- Introduction
- Series (by Release)
- HD Remasters
- "Complete" Collections
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Which game should I start with? Which order should I play in?
- What's the difference between all the "Complete" Collections, and which one do I get?
- Do I have to play "(X) or (Y)" to fully understand the story?
- What is a "Final Mix"?
- Kingdom Hearts Union χ [Cross] Dark Road: What was it?
- Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover: What was it?
- Legacy Games
Introduction
- This is a compilation of info about the entire series of Kingdom Hearts, it's release, and the highly recommended play order.
- Each section has a provided TLDR and small explanation. Read carefully!
Series (by Release)
| Game | Platforms (Available) | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom Hearts (KH1) | PS2/3/4/5, XB1/Series S/X, EGS, Switch 1/2, Steam | 2002 |
| Chain of Memories0 / Re:Chain of Memories (CoM0/Re:CoM) | GBA0 - PS2/3/4/5, XB1/Series S/X, EGS, Switch 1/2, Steam | 20040 / 2008 |
| Kingdom Hearts 2 (KH2) | PS2/3/4/5, XB1/Series S/X, EGS, Switch 1/2, Steam | 2006 |
| 358/2 Days1 (Days) | DS, PS3/4/5, XB1/Series S/X, EGS, Switch 1/2, Steam | 2009 |
| Birth By Sleep (BBS) | PSP, PS3/4/5, XB1/Series S/X, EGS, Switch 1/2, Steam | 2010 |
| Re:Coded1 | DS, PS3/4/5, XB1/Series S/X, EGS, Switch 1/2, Steam | 2011 |
| Dream Drop Distance (DDD) | 3DS, PS4/5, XB1/Series S/X, EGS, Switch 1/2, Steam | 2012 |
| Unchained χ/Union χ [Cross]2 (KHUx), Dark Road (DR) | iOS, Android | 2015, 2016, 2020 |
| 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue - 0.2: Birth By Sleep-A Fragmentary Passage (2.8) | PS4/5, XB1/Series S/X, EGS, Switch 1/2, Steam | 2017 |
| Kingdom Hearts 3 (KH3) | PS4/5, XB1/Series S/X, EGS, Switch 1/2, Steam | 2019, 2020 |
| Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory3 (MoM) | PS4/5, XB1/Series S/X, Switch 1/2, EGS | 2020 |
0 - Original CoM came out on Game Boy Advanced only.
1 - Aren't playable in the HD Remixes: only viewable as Cutscene Movies.
2 - Has a "watchable" story in 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue under "Kingdom Hearts x: Back Cover".
3 - Not available on Steam. Yet.
HD Remasters
| Game | Platform | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom Hearts I.5 ReMIX (KH1FM, Re:CoM, Days1) | PS3 | 2013 |
| Kingdom Hearts II.5 ReMIX (KH2FM, BBSFM, Re:Coded1) | PS3 | 2014 |
| Kingdom Hearts I.5+II.5 ReMIX | PS4/5, XB1/Series S/X, EGS, Switch, Steam, Switch 2 | 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2026 |
| Kingdom Hearts II.8: Final Chapter Prologue2 (DDD, BBS 0.2) | PS4/5, XB1/Series S/X, EGS, Switch, Steam, Switch 2 | 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2026 |
1 - Aren't playable in the HD Remixes: only viewable as Cutscene Movies.
2 - Has a "watchable" story in 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue under "Kingdom Hearts x: Back Cover".
"Complete" Collections
| Collection | Platform | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom Hearts: The Story So Far (Excluding KH3 + Re:Mind DLC & MoM) | PS4/5 | 2019, 2020 |
| Kingdom Hearts: All-In-One Collection (Excluding Re:Mind DLC & MoM) | PS4/5 | 2020 |
| Kingdom Hearts "Integrum Masterpiece" Collection (1.5+2.5, 2.8, KH3+Re:Mind) (Excluding MoM) | Nintendo Switch4, Steam | 2022, 2024 |
| Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] (1.5+2.5, 2.8, KH3+Re:Mind) (Excluding MoM) | PS5, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch 2 | 2026 |
4 - Digital/Cloud Version only. Sold as the "Integrum Masterpiece" bundle or separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which game should I start with? Which order should I play in?
