Top 10 Characters that NEED to be in Kingdom Hearts

“Chrono Trigger” (1995)
A medieval knight who is also an anthropomorphic frog… named Frog. We’ll say this, there’s no one quite like him. Encountered in 600 AD during the events of Chrono Trigger’s middle ages timeline, Frog quickly proves himself a loyal and stalwart compantion through his expert swordsmanship contrasting with his extreme distaste for violence. He almost feels like a character out of a Disney cartoon, and therefore would be a perfect match for Kingdom Heart’s Disney/JRPG setting. Hell, he might even get along well with Donald and Goofy while relating very closely to Sora.

“Atlantis: The Lost Empire” (2001)
Every party needs a dreamer and an explorer, and Milo Thatch is a bit of both worlds. Being called upon to guide an expedition to the lost city of Atlantis, Thatch is notable in his status as a non-combatant; his areas of study are linguistics and cartography, not fighting. Milo’s presence in “Kingdom Hearts” would therefore be useful not only in introducing Atlantis as a potential setting, but in exploring how outsiders might deal with the series’ signature fantasy violence. Plus, his tendency towards awkward conversations and amusingly dorky moments is hard to ignore.

“Zootopia” (2016)
She’s confident, she’s dutiful, and she’s got a bounce in her step. There’s no doubt that Officer Judy Hopps is compelling and endearing from the moment she makes her first appearance. Judy’s sincere idealism is infectious, making her a good fit with the “Kingdom Hearts” series’ compassionate heroes. Additionally, her status as the first rabbit cop in “Zootopia” opens the door for exploration of themes of prejudice and social progress, adding depth and powerful emotions into the fold. Charming and inspiring in equal measure, Judy Hopps is a hero who deserves her day in the limelight.

Marvel Comics (1962-)
Given that Disney basically owns the entirety of our childhood and most of nerd culture in general, it now makes sense for our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man to make an appearance in Kingdom Hearts. I mean, do we really need to explain why this would be awesome? Imagine the Spider-Man dropping one liners about Disney villains & Donald Duck. Granted we could have picked basically anyone from Marvel – but Spider-man’s sense of humor and lighter tone make him the perfect fit for Square-Enix’s colorful action RPG.

“Inside Out” (2015)
Honestly, in a game series that hinges upon letting your imagination run wild to create scenarios you could only experience in your wildest dreams, who would be better suited to appear than the ultimate imaginary friend! Also, since Bing Bong appears in a movie that touches upon themes of emotional distress, he’d be the perfect foil to the heartless legions. And if we’re being honest, we’d just like to see him again so that we can get over the ultra sad feels that we were left with after his tearful goodbye in the film…

“Star Wars” series (1977-)
While we’re not lacking in love for the droid companion BB-8, the inherent appeal to one of fiction’s greatest villains is impossible to ignore. First and foremost, Darth Vader’s mastery of lightsaber combat and terrifying command of the Force would make for one hell of a boss battle. On top of that, Vader brings with him a winning combination of genuine menace, robotic detachment and internalized emotional turmoil that could contrast nicely with Sora and company. In short, Vader showing up in “Kingdom Hearts” would constitute major success on multiple fronts.

“Frozen” (2013)
Very loosely based on the “Snow Queen” fairytale, Queen Elsa of Arendelle is a truly inspirational and sympathetic character in her own right. Her parents raised her to hide her ability to manipulate snow and ice, leading to later issues of resentment that caused a full-fledged emotional breakdown. However, from that point onward, Elsa transformed into a self-motivated and confident leader whose understated empathy was matched by a marvelous command of ice magic. Having a person onhand who balances leadership with the means of wielding supernatural powers is never a bad idea, especially when it’s someone so likeable.

“Toy Story” series (1995-)
To infinity and beyond, as the saying goes. So much can be said in Buzz Lightyear’s favour, from his retro-themed spacesuit design to the heartbreaking nature of his character arc in 1995’s “Toy Story”. Buzz’s shift from delusional toy to self-aware and genuinely noble ally is powerful beyond words, feeling appropriate for a series whose narratives often provoke intense emotional reactions. Additionally, Buzz’s inclusion could be used to introduce more science-fiction-themed content, to say nothing of getting to witness his usage of an arm laser and surprisingly fluid acrobatics inaction.

“Final Fantasy XV” (2016)
New to the world they may be, but they’re no less valuable as guests. In “Final Fantasy XV”, players are tasked with guiding the young prince Noctis – and his friends Gladiolus, Ignis and Prompto – to a pivotal political wedding. Their main appeal lies in the clash between personalities; Noctis is an awkward kid aiming to be cool, Gladiolus is the quintessential tough guy, Ignis is a young genius, and Prompto is a clumsy gunslinger. Having these lovely lads show up and fight Heartless while partaking in their quirky banter would be refreshing and delightfully silly, to say the least.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

Spider-Man
“Marvel Comics” universe (1962-)


Bing Bong
“Inside Out” (2015)


Ramza
“Final Fantasy Tactics” (1998)

“Wreck-It Ralph” (2012)
He’s not a bad guy, he just plays one. Despite being designated as the villain in a fictional arcade game, Ralph is reluctant in his role; he much prefers being decent to others and yearns to be seen as a hero. That idea of seeking to better oneself and avert destiny lines up beautifully with the themes and storylines of past “Kingdom Hearts” games, meaning Ralph is in good company. Then there’s Ralph’s bulky physique and his primary means of attack – smashing things with his massive fists – which would fit well with battles against the unceasing Heartless hordes.
Do you agree with our list? What characters do you feel need to be in the “Kingdom Hearts” games? For more heartfelt Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.