The Kingdom Hearts franchise has always been met with a strange sense of aggressively enforced ridicule by critics and willfully ignorant onlookers. Whether it be for its perceived nonsensical storytelling or its unconventional premise and naming structures, the practice of disdaining this series seems like a right of passage in several circles.
Still, the increased frequency of those conversations as the games have grown more popular has caused me to ruminate on the series more than ever before. And at least personally, with the Kingdom Hearts franchise hopefully entering its next phase in full swing soon, now’s an opportune time to reflect and ponder where and when the series excelled and stumbled.
As my favorite franchise, I have plenty of thoughts on every entry, but I’ll try to be succinct and not needlessly rant about every individual aspect.
Before moving on, a few rules must be established for this ranking. Firstly, this list assesses each title as a set of experiences. Consequently, none of the mobile entries will be included here since, well, regardless of how strong their narratives are, their gameplay would make them all go down to the bottom anyway. Despite there being offline versions, those are in no way comparable to actual, full-scaled console games. To clarify, this applies to the χ [Chi] saga and Dark Road.
Moving on, this ranking will count the definitive versions of select titles, such as the Final Mixes and the playable versions of Days and Re:coded, as opposed to the HD cutscene movies. This also means that Kingdom Hearts III will be ranked with the Re Mind DLC incorporated.
With those rules established, let’s dive into this undoubtedly controversial ranking.
10. Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory
Let’s just get this one out of the way since, aside from the mobile games, it’s the least qualified to be here. As addictive as the rhythm gameplay is, the release of Theatrhythm Final Bar Line makes Melody of Memory feel far less by comparison. There’s a lack of capitalized opportunity here, with a broken online mode and a lack of DLC.
Additionally, while I love the ending that teases the next phase of the series, the scenes of Kairi recapping the games are poorly done. Instead of delivering these recaps from a mostly ambivalent, omniscient perspective, it would have been far more endearing for Kairi to recap these scenes from her own personal thoughts and feelings on each event. That also jumps out as a collectively missed opportunity.
9. Kingdom Hearts Re:coded
To perhaps no one’s surprise, Re:coded is at the bottom here. This is the only title that can be loosely considered filler, but certain events and themes will likely be significant moving forward.
Its placement at the bottom of this list is primarily due to its only strong narrative elements being present in the last segment when you explore Castle Oblivion. Most of the alterations to the brought-back KH1 Disney worlds feel superficial, even when considering the unique character focuses and changes in objectives.
Still, on a gameplay level, Re:coded surpasses every other handheld entry, with the best implementation of the command deck battle system, impressively smooth combat for the DS, and an addictive method of character growth via the Matrix system. If it weren’t for the too-frequent shifts in gameplay genres, such as the on-rail scenarios and Olympus being turn-based, I’d probably rank Re:coded higher on this list. It just doesn’t embrace its strengths quite enough.
8. Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix
Kingdom Hearts Birth by the Sleep is on the opposite end of the spectrum of Re:coded for me. It has a constantly gripping cast and narrative while suffering from a disappointing series of gameplay systems. Regarding the latter set of collective points, the movement and swing speed are annoyingly sluggish, the ability to dodge roll/cartwheel through everything is absurd, and the myriad of broken combat tools, like the Shot Locks and D-Links, create a mess of a combat experience that lacks an effective identity.
Admittedly, Birth by Sleep can certainly be a pretty enjoyable time if you find delight in breaking apart any semblance the game has. Plus, the world design is an appreciated step up over Kingdom Hearts II. Still, the central ruiners for me are how sluggish it all feels and how undeniably awful the post-game super bosses are, such as the Vanitas Remnant and Mysterious Figure.
However, the narrative here is absolutely top-tier, with all three character routes boasting excellent dynamics, cleverly utilized Disney worlds in both the literal and thematic sense and marvelous finales that still stand at the emotional heights of my time gaming as a whole. The story pacing across the three routes is also paced extraordinarily well, and I found myself gradually invested in Terra’s, Ventus’, and Aqua’s friendship despite the lack of slice-of-life.
7. Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
In terms of raw emotion, Days is the cream of the crop. Between the trio of Roxas, Axel, and Xion having the best friendships in the series, the genius workday structure complementing the compulsory dullness of most of Roxas’ life, and the inner machinations of the Organization driving toward a grim conclusion, you can’t go wrong with defining Days as a masterpiece.
