Kingdom Hearts: Chain Of Memories Set For 2026 Return

1 hour ago 10

Published Jul 16, 2026, 9:00 PM EDT

Nicholas Becher is a gaming journalist with an MFA in Creative Writing from FAU. With extensive experience playing video games, he covers all forms of gaming content at Screen Rant, from breaking news to the latest fan theories. Most-played games range from Clair Obscur to Civ to Elden Ring to Halo 2 and beyond.

After years of waiting, Kingdom Hearts is finally entering a new chapter, and excitement surrounding the franchise's return is at an all-time high. Ever since Kingdom Hearts 4 was officially unveiled, fans have been eagerly scouring for clues about where Sora's next adventure will lead and how the mysterious Lost Master Arc will unfold.

While Square Enix has kept many details under wraps, anticipation has only continued to grow thanks to the series' devoted community and the promise of a more ambitious, modern take on its signature blend of Disney, Final Fantasy, and other original worlds. Beyond Kingdom Hearts 4, renewed interest in the franchise has also fueled hopes for additional remasters, spin-offs, and long-awaited updates on various projects.

And while it won't come as a major surprise to longtime Kingdom Hearts fans, a new announcement has revealed that Chain of Memories is officially confirmed for a return later in 2026 (via Silicon Era).

More than two decades after its debut, Chain of Memories Square Enix has announced that its officially licensed Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories / Re:Chain of Memories playing cards will return once again on December 26, 2026, marking the latest in an annual series of reissues that began back in 2023.

Priced at 3,080 yen (roughly $19), the 52-card deck recreates the iconic cards used throughout the game, featuring characters such as Sora and King Mickey, Keyblades, enemies, and the signature crown from the original design. While the current announcement is limited to Japan, previous releases have eventually reached global markets, and collectors can expect a wider release announcement sometime later this year.

Cover art for Kingdom hearts Re Chain of Memories

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories is a unique entry in the long-running action RPG series, serving as the bridge between the original Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II. Originally released for the Game Boy Advance in 2004 before being remade as Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories for PlayStation 2, the game traded traditional hack-and-slash combat for a strategic card-based battle system that remains one of the franchise's most distinctive experiments.

Set within the mysterious Castle Oblivion, the story follows Sora, Donald, and Goofy as they gradually lose their memories while uncovering the secrets of Organization XIII and the enigmatic Naminé, laying the narrative foundation for many of the series' biggest storylines. While it's not the most popular Kingdom Hearts release, fans can reliably count on seeing the Chain of Memories cards drop around the same time every year, and 2026 is no different.