With Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link shelved and no clear release date for Kingdom Hearts 4, fans have had a rough stretch lately. But Square Enix may have just dropped a lifeline in the form of a massive new trading card collection — and it comes with just enough mystery to reignite hope.
Unveiled this week, the Kingdom Hearts Art Museum card series includes 228 total cards, drawing on over two decades of the franchise’s lore, characters, and worlds. It’s a celebration of the saga’s visual style, built for collectors and fans who’ve followed Sora’s journey from Destiny Islands to Quadratum.
Square Enix broke down the set’s structure as follows:
- 93 normal cards – likely common base set designs
- 93 premium cards – higher finish versions of the core set
- 18 Hearts Rare
- 18 Hearts Premium Rare
- 4 Kingdom Rare cards – expected to be the hardest to find
Those last two cards are simply labeled special, and Square has intentionally withheld their artwork from all marketing and product previews. That secrecy has fueled speculation that these cards may contain visuals tied directly to Kingdom Hearts 4, which has remained largely under wraps since its teaser reveal years ago.
Some fans believe the special cards could feature new KH4 character designs or key imagery from unreleased parts of the story. Others think it might just be a clever marketing move. But the cards’ planned release date — August 30, 2025 — has fans hoping Square will reveal more about the next game before these packs hit shelves.
And even without KH4 teases, the collection itself is shaping up to be one of the most expansive Kingdom Hearts releases outside of the games. Pre-orders are now live on Square Enix’s Japanese store (but not yet on the U.S. site due to ongoing tariff limitations). Packs are priced at 550 yen (roughly $4 USD) for six cards, or 11,000 yen (~$77 USD) for a booster box containing 20 packs.
This isn’t Square Enix’s first foray into card collecting, but it may be the most ambitious. While much of the focus is on the art, there’s also that classic chase appeal — from foil rarities to the elusive Kingdom Rares, and now two mystery cards that might just offer a peek at what’s next.
Whether you’re a longtime fan hoping for KH4 clues or a collector eager to dive into the Kingdom Hearts universe in a new way, this card drop might be just the bridge between nostalgia and whatever comes next.