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"Kingdom Hearts: The Correct Play Order Revealed"

by Lillian May 30,2025

If you're a fan of *Kingdom Hearts*, you likely remember the moment when Square Enix and Disney confirmed the existence of Kingdom Hearts 4 during the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary event in 2022. This announcement gave us a fresh glimpse of Sora’s journey following his solo adventure at the end of Kingdom Hearts 3. While updates for the sequel have been scarce since its unveiling, recent screenshots suggest active development is still underway.

To keep fans entertained while waiting for more news, Square Enix launched the entire Kingdom Hearts series on Steam on June 13, 2024. This collection includes the popular remastered packages like Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, Kingdom Hearts III + ReMind DLC, and Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece, which debuted on Nintendo Switch via cloud streaming in 2021.

While we eagerly await further announcements and a potential release date for Kingdom Hearts 4, here’s a guide to playing the series in chronological order. Despite the complex narrative, this list should help you understand the timeline of the Kingdom Hearts universe, Sora’s rise as the Keyblade’s chosen one, and Master Xehanort’s ongoing quest to bring darkness to the world—the central theme of the series’ initial arc, the Dark Seeker Saga.

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How to play in chronological order
How to play by release date

How Many Kingdom Hearts Games Are There?

The Kingdom Hearts series spans 13 games across multiple platforms, including the PSP and Game Boy Advance. Additionally, a new installment in the mainline series was officially announced in April 2022.

What Kingdom Hearts Game Should I Play First?

For newcomers, we recommend starting with Kingdom Hearts 2. At the beginning of the game, you’ll experience flashbacks featuring pivotal moments from Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. These recaps will bring you up to speed on the overarching story and explain the connection between Sora and Roxas. The gameplay is also more streamlined than the original, so you won’t have to repeat Gummi Ship missions when revisiting worlds.

Kingdom Hearts All-in-One Package

010 Kingdom Hearts "experiences," including Kingdom Hearts: The Story So Far and Kingdom Hearts III.
Check it out on Amazon.

How to Play Kingdom Hearts Games in Chronological Order

Kingdom Hearts χ / Unchained χ / Union χ

The titles Kingdom Hearts χ [chi], Unchained χ, and Union χ [Cross] share the same storyline but differ slightly depending on the platform. Initially exclusive to Japan, Kingdom Hearts χ was rebranded for global audiences on mobile devices. Set centuries before the main series, this game follows a young Keyblade wielder in Daybreak Town who joins one of five factions battling for supremacy over the remaining light in the world. Although the mobile version shut down in May 2021, you can still enjoy HD cutscenes through Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover, which is included in Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue.

Kingdom Hearts Dark Road

This prequel to Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep delves into the origins of Master Xehanort. Set 70 years before the events of Birth by Sleep, the story follows a young Xehanort as he trains to become a Keyblade wielder. Despite its outdated 2D graphics, the game provides crucial context for the broader series. While the game itself is unavailable, you can watch key cutscenes on YouTube to catch up.

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

Ten years prior to the events of Kingdom Hearts, this game focuses on Ventus, Terra, and Aqua, three apprentices of Master Eraqus. Their mission involves finding Master Xehanort and defeating the Unversed. This title explores the roots of Sora and Master Xehanort, revealing how Ventus shares a piece of Sora’s heart, while Xehanort creates Vanitas from Ventus’s discarded darkness.

Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep — A Fragmentary Passage

A direct follow-up to Birth by Sleep, this short episode bridges the gap between Dream Drop Distance and Kingdom Hearts 3. After losing herself in the Realm of Darkness, Aqua embarks on a perilous journey to reunite with Terra and return to the Realm of Light. During her travels, she encounters distorted versions of familiar worlds and battles countless enemies. This segment also introduces vital elements of the series’ lore.

Kingdom Hearts

Sora’s first adventure kicks off when his home, Destiny Islands, falls to the Heartless. Joined by Donald and Goofy, Sora ventures across the worlds to close the Keyholes and protect them from darkness. Along the way, he learns the truth about Kairi’s connection to Kingdom Hearts and defeats Ansem, the Heartless incarnation of Xehanort.

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

While searching for Riku and Mickey, Sora enters Castle Oblivion and loses his memories. Each floor of the castle holds new revelations and challenges, as Sora battles members of Organization XIII. Meanwhile, Riku descends into the basement levels, confronting his inner darkness and battling other members of the Organization.

Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days

Set during the events of Chain of Memories, this game focuses on Roxas, Sora’s Nobody. As a member of Organization XIII, Roxas forms bonds with Axel and Xion, a mysterious new arrival. However, Xion’s true nature as an artificial replica complicates matters, eventually leading to her demise.

Kingdom Hearts 2

Following the events of Kingdom Hearts, Sora awakens to discover he’s been asleep for a year. Now reunited with Donald and Goofy, Sora embarks on another journey to stop Organization XIII from creating a new Kingdom Hearts. Along the way, he uncovers shocking truths about the origins of the Nobodies and learns more about the heart.

Kingdom Hearts: Re:coded

Based on the corrupted journal of Jiminy Cricket, this mobile game explores the digital world where Data-Sora and King Mickey work together to uncover hidden secrets. This title serves as a bridge between Kingdom Hearts 2 and Dream Drop Distance.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance

To prepare for Master Xehanort’s return, Sora and Riku undergo the Mark of Mastery exam. Sent back in time, they must unlock the keyholes of several worlds while facing Nightmare Dream Eaters. This game also introduces the concept of Flowmotion and serves as a precursor to Kingdom Hearts 3.

Kingdom Hearts 3

The final chapter of the Dark Seeker Saga sees Sora gathering the guardians of light to confront Master Xehanort. This critically acclaimed title took 13 years to develop and remains the best-selling entry in the series.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory

A rhythm game where players battle Heartless and Nobodies to the music of the series, Melody of Memory offers a unique perspective on the franchise.