Where to Start · Kingdom Hearts
Where to Start with Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts is Square Enix's action RPG crossover series combining Disney worlds with Final Fantasy characters, running since 2002 across PlayStation, GBA, DS, PSP, and eventually PS4 and Switch. The series has a reputation for being narratively impenetrable and that reputation is mostly deserved — the story involves time travel, alternate timelines, characters who are nobody versions of other characters, and plot threads that span handheld spinoffs most people never played.
The good news: the gameplay is excellent, the Disney worlds are genuinely fun to visit, and if you play in release order and accept that the story will occasionally make no sense, you will have a great time. There are currently 10+ entries depending on how you count them. Here is how to approach it without losing your mind.
The only correct starting point
Kingdom Hearts 1 (2002). There is no debate here. The story builds continuously from the first game and unlike Final Fantasy or other Square series, skipping the foundation means you will be completely lost within hours of any later entry. KH1 introduces Sora, Donald, Goofy, the keyblade, the heartless, and the core Disney world structure. It is the most straightforward game in the series and the one most likely to hook you. The practical way to play it today is Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD ReMIX on PS4, which includes KH1 Final Mix with additional content and improved visuals.
After KH1 — the correct order
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories comes next. It originally released on GBA but the PS2 and PS3 HD versions are far more playable. Chain of Memories is a card-based combat system that takes adjustment, but its story directly continues KH1 and sets up KH2 in ways you will miss if you skip it. Kingdom Hearts 2 (2005) is the peak of the series for most fans — expanded combat, more Disney worlds, and a story that pays off the setup from KH1 and Chain of Memories. Play KH2 Final Mix via Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD ReMIX on PS4.
The spinoffs you actually need
358/2 Days covers what Roxas was doing during the year between KH1 and KH2. In the HD collections it's presented as a movie rather than a playable game — watch it. Birth by Sleep is the most important spinoff and arguably the most essential game in the entire series after KH1 and KH2 — it covers events that happened before KH1 and recontextualises everything you've already played. Play it after KH2. Dream Drop Distance (KH3D) bridges KH2 and KH3 and is required context for KH3's opening to make sense. It was a 3DS exclusive delisted when the eShop closed in March 2023 — physical 3DS copy required, or it's included in Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue on PS4.
Kingdom Hearts 3
Kingdom Hearts 3 (2019) is the conclusion to the Dark Seeker Saga — the main story arc running from KH1 through KH3. It lands significantly harder if you've played Birth by Sleep and Dream Drop Distance. Without that context the opening hours will be confusing. KH3 Re:Mind DLC adds substantial post-game content and is worth playing. Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory (2020) is a rhythm game spinoff — optional but enjoyable. Kingdom Hearts 4 has been announced but has no release date as of 2026.
Collector tip — Disney and Square Enix rights mean physical collections and discs can thin out when licenses shift. If you're buying in, sales windows are worth using while boxes stay easy to find.
The collections — what to buy
Kingdom Hearts All-In-One Package on PS4 includes everything you need: 1.5+2.5 ReMIX (KH1, Chain of Memories, 358/2 Days movie, KH2, Birth by Sleep, Re:coded movie), 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue (Dream Drop Distance, 0.2 Birth by Sleep, KH χ Back Cover movie), and Kingdom Hearts III. It is the most cost-effective way to play the entire series on one platform.
What to skip
Nothing in the main numbered series should be skipped. Re:coded (available as a movie in the HD collections) is the least essential piece of story content and you can watch it in 3 hours. χ Back Cover and Union χ are mobile game lore that deepens the mythology but is not required for KH3 to make sense. If you want to go deep, watch Back Cover. If you don't, skip it.