Kingdom Hearts Game Series: Best Play Order

During the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary celebration in 2022, Square Enix and Disney officially unveiled Kingdom Hearts 4, offering fans their first glimpse of protagonist Sora's next chapter following his solo journey at the conclusion of Kingdom Hearts 3. Updates have been scarce since the initial reveal, but recent screenshot leaks confirm development is progressing.

To tide players over until KH4's release, Square Enix brought the franchise to Steam on June 13, 2024. The PC collection includes most main titles: Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind DLC, and Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece - previously only available as a cloud-based Switch release in 2021.

While we await more news about Kingdom Hearts 4's launch, we've compiled the definitive play order for the series. Despite the famously complex narrative, this chronological guide will help you understand Sora's journey from ordinary islander to Keyblade hero, as well as Master Xehanort's relentless attempts to drown the worlds in darkness - fueling the entire Dark Seeker Saga.

The Complete Kingdom Hearts Timeline

The sprawling Kingdom Hearts universe spans 13 games across nearly two decades of releases. Newcomers often wonder where to begin - our recommendation? Start with KH2. The opening section featuring Roxas provides perfect context through flashbacks that recap essential KH1 and Chain of Memories plot points while establishing the connection between Roxas and Sora.

Gameplay-wise, Kingdom Hearts 2 streamlines many mechanics from the original (no more mandatory repeated Gummi Ship missions!), making it a more accessible entry point. Trust us - you'll appreciate this approach later.

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