyblade combos.
The game was originally expected to launch last year, but it was hit with a delay on November 19. With no updated release date in sight, fans have been left wondering when Missing-Link will fully drop. After a closed beta rolled out over a year ago, some even feared it had been canceled—until news surfaced that the game is being rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5, with development dating back to 2019. Honestly, that’s par for the course when it comes to Kingdom Hearts timelines.
There are still plenty of mysteries surrounding this project, but one thing is clear: Missing-Link is still alive and kicking. Still, with Square Enix remaining tight-lipped, it’s hard not to worry. And if they do pull the plug? Then Kingdom Hearts IV had better not be far behind.