Game · in order
Kingdom Hearts in Order
Every mainline Kingdom Hearts game — in the order it released, and in the order the story actually happens. Toggle between them and tick off what you've finished.
Kingdom Hearts in Order — complete list
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Why this order?
Kingdom Hearts is famous for being almost impossible to follow. Square Enix spread the games across eight different consoles and rarely released them in the order the story happens. There are two sensible ways in.
Release order (the default here) is how returning fans lived it, and it's the safest path for newcomers. The original Kingdom Hearts (2002) is still the best on-ramp, and the spin-offs fill in backstory as you go. You'll meet a few prequel reveals slightly out of sequence, but nothing that spoils the main beats.
Story order starts with the Back Cover cinematic and Birth by Sleep — events that happen long before the first game. It's the richer way to experience the lore and makes Kingdom Hearts III land harder. The catch: Birth by Sleep reveals faces and names the original game treats as mysteries, so it's best kept for a replay or for lore-hungry players.
Whichever you pick, the modern HD ReMIX collections bundle nearly everything for PS4, PC and Switch, so you no longer need six consoles to play through the whole saga.
Timeline 2002–2019
Every entry plotted by release year — see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
- Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX
- Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue
- Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Cameos & crossovers
Characters from Kingdom Hearts who also show up elsewhere — see the full character atlas →
- Cloud Strife
Spiky-haired SOLDIER of Final Fantasy VII who crossed over as a Kingdom Hearts boss.
Also in Final Fantasy - Sephiroth
One-winged Final Fantasy VII villain recurring as Kingdom Hearts' optional superboss.
Also in Final Fantasy - Squall Leonhart
Final Fantasy VIII gunblade loner who appears in Kingdom Hearts as Leon.
Also in Final Fantasy
Frequently asked questions
What is the best order to play Kingdom Hearts?
For a first playthrough, release order is safest — start with Kingdom Hearts (2002) and let the spin-offs fill in backstory. Lore fans prefer story (chronological) order, beginning with χ Back Cover and Birth by Sleep, though it spoils a few early mysteries.
How many Kingdom Hearts games are there?
There are 10 mainline entries in the Dark Seeker saga, from Kingdom Hearts (2002) to Kingdom Hearts III (2019). Most are bundled today in the HD ReMIX collections.
Should I play Kingdom Hearts in release or chronological order?
Release order is best for newcomers; chronological/story order is the richer choice for replays and for players who want the timeline to make sense from the start.
Where can I play all the Kingdom Hearts games?
Nearly all of them are in Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX, HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and Kingdom Hearts III — available on PS4, PC and Switch (cloud).
Last verified · Sources: Wikidata, IGDB
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