There are very few gaming franchises out there that is as interesting, complex, frustrating, and contains such an incredibly passionate fanbase than Kingdom Hearts. The mere idea behind the series sound as silly and awesome as you could imagine. Not only providing a new and unique spin on the traditional tale of good vs evil but it’s also basically the equivalent of someone’s own self-insert fanfiction of classic Disney movies and the Final Fantasy series. That might sound ridiculously cringe but trust me, that’s actually a big part of the appeal of this franchise and why I enjoy it.
At it’s heart (no pun intended), this is a series that can be seen through many different perspectives. There’s the fans who has been with this series from the very beginning when they were kids, the fans who got into this series around the time of it’s ultimate peak between the releases of II and III, and those like me who are relative newcomers to the series that have been able to play these games in any order they want without having to wait many years for long-awaited sequels and playing through multiple different side games along the way. That in of itself is why ranking these games is quite tricky. Not only because of how long someone has followed this franchise but also what they look for in a Kingdom Hearts game.
There are those that play Kingdom Hearts for the story, characters, and the lore. There are those that play Kingdom Hearts for the traditional combat gameplay and RPG elements. And there are even those that play Kingdom Hearts just because they want to play around in these Disney worlds with potential Final Fantasy characters thrown into the mix. For me personally, I look for just the right mix of all these elements and based my rankings on which ones were able to do it better than the others.
Regardless of what you think about Kingdom Hearts as a whole and the way that Square Enix has handled it over the years, there’s always a sense of warm, comfort, and even nostalgia whenever you visit this series. As we approach the four-year anniversary of Kingdom Hearts III (Can’t believe it’s already been four (!) years!) and await the inevitable Kingdom Hearts IV (Which hopefully doesn’t take another 13 years to make), time to take some time to rank all of these games from worst to best.
There are a few disclaimers. First off, I’m leaving off all the mobile games because I never played them and for what I understand, they have been shut down indefinitely. Secondly, with the exception of Re:Coded and 358/2 Days, I only played the version of all the pre-Kingdom Hearts III games that were included in the Kingdom Hearts: Story So Far Collection and I’m mostly going off my experience with that. Thirdly, this ranking is coming from someone who has just gotten into the series in recent years and have been able to play these games in a timely manner with not wait or anticipation between any of them. I know I’ve already brought that up but it’s important to notify this as you know where I’m coming from with this franchise. Lastly, I’m not including the Kingdom Hearts X Back Cover movie, but if I did, it would either be at or near the bottom of the list as I found it to be completely dull and forgettable, especially for a so-called “origin” movie.
All of that being said, let’s not waste any more time and get straight to the list!
10.) Kingdom Hearts: Re:Chain of Memories
If I’m gonna be honest, I didn’t finish this game. As a matter of fact, I only played it for like an hour. That in of itself might make it unfair to rank on this list since I’ve never actually completed it or even played it for more than an hour. However, if I have no desire to continue playing a game, then I think that says more about the game itself than it does for me.
The original Chain of Memories was already considered an oddball of the franchise. It was the first spin-off game in the series, taking place between the events of I and II, that was originally for the Game Boy Advance and later ported to the PlayStation 2 and then again to other next-gen systems. It wasn’t very well received by fans in it’s original form and was even more panned with it’s ports. When playing the game for just an half and hour, it’s easy to see why.
It’s not just that Re:Chain of Memories has multiple different problems (which is still does) but it mostly comes down to one big flaw that brings the whole game down, the convoluted card system. It’s awkwardly implemented, confusing to control, poor to handle, constantly gets in the way of the combat, and is just an absolute mess all around. It also didn’t help of having to know the exact card to open the exact correct door with in order to advance in the story despite having multiple different cards to choose from and it being hard to tell which one is suppose to go where. This is a game you could clearly tell was made for handheld devices and absolutely NOT for main consoles. Re:Chain of Memories is easily the low point of the series and one I have no intention of going back to try to beat anytime soon.