Alas, despite the gameplay’s dryness being at least somewhat purposeful, progression is still genuinely unfun in select instances. The reconnaissance missions alone make the idea of a replay a dreadful one. Moreover, while I do really love the Panel system, the monotonous and mindless missions make Days seem too ambitious for the platform on which it was released. If it were launched on a console back in the day with more thought-out, fully fleshed-out missions, its gameplay loop would shine more.
Another negative is simply how it feels to play. In a manner different than Birth by Sleep, the action here, even when considering the numerous Keyblades’ different combos, have overly pronounced attack delays alongside a general sluggishness. While somewhat impressive for the DS, the differences between this and the quality of Re:coded’s combat movement are night and day.
Still, the multiplayer functionality was pretty cool and provided terrific replayablity. I sometimes think about the alternate reality in which we got an official HD port of Days with the gameplay and multiplayer intact.
6. Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance
This placement will likely cause the most confused head tilts. Dream Drop Distance is not exactly a well-liked entry. In fact, many players dropped off the story here. As for me, though, this is where I became fully invested. The ambitious writing decisions regarding time travel, the Sleeping Realm, Sora being led astray, the unique parallel structure of Riku and Sora’s journey, and the entirety of the final world are amongst the heights of where I’ve enjoyed the series’ narrative.
Gameplay-wise, Dream Drop is a bit of a mixed bag, but I enjoyed it more than not. Although the world design contradicts itself with the implementation of Flowmotion, rendering several elements moot (an irredeemably major flaw), navigation always feels fulfilling, primarily thanks to how vast the areas tend to be and how smooth the movement is. The Dream Eater fusion and skill trees were pretty addictive methods of progression, too. Moreover, I may be the only person who enjoys Flick Rush.
The final world of Dream Drop Distance is one of my favorite sequences in the series. The constant bombshells dropped between Sora’s and Riku’s routes, and the generally ominous ambiance permeating every scene make every exchange exceedingly memorable. Plus, Young Xehanort’s formal debut here is terrific, especially as he’s my favorite iteration of the former antagonist.
In hindsight, I also appreciate how unconventional the world selection is. It greatly fits in with Dream Drop Distance’s unique tone, which boasts simultaneous tenseness and whimsy compared to the rest of the franchise.
5. Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories/ Chain of Memories
This slot technically takes up two games: the original Game Boy Advance version of Chain of Memories and the PlayStation 2 remake. I don’t consider either version definitive because the gameplay of this entry is substantially better on the GBA. The range of sleights and the addition of a new dimension in the remake did not work all that well.
On the other hand, the voice-acted cutscenes of Re:Chain of Memories are a delight and make every Castle Oblivion interaction even more excellent. I genuinely can’t pick between one version or the other.
The main story here, with the introduction of Organization XIII, establishes an inherently altered tone than what the first game provided. Additionally, the intra-group conflicts within the Organization itself, stemming from Marluxia’s and Larxene’s aim to overtake it, instill another layer of captivating intrigue.
Riku’s storyline and Sora’s manipulation, leading to a temporary separation from Donald and Goofy, contain some of the best writing in the series, too. Well, disregarding Riku’s constant mentioning of other peoples’ scents.
The card combat is seriously addictive. Requiring just basic level math, the methods in which you can break apart the difficulty here are immensely rewarding. The sheer level of player freedom with deck and room creation ensured none of my playthroughs ever grew dull either.
4. Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix
I’ve grown critical of Kingdom Hearts II over the years, as its practically nonexistent world design has always stood out quite negatively compared to the other console entries. However, what this title does right perfectly justifies its placement this high on the list.
The legendary Roxas prologue paints a grim picture of this new protagonist’s reality, setting in a masterful sense of dread that makes the eventual arrival of Sora and company bittersweet and silently threatening. Throughout the franchise, Roxas regularly steals the show whenever he’s on screen, and the entire prologue of KH2 is the perfect example of that.
The direct middle and end points of KH2 are also masterful, with the original characters and elements shining more than they have ever been up to this point. Between the lore drop by Mickey in Hollow Bastion, the jaw-dropping team-ups leading to the battle of 1,000 Heartless, the confrontation with Saix and Xemnas at the Dark Depths, and the entirety of The World That Never Was, it’s no wonder that some people describe this entry as peak Kingdom Hearts.
The boss design and combat feel of this entry are superb, too. Sora’s enhanced mobility, Drive Form movement skills, and the general smoothness of his turning and swinging have all aged remarkably well, ultimately making KH2 Final Mix still shine at the top of action games when compared to the modern age. You also can’t go wrong with the Cavern of Remembrance, Data Battles, and the general slew of addictive optional content.