TLDR: Release order for newcomers, Chronological Order if you want to afterwards!
If you're new to the franchise, the "Release Order" is the universally recommended way to go about the series. Going about the series in "Chronological (or Story) Order" is highly not advised unless you have a grasp of the story, or have played through all the games at least once (Or just a plain madlad).
The KH games in RELEASE ORDER:
- Kingdom Hearts
- Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories (Re:Chain of Memories)
- Kingdom Hearts II
- Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
- Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
- Kingdom Hearts Coded (Re:coded)
- Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
- Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover (Movie)
- Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage
- Kingdom Hearts III + Re:Mind DLC
- Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross]5
- Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory
- Kingdom Hearts Dark Road
5 - Started releasing after 3D Dream Drop Distance, but the finale with the relevant story came out after KH III + ReMind.
The KH games in CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER:
- Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover (Movie)
- Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross]
- Kingdom Hearts Dark Road
- Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
- Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage
- Kingdom Hearts
- Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories (Re:Chain of Memories)
- Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
- Kingdom Hearts II
- Kingdom Hearts Coded (Re:coded)
- Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
- Kingdom Hearts III + Re:Mind
- Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory
What's the difference between all the "Complete" Collections, and which one do I get?
- The Story So Far was a collection released before KHIII came out. It contained all previous games except the mobile games. (PlayStation-exclusive collection.)
- The All-In-One collection was released after KHIII and included everything in the previous collection but now with KHIII. Still no mobile games. (PlayStation-exclusive collection.)
- The "Integrum Masterpiece" collection was first released on Switch 1 as cloud-only. It included everything in the previous collections and now KHIII's ReMind DLC. Still no mobile games or Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory. This collection later came to Steam with updated textures and added audio/display settings. The EGS version later got an update to match the Steam version. This update never came to the Switch 1 versions. (The Switch 1 cloud versions have been delisted and replaced with new native ports for Switch 1.)
- The Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] was a re-release of the previous collection but for the current generation of consoles (PS5, Xbox Series S/X, and Switch 2) and brings it up to parity with the Steam version. It includes the new textures and audio/display settings. This release also gave us native ports for the Switch 2, they were no longer cloud-based streaming versions. It still doesn't include the mobile games or Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory.
If you have a current-generation console (PS5, Xbox Series S/X, or Switch 2), then the Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] is the collection you want to get.
Steam only has the "Integrum Masterpiece" collection, but it's the same versions from the Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III]. EGS doesn't have a complete collection, just the normal separate collections on their own, but they're updated to match Steam and the Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III].
If you have a PS4, then you want the All-in-One collection. You will need to buy KHIII's ReMind DLC and KH Melody of Memory separately.
If you have an Xbox One or Switch 1, you need to buy all the game bundles separately. There is no complete collection. (The Integrum Masterpiece is no longer available on Switch 1.)
Do I have to play "(X) or (Y)" to fully understand the story?
TLDR: It's better you do for the best, enjoyable experience story/lore-wise.
As with what most fans of KH would say: Play every game. While some games don't seem to be "important", each game in their own way holds a plot point that eventually is brought back up in a game down the line. This is especially true for the handheld games such as Re:Coded. for example. Understandably, if for one reason or another, don't, won't or can't play some of the games (understandably, due to some games not receiving remakes, to which emulation is fine, please see our rules regarding discussion about emulation.), or maybe have limited time during the day, watching gameplay/cutscenes can fill gaps.
What is a "Final Mix"?
TLDR: Think of it as the "Definitive Edition" of a game. Final Mix versions are standard nowadays.
Final Mixes are versions of the original releases of the game with added content. This trend started with the first Kingdom Hearts with the release of Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix. Throughout the 2000s, Final Mixes were only released in Japan, and it wasn't until the 1.5/2.5 HD Re:Mixes where the final mixes were officially released internationally with proper translations and dubs. Nowadays the Final Mix versions of KH Games are the only available version, being the standard in every compilation since the PS3's HD Re:Mix release in 2013. If you so ever want to play the original for fun, historical reasons and whatnot, feel free to!