9.) Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days
The first of the Kingdom Hearts series to be on the Nintendo DS and put a major focus on not strictly Sora but his “nobody” in Roxas. This would also be the final game to feature the late great Wayne Allwine as Mickey, who passed away just before the game’s release in Japan. It’s just a shame that the game itself doesn’t rise anything above “meh”.
It attempts to introduce new elements to the core formula that Kingdom Hearts is known for, particularly a mission system that feels rip straight out of Monster Hunter, but in so doing so leads to very middling results. The moment-to-moment can be a slog that is plagued with rather clunky controls that makes the game a bit of a chore to play through. This is also when the series would fall into the storytelling trappings that it would later become infamous for. There is a HUGE emphasis on the lore and the in-and-outs of the Kingdom Hearts universe that it’s difficult to get invested in this suppose tragedy that the characters are going through because of how convoluted the plot itself is. And even if you are able to keep up with what is happening here, you will likely have a hard time caring.
There are a handful of interesting ideas here, most notably putting an emphasis on the main antagonists of the series Organization XII and another main character other than Sora, but this is when the franchise still hadn’t cracked the code on how to make it stand out outside of the traditional big three that carries the main installments. A notable effort but not one worth getting to deep into.
8.) Kingdom Hearts: Re:coded
Here’s another port of a game that I played in it’s remastered version. The original Coded began as a mobile game released split into episodes until it go re-released on the Nintendo DS, making the second KH game released on that device. If anything, it’s certainly a better port in Re:Chain of Memories and works better as a DS game than 358/2 Days.
The gameplay works much more smoothly this time around with better controls and elements that work quite well for an Nintendo DS. The story itself is also much more scale back and straight forward despite it certainly feeling like one of the more inconsequential tales ever told in the series, even if it does take place almost entirely in a parallel data world. Even then, there’s not much about this game that stands out as it’s own. Most of it feels like a retread of prior games with not much new things to offer or features that are improved on. It’s just kinda there.
You can do a coin flip between which is the better of the two DS games in the series but I go with Re:Coded because of the more fluent gameplay and I did at least feel more invested in the story this time around as oppose to 358/2 Days. Even so, you’re better off just watching the cutscenes of both DS games in the PS4 collection if you really need to know how the story progresses.
7.) Kingdom Hearts (3D): Dream Drop Distance
The first one in the series I had any experience playing with it, mostly from the demo that was available on the 3DS e-shop. On paper, Dream Drop Distance feels like it should be the most interesting side game of Kingdom Hearts. It puts a focus on Sora and Riku’s early days where they work their way to become keyblade masters as they must pass their Mark of Mystery exam under Yen Sid in the wake of Xehanort’s return. This is also one that puts the most focus on Riku as a side main character and give him the most playing time out of any of the games thus far. And then there’s the dream drop mechanic that’s introduced.
It’s definitely at it’s most engaging when it puts the focus strictly on Sora and Riku’s journey as we get more exploration of their friendship and how they work to achieve goals to become one with the Keyblade. The gameplay at it’s core is also about as good as the main series installments with the right mix of combat, upgrades, RPG elements, and Disney worlds that make these games as fun as they are. It’s just unfortunate that the main Dream Drop gimmick itself, or strictly known as Dream Eaters in the game, doesn’t really offer that much to the experience and can honestly take away from it. The whole “one character sleeps and then the other character wakes up” element is rather redundant and gets old very quick.
The main core problem of Dream Drop Distance is that of the actual dream mechanic itself. It doesn’t feel needed and mostly only exists to provide a different “spin” to the series. An enjoyable experience overall and one that was (surprisingly) quite well translated from the 3DS to the PS4 but it could have reached greatness if they just ditch its useless gimmick entirely or at least made better use of it.
6.) Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth By Sleep- A Fragmentary Passage
The one that has the most confusing title and placement in the entire series. This is as the point where the series got so ridiculous with it’s lore, universe building and going back-and-forth between the timelines of each new game that it has almost become a self-parody. This was also the one that mostly became part of the collection titled, 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue. However, putting all of that baggage aside and looking at it as it’s own thing, A Fragmentary Passage is actually pretty damn good.