Still, what prevents this entry from going up higher on the list is how, sans the Cavern of Remembrance, the world design is practically nothing, chiefly comprised of linear hallways and not much else. Additionally, the Disney world usage here is usually weak due to weak thematic implementations. I probably value these aspects more than other fans, but they do drop KH2 Final Mix a few notches.
3. Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage
This placement will probably be seen as strange, too, when considering how short 0.2 is. Still, its brief playtime constantly shines with quality. The tone of this narrative is the grimest the franchise has ever been, and Aqua’s characterization just makes it all click.
Her agony with being stuck in the Realm of Darkness, parting with Terra and Ven, and inner confrontations with phantom versions of herself are all innately compelling. The ending tie-in with the first game’s ending sequence added a neat bit of cohesion, too.
Gameplay-wise, 0.2 is an absolute treat I rarely tire of. Being the introduction of several systems seen in Kingdom Hearts III, the situation commands are earned and feel justly powerful. Plus, the boss design here has improved significantly from the likes of Birth by Sleep and Dream Drop Distance, echoing the heights of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, with the super boss, Zodiac Phantom Aqua, being one of the best battles I’ve ever faced in any game.
The world design also plays an integral role in 0.2’s high placement. The well-placed treasure chests, clever puzzles, and other rewarding features like the cosmetics and objectives list make 0.2 feel like one of the most meticulously crafted titles of the franchise. And this is likely true since the playtime is only a dozen or so hours if you are seeking to complete everything.
2. Kingdom Hearts Final Mix
While some may definitely disagree, I find the original Kingdom Hearts to be the best entry in several regards, notably regarding its world design, sense of scale, plot pacing, and general sense of adventure.
This is the only Kingdom Hearts game where the worlds themselves feel threatening due to Sora’s short stature and the zoomed-in camera, creating a closer relationship between him, the player, and the world. Additionally, the worlds themselves have the most layers of interaction and intrigue, thanks to countless mini-puzzles, world-specific facets, and the metroidvania-esque delight of the shared movement abilities.
Birth by Sleep and KH2 Final Mix’s movement abilities featured the lattermost aspect to varying extents. Still, the former was lighter in comparison, while KH2 Final Mix had a band-aid solution with the scattered puzzle pieces.
The first game also boasts genuine weight behind each swing, providing different levels of impact that rival the rest of the titles. Each magic spell is truly unique to itself, too, with the cleverly crafted MP bar benefitting from physical attacks.
Another facet I love about the original Kingdom Hearts regards its original narrative melding with most of the worlds regularly, a decision that usually becomes more thematic the later you get into the series. This entry has some of the best postgame content I’ve seen in any RPG, as well. Between the numerously well-designed optional bosses, hidden areas, and myriad (admittedly monotonous) synthesis recipes, there is no shortage of tasks to accomplish.
1. Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind
Anticipation and expectation can be curses. The release of Kingdom Hearts III is well-known enough by now that recapping its reception has become a tiresome, unnecessary practice. On a personal level, though, this entry becomes better each and every day with hindsight and analysis.
The use of Disney worlds throughout KH3 is regularly top-tier, boasting excellent thematic incorporations and direct plot tie-ins with the original cast. The veiled inner strife of Sora’s characterization, a hinted struggle seen throughout the series, makes itself abundantly evident. The cast’s unity and Sora’s non-hesitant, self-sacrificial nature highlighted in Re Mind are stellar beyond words.
While the world design of this entry is not as high as that of the first title or 0.2, it definitely reflects their quality. Plus, the nerfed Flowmotion makes its applications far more strategic in the moment.
Moreover, you can’t go wrong with Limit Cut and the Secret Episode. Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind has the best boss battles I’ve done in gaming as a whole, with the only other titles that have remotely come close being Ys Origin, Felghana, and Furi. Every Data fight is terrifically and fairly designed to the extent that I have written dedicated articles praising them all individually.
And then there’s Yozora, the cream of the crop. He is undeniably the most well-made boss battle I’ve ever seen and played; my expectations for bosses have risen considerably because of it. Further, that’s not even considering his captivating narrative implications or the fresh yet familiar tone he instills his scenes with.
Kingdom Hearts IV will launch at an unknown time.
The first officially unveiled song of Kingdom Hearts IV, “Reality in the Dark,” was posted last year.
The next Kingdom Hearts entry, Kingdom Hearts Missing–Link, will launch for mobile devices via iOS and Android in 2024.
Can’t wait to slowly reintroduce myself to the series.
358 Half Days being a movie in the collections is definitely a pain point.