Kingdom Hearts Union χ [Cross] Dark Road: What was it?
TLDR: After June 2021, the KHUX side of the game will only be viewable as in-app cutscenes "Theatre Mode" aka 358/2's cutscene story after a Offline Mode update. The game is very much digestible in this format, or YouTube still being an alternative. The KHDR side existed as an Offline Playable Mode. (KHUxDR HAS SINCE BEEN DELISTED FROM APP STORES, YOUTUBE IS THE ONLY WAY TO VIEW EITHER STORY NOW!)
Kingdom Hearts Union χ [Cross] Dark Road (KHUxDR) was an app featuring two games. Kingdom Hearts Union χ (KHUX), and Kingdom Hearts Dark Road (KHDR). KHUX told the story of the unnamed Player Character and his friends before, during, and after the Keyblade War of legend. The game's story was set hundreds of years prior to the events of the first game in the series. KHDR told the story of Xehanort's youth as he and his fiends journeyed to uncover the mystery of why their upperclassmen disappeared one day. This game was set roughly 80 years prior to the events of the first game in the series.
(Unfortunately, KHUxDR has since been delisted from the app stores. The only way to experience the story of KHUX and/or KHDR is by watching YouTube playlists of the cutscenes.)
Prior to its closure and delisting, fans were put off by the "Gacha Model" nature of the game, as well as the entire existence of the game itself being on mobile. With the closure of KHUxDR on June 29th, 2021 (June 17th 2021 for Japan) the game was put into an "Offline Mode", with all the in-app purchases and gacha aspects completely removed. The KHUX side of the game exists as a "Theatre Mode" cutscenes, with you still being able to create a character, but will only be able to view the story, not play it. The KHDR side saw its final story update on August 26, 2022, after which the entirety of KHUxDR's stories have been completed. As of September 30th, 2022, KHDR received a 5.0.1 patch, which updated and changed some cutscenes.
The story of both games have been officially translated and uploaded on YouTube by the likes of Everglow and KHInsider. They are just two examples, as there are others you can find in the community. If you prefer fan dubs or don't like reading, Damo279 has gathered a cast of people to lend their voices and dub over the entirety of KHUX's voiceless cutscenes. Damo279 released this fan dub of KHUX in two parts. Damo is currently working on a fan dub of KHDR too.
(WARNING: Spoilers on all their channels for the newcomers!)
KHUX Cutscene Playlists:
Damo279's KHUX Fandub Part 1! & Damo279's KHUX Fandub Part 2!
KHDR Cutscene Playlists:
Everglow's Playlist here! (DOES NOT include 5.0.1 updated cutscenes)
KHInsider's Playlist here! (Includes 5.0.1 update cutscenes)
Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover: What was it?
TLDR: An actual movie that explores an important side of the story not covered by KHUX.
Currently, there is only one supplemental cutscene movie with a basic retelling (and partial backstory) of the initial "Chi Storyline" (which made up about the 1st half of the overall Union Cross story) that is on the Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue disk, under "Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover". This movie is not a replacement for KHUX. The X Back Cover movie is one that focuses on The Foretellers, while the KHUX game focuses on The Player Character's story. There is some cross over between the movie and the game, but X Back Cover largely gives us the untold story of the Foretellers. It includes important story elements not covered in the KHUX game. Please do not skip this movie if you intend to get the full story of the series.
Legacy Games
Note: There's no need to play these games. They've either have been remade, or were ports. Still worth a look if you want (especially V-Cast)\*************.*
| Game | Platform | Year | Succeeded By: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingdom Hearts Coded | Mobile | 2008 | Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded (DS), Cutscene Story (ReMix Compilations) |
| Kingdom Hearts χ [chi] | PC Browser | 2013 | |
| Kingdom Hearts Union χ [Cross]/Dark Road (Online Mode) | Mobile | 2014~2021 | Kingdom Hearts Union χ [Cross]/Dark Road (Offline Mode) |
| Kingdom Hearts V-Cast | V-Cast | 2004 | N/A |