This put a major focus on the fan-favorite character known as Aqua as we basically check in on her after the secret ending of Birth By Sleep. It’s able to provide more depth to Aqua than before and give you even more reasons to care about her. It also gave a taste of the kind of gameplay that we would get later on in III that is absolutely fun and fluid. Even so, it’s a very brief installment that can be beaten around two to three hours tops. So much so that it’s mostly comes across as a tech demo for Kingdom Hearts III rather than it’s own game.
A Fragmentary Passage was when Square Enix was fairly cut and dry of their intent to milk this franchise as much as possible until they were finally caring enough to give us the next big chapter. From a cynical standpoint, this should be much lower. However from an objective standpoint of the game, I couldn’t help but enjoy getting to spend more time with Aqua. I guess I’m part of the problem.
5.) Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory
The music has always been a strength of Kingdom Hearts. Whether it’s a remix of a well-known Disney track or it’s own original sound, these games tend to have absolutely beautiful music that is always a treat to the ears. Because of that, why not create a rhythm game that acts as a nice trip down memory lane and showing off the franchise’s most iconic piece of music?
It’s here we see a re-telling of the story of the Dark Seeker Saga through the eyes of Kairi. Because of that, we go through just about every notable level through every Kingdom Hearts game to date and get reminded along the way of what an outstanding soundtrack this franchise has tended to have. Every notable character from the Kingdom Hearts series is playable and divided into four main party grouping with Team Classic, Team Days, Team 3D, and Team BBS, along with playable Disney characters that are a part of their respective worlds/franchises. Think of this as the Sonic Heroes of Kingdom Hearts except less clunky and repetitive.
There’s not much here that pushes the series forward in any way except for the final cutscenes that give a potential hint towards the future, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t have a blast revisiting the ups and downs of this franchise to date in song form. Melody of Memory doesn’t try to sell itself as anything but what it is. Because of that, it’s able to succeed perfectly on it’s own distinct merits.
4.) Kingdom Hearts III
The first ever Kingdom Hearts game that I played all the way through involves the follow-up that was 13 years in the making. The long-awaited mainline sequel that is Kingdom Hearts III finally arrived in 2019, proving that Square Enix is not afraid of the number three. Everyone has an opinion on it but I think everyone would agreed that this certainly was an experience.
If we are talking STRICTLY in terms of gameplay, this might ranked even higher on the list. The gameplay itself is INCREDIBLY fun (at least once I actually know what I was doing) as it has never been more of a pleasure to fight enemies, collect items, and upgrade your weapons to be as powerful as you and your amigos, Donald and Goofy, can possibly be. The Disney worlds, while have less than the first two main games, are much bigger, brander, wider in scope, and perfectly resembles the original worlds from which movie it came from that is a treat to explore. It also very gorgeous to look at with great music throughout and hysterical banter between the characters. It’s just unfortunate that the story and pacing get in the way quite a bit. Certain cutscenes drag on for way too long, the Disney worlds themselves don’t impact the core story, there’s not much progression until the last third of the game, and has an ending while bittersweet, leaves quite a bit of loose ends solely designed to set up the next main saga of the series. I also could have gone without hearing Let It Go for the 900th time. While the gameplay is as fun as it has ever been, it’s elements of the story that dragged it down.
I believe your reaction to Kingdom Hearts III will likely depend on how long you have been a fan of the franchise and what you look for in a Kingdom Hearts game. For those that come for the core gameplay and playing through Disney worlds, they will probably be more than satisfied. For those heavily invested in the story and lore, then they may feel that the game left a bit to be desired. Even then, I don’t think it would be a true Kingdom Hearts game without some imperfections. Can this game be described as a mess? Perhaps. But does it remain a fun, engaging, and lovable mess that I really enjoyed playing. Absolutely!
3.) Kingdom Hearts
The one that started it all and launched one of the most iconic franchises in gaming history. Providing a unique spin on the good vs evil tale with the main conflict of the series between the heart and the heartless while also introducing characters from the Disney and Final Fantasy series along with being able to explore many of their worlds. If you ever imagine yourself wanting to fight alongside the likes of Hercules or Aladdin and play a part in their stories with your own avatar character, this is basically what you get.
