Mickey Mouse Might Be Fully Playable in Kingdom Hearts 4

It’s been three years of silence from Square Enix, and now we’re finally getting a pulse check on Kingdom Hearts 4. The last time we saw this game was during the 20th anniversary reveal in 2022, where we got a glimpse of Sora in the mysterious new world of Quadratum. Since then? Nothing. But now, just a day after they canned the mobile game Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link, Square Enix dropped a small batch of new KH4 screenshots to keep the fandom from fully combusting.

And there’s one big surprise in them: Mickey Mouse might be playable.

"We're currently working hard on Kingdom Hearts 4 and will continue pouring ourselves into the game's development. We're dedicated to making this an experience that lives up to your expectations!"

"We've seen how excited you are, and we are truly grateful from the bottom of our hearts. We are equally excited and can't wait to share more about Kingdom Hearts 4 when the time is right. Until then, we appreciate your patience."

Let’s back up for a second. Mickey Mouse has always been part of the Kingdom Hearts franchise. He showed up in the original Kingdom Hearts (2002) in quick cameos, then went full Keyblade Master mode in Kingdom Hearts 2, where players could briefly control him during certain fights if Sora got KO’d. In Kingdom Hearts 3, Mickey plays a larger story role, especially in the darker parts of the game’s second act, like his descent into the Realm of Darkness alongside Riku. But he still wasn’t a full-time, hands-on character. It was more like watching a cutscene and dreaming of what could be.

That dream might finally be real.

One of the new screenshots from KH4 shows Mickey in full gear, keyblade ready, in a dramatic stance that isn’t just cutscene fluff—it looks like gameplay. Square Enix hasn’t confirmed anything, but the framing and positioning hint strongly that Mickey could be a playable character in at least part of the game.

That’s a huge deal.

The Kingdom Hearts franchise has always been a chaotic blend of original characters like Sora, Riku, and Kairi, mixed with Final Fantasy cameos and a sprawling Disney multiverse. From fighting alongside Mulan and Beast to chilling in Toy Story and Pirates of the Caribbean worlds, the series has never been shy about Disney crossovers. But Mickey? He’s always been treated like royalty. Powerful, mysterious, and mostly off-limits. Having him step directly into a playable role changes the stakes. It’s like Square Enix finally gave us the keys to the castle.

And yeah, fans noticed more than just Mickey. The screenshots also showed Sora battling Heartless in Quadratum, which looks more real-world and urban than anything in past games. It’s been pitched as a kind of Tokyo-inspired hub, part of the new story arc after KH3 closed out the Xehanort saga. But some things are still suspiciously absent: no word on new Disney worlds, no sign of Final Fantasy characters (despite fan requests since KH3), and no sight of Donald or Goofy—Sora’s core team since day one.

People are starting to ask: where are they?

There’s speculation this could mean a shift in party dynamics, especially if Mickey and maybe Riku are stepping up. It’s also worth noting that Tetsuya Nomura, the series director, has been teasing KH4 as a major turning point—maybe even a lead-up to the saga’s conclusion. In 2024, he mentioned wanting to wrap up the story soon, especially as he considers retirement. That adds more weight to every character choice. Mickey being playable might not just be fan service—it could be a signal that KH4 is going all in.

For fans who stuck with the franchise through remixes, mobile games, weird naming conventions (358/2 Days, anyone?), and the Union χ lore maze, KH4 is the light at the end of a very convoluted tunnel. And having Mickey step up like this might be exactly the kind of fan moment the series needs.

But Square Enix isn’t giving out a release date just yet. The game’s been in development for years, and while the screenshots are a solid reassurance, there’s no real timeline. Still, the fact that they dropped this update right after shelving Missing-Link says a lot—they know what the fans actually care about.

We’ve waited six years since Kingdom Hearts 3. At this point, we’ll wait a bit longer. But if Mickey Mouse is finally going to fight at our side in full, not just as a backup or story NPC?

It might be worth it.