After a not-so-long wait between mainline games, Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts 4 was a surprise reveal when the trailer aired during the 20th Anniversary of the series in April 2022. In the Kingdom Hearts 4 trailer, Sora is seen fighting a heartless similar to the first game's initial boss encounter, and he's doing it alone. Donald and Goofy are not seen in combat, which makes sense for the trailer's teaser-like format and the third game's ending.
They don't make an appearance at all until the trailer's end cutscene, in which they're shown looking for someone that can presumably help them save Sora. No other characters outside Strelitzia of Kingdom Hearts Union X show up onscreen either. But a prolonged separation of the friends in the upcoming entry would help bring focus on new, engaging forms of combat and allow other characters to supplement Sora's journey through his newfound isolation.
Being Apart Would Allow Kingdom Hearts' Trio to Develop Individually
The original Kingdom Hearts introduced its now beloved trio of Sora, Donald, and Goofy fairly early on. Since then, the two friends have been Sora's left and right hand through multiple games, and have served as staples to the game's core combat system except for a few asides of individual instances. From a gameplay perspective, a long separation could be a way for fans to finally get to play as Donald or Goofy organically. It would allow fans to understand more of the motivations, histories, and untold powers that Donald and Goofy have. Dividing them would also put more weight on Sora's struggles, and allow any temporary or guest party members for him to feel more important and relevant to the journey they'd take at his side.
The delayed gratification of having Sora meet Donald and Goofy far later would also serve to build up and strengthen fans' connections to the characters as a trio. While Sora, Donald, and Goofy have been the bedrock of the game, it's characters like Kairi, Riku, and Roxas who are at the center of the more essential emotional interactions. Kingdom Hearts 4 could find a way to reinvigorate Sora's friendship with Donald and Goofy in a genuine, heartfelt manner. After all, distance makes the heart grow fonder.
The Potential for New Fixed Party Members Like Kairi or Aqua
While Donald and Goofy are a vital part of the game's heart, the Kingdom Hearts: ReMind DLC makes a strong case for featuring other original characters as playable party members. Having Donald and Goofy too quickly re-introduced as the only options for party members while the game holds such a plentiful roster of other keyblade wielders could make things feel stale. With Kairi being playable in Kingdom Hearts: ReMind, other options for party members would help shake up the formula.
Providing fans with new and diverse party groups early on could also help generate nostalgia for the gameplay dynamic of the original three. More likely though, it would explore dynamics between various new and old characters, preventing the bloat of the cast from feeling unearned and unsupported. Kingdom Hearts 3 had many characters featured as party members, and it was a brief glimpse of what a revitalization of Kingdom Hearts might look like combat-wise. With the cast the size that it is, giving Goofy and Donald some distance from Sora could give fans the opportunity to further explore their characters in their own journey together, as they've often only ever been a focus when Sora is involved. It would make their stake in the grand plot a more tangible thing.
Hopefully, by drawing distance between the three, Kingdom Hearts 4 can better explore its characters and their potential. Rumors of Kingdom Hearts 4 including Star Wars and Marvel properties could explain the more hyperrealistic approach to Sora's design, and the cartoonish style of Donald and Goofy might look out-of-place in these more lifelike environments. It worked well enough in the Pirates of the Caribbean areas, but Kingdom Hearts 4 might be trying for a very different aesthetic tone. It could be a practical choice, but it would likely also serve the narrative. Either way, fans can expect a new arc to start with Kingdom Hearts 4, and plenty of new worlds to explore beside new and familiar friends.
Kingdom Hearts 4 is currently in development.