Sora himself is a very likable and interesting protagonist that is more than convincing to be fighting alongside Donald and Goofy. His relationship with Riku and Kairi is engaging, giving him the perfect motivation that anyone can get behind and relate too. The gameplay itself, while clunky at times, is able to find that rare combination between action and role-playing that would become a staple of the series. The Disney worlds themselves are a pleasure to explore and mix well with the Square elements thrown into the mix. And who could ever desire to diss the pitch-perfect score from the great Shimomura? I could have done without the gummi ships though. At least for this game.
While there are features that are undeniably dated and did introduces flaws that would become carry over to other games (the parry attack is absolute garbage), but it also introduces plenty of strengths that would be expanded and even improved upon in latter games that help make Kingdom Hearts stand the test of time. With a game that has a concept so bizarre and silly, it’s quite astounding how simple and clean the whole experience is.
2.) Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep
This was Square Enix’s second attempt to make a game that took the focus away from Sora and put three new characters in the spotlight, with the former only showing in a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo at some point in the secret ending. Unlike with 358/2 Days, it actually succeeds this time out and making it one of the very best games in the franchise.
Story aside, this is probably the best of the entire franchise and possibly the most personal. Terra, Ventus, and Aqua are all very engaging characters with stories and conflicts that are very easy to get invested in. Unlike with 358/2 Days, it never goes too overboard with the lore and complexity of it’s story that it ruins the investment. You are able to plays as all three characters in any way you want and see a unique perspective of each one of their stories. So much so that I enjoy following these characters just as much as I do with Sora, Donald, and Goofy. The gameplay is still as fun and air tight as the best installments in the franchise are, even if it can become repetitive with playing similar stories three times over but just done in different orders, with Aqua in particular standing out as one of my personal favorite characters to play in any of the games. The only downside is that the Disney worlds themselves, while not bad, don’t stick out as much or is as fun to go through as some of the other entries.
Before Birth By Sleep, it was hard to imagine caring about a Kingdom Hearts game that didn’t focus strictly on Sora and his pals. Now, if by some chance, Square Enix decided to take the main focus away from Sora and apply to any one of these main characters in this game, then I might be quite on board with it. I guess anything is truly possible.
1.) Kingdom Hearts II
And the one that stands proudly above all is no other than Kingdom Hearts II itself. Okay, yes, it does have an admittedly overlong prologue that take too long to get to the point despite having some of my favorite moments in the game. Yes, it sucked you basically had to suffer through Chain of Memories, in a time where you couldn’t just look up the cutscenes on YouTube, to even have a clue of how this game starts. Once you get those two issues out of the way, KH II stands as the best Kingdom Hearts game, one of the best RPGs, and even one of the best gaming sequels of all time.
This has the right mix of everything I look for in a Kingdom Hearts game and has the best versions of many of the things I’ve come to love about the series. The story is darker and more engaging, the characters are all fun and worth investing in, the controls and gameplay are even better than the first game, the combat and RPG elements work wonders, the Disney worlds (save for Atlantica) are more properly implemented and serve even more purpose to the story, and the soundtrack is one of my absolute favorites in any game (The House of Dragon being the main stand out for me!). Heck, even the Gummi Ships are actually tolerable this time out. Even the prologue I mention at the beginning which most folks like to complain about, has it’s moments (Twilight Town is just magical!).
When it comes to which Kingdom Hearts game is the best one, I feel is all about the one that has the proper balance. The game that is able to blend it’s story, characters, world, universe, and of course, gameplay together beautifully without any end of the spectrum that gets left out. There are certain games in the series I feel suffer from that but Kingdom Hearts II absolutely does not. If you have ever wanted to understand the appeal of Kingdom Hearts and why it resonates with so many people, all you have to do is play through this game and you can totally see why.
And there you have it! As Square Enix has stated, there are more Kingdom Hearts content in the works, with Kingdom Hearts IV on the rise. And whatever comes next will be the first chapter to a brand new saga for the series. Will it work out? Who knows but for those that are still around, it will surely be intriguing to find out together. Let’s hope for the best!
Also, Mickey is the worst king ever! Just saying!
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