RoyalXIII

Tomb Raider: Legacy Of Atlantis Director Discusses Use of Generative AI In The Upcoming Unreal Engine 5 Remake - Game Informer

With a new trailer dropping for KH4 and the collection getting native ports for Switch 2 and PS5, there’s bond to be a lot of people curious about getting into the series.

And while you could just jump right into KH4, that’s not really recommended. You don’t want to be confused about what’s going on right?

But you might say; “but op! These are JRPGs! Which are notoriously long! I don’t have time for that!” But do not fret my friend! While they are JRPGs, they’re not nearly as long as others in the genre. Even without b-lining, you can usually beat a game within several days (results may vary)!

So with that out of the way, here’s the recommended order, also known as “Release Order”:

Kingdom Hearts / Kingdom Hearts Final Mix (definitely play!)

I mean… why wouldn’t you play the first game in the series? It’s a bit rough around the edges, sure, but it’s good to see where it all started from!

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories / Kingdom Hearts: Re:Chain of Memories (play or watch cutscenes)

A fine game with a decisive combat system. Personally I have more problems with how you navigate the Worlds than the card-based combat system (I find it tedious). If the gameplay isn’t for you, I highly recommend watching the cutscenes on YouTube, preferably without a YouTube or Streamer talking over it.

Kingdom Hearts II / Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix (definitely play!)

Again, idk why you wouldn’t, at the very least, play the numbered titles. This game really nailed the combat system, a system that’s praised to this day. Unfortunately this is the start of Sora, Donald, and Goofy being bystanders in some of the Disney World stories, which is a shame, but the overall story is still good and introduces a lot of recurring characters that are with the series till this day.

Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days / Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days (HD Cutscene Compilation) (play or watch)

Unfortunately one of the few games that never got a proper remake. So unless you have a DS and can find a copy of it (or if you can emulate it), you’re stuck with the “movie” version. Even more unfortunate, it leaves a lot out that I feel is important. I would try to find someone who has combined both the game and HD cutscenes together for a more satisfying experience. Fun fact! This was the first (and few) KH game with multiplayer!

Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep / Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Final Mix (definitely play!)

Basically “Kingdom Hearts 0”… well in a way. Play through three separate campaigns of the three main characters; Ventus, Terra, and Aqua. Don’t worry, each campaign is shorter compared to past KH games. While the game wants you to play in the order of Terra, Ventus, and finally Aqua, I find going Ventus, Terra, and Aqua the better experience. Ven starts the prologue and his story doesn’t spoil the other two’s. Terra spoils a major plot point in Ven’s story halfway through. And Aqua’s story continues to the epilogue and Secret Episode (if you unlock it).

Kingdom Hearts: Re:Coded / Kingdom Hearts: Re:Coded (HD Cutscene Compilation) (play or watch)

Originally the first (official) phone game, turn remake on the DS, then skipped out on a remake for HD cutscenes like KHDays. Unlike Days, this “movie” does a better job covering the entire game (still not perfect, but better). The game itself is fun if you can get your hands on it. While many consider this story not important, there are important elements introduced in this game, and it’s just kinda fun tbh.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance / Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance HD (definitely play!)

An incredibly fun game that introduces one of my favorite game mechanics; Flowmotion! This story leads directly into KH3, and if you’re this far in, why wouldn’t you play it? It’s also a monster collector game too, but instead of catching, you synthesize them! Very odd, but very Kingdom Hearts!

Kingdom Hearts: The χ Saga (χ, Unchained χ, Union χ[Cross], and χ Back Cover) (can only watch)

A series taking place way back in the age of fairy tales. It shows the events that lead the World being torn asunder into separate smaller Worlds. Unfortunately this series can only be watched now, since they both ended the service and delisted the game. χ Was the original browser game that was Japan only, Unchained χ was the first iteration of the mobile version, followed by Union χ[Cross]. While χ Back Cover is a movie showing what the Foretellers were up to. A YouTuber that goes by “Everglow” has done a fantastic job editing them all together as a movie.

Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep - A Fragmentary Passage - (definitely play!)

A very short game, but important nonetheless. While the story technically takes place after Birth by Sleep, it’s being told by Mickey between the events of KH3D and KH3. You can finish it in like 4/5 hours? But completing it will take awhile, and will take some skills!

Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind (definitely play!)

We’re finally here! The conclusion to The Dark Seeker Saga. A bit messy of a game in balancing challenge, story, and some game mechanics, but it's still a fun time! This game also sets up Kingdom Hearts IV. Some might say it focuses a little too much on setting up KH4 instead of ending The Dark Seeker Saga more satisfyingly, but it is what it is.

Kingdom Hearts: Dark Road (can only watch)

Like the χ Saga, Dark Road can only be watched, and for the same reasons. Tbh I feel like you might want to watch this before KH3, as it gives more context for Master Xehanort, which is oddly lacking in the game where he’s the main antagonist. But again, it is what it is. It’s shorter than the χ Saga, due to it being cancelled and having to wrap up. But they do conclude the story, and it’s a good one!

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory (play or watch)

A sort of interlude(?) leading up to KH4. While the game is a fun rhythm game, there’s not a lot of story here. And all the story bits are at the end, so I wouldn’t blame anyone if they just want to watch it on YouTube.

And that’s it! You should be all set and ready for KH4 when it comes out! If you want extra credit, you could watch the few cutscenes we got from Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link’s beta test. Hopefully we’ll actually get Missing Link one day, but for now that’s all we have.