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For the broad in-universe chronology, begin with χ Back Cover and the χ/Union χ story, then play Dark Road, Birth by Sleep, 0.2 Birth by Sleep, and Kingdom Hearts. The middle of the timeline is not perfectly linear: 358/2 Days and Chain of Memories overlap around the transition from the first game to Kingdom Hearts II. If this is your first playthrough, release-style narrative order is usually easier to follow than strict chronology because the series introduces prequels and earlier-era stories later.
Kingdom Hearts games in story chronology
This is a practical broad chronology, not an official newcomer play sequence. The earliest stories take place in the ancient Keyblade era, long before Sora’s first adventure. Several entries overlap, so the order below indicates story periods rather than claiming every event fits into a clean, uninterrupted sequence.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I–III] Amazon Exclusive Edition - PlayStation 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51RqOuv+TBL._SL160_.jpg)
|
KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I–III] Amazon Exclusive Edition - PlayStation 5 | $74.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Kingdom Hearts All in One Package (PlayStation 4) | $53.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Kingdom Hearts: The Story So Far (PS4) | $23.49 | Buy on Amazon |
- χ Back Cover and the χ/Union χ story: The ancient Keyblade era, the earliest period in the series. χ Back Cover is a movie; the wider Union χ story is separate story material.
- Dark Road: The story of young Xehanort.
- Birth by Sleep Final Mix.
- 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage.
- Kingdom Hearts Final Mix.
- 358/2 Days and Chain of Memories: Their events fall across the period between the first game and Kingdom Hearts II. They should be treated as interleaving stories, not as two wholly separate blocks with a precise dividing line.
- Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix.
- Re:coded.
- Dream Drop Distance HD.
- Kingdom Hearts III, then Re Mind.
- Melody of Memory: Follows the Kingdom Hearts III-era story.
The publisher’s timeline establishes the ancient-era stories as earlier than the numbered Sora adventures, but does not provide a complete newcomer-oriented play order. Because some arcs overlap and the series reveals context across releases, use this chronology to understand when events happen—not as a guarantee that chronological play is the clearest first experience.
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For a first run, a release-style narrative route preserves the way the series introduces its context and earlier-era stories. This is an editorial recommendation, not an order Square Enix labels mandatory.
#1 Best Overall
- KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I–III] Amazon Exclusive Edition includes a double-sided poster.
- A value packed bundle featuring three collections: KINGDOM HEARTS -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX-, KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and KINGDOM HEARTS III + Re Mind (DLC).
- This product is also included in other bundle sets. Please ensure you do not purchase the same content more than once.
- Platform-exclusive Keyblade "Midnight Blue" included with purchase!
- To play the physical version of KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I–III], an internet connection and additional data download are required.
- Kingdom Hearts Final Mix
- Re:Chain of Memories
- Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix
- 358/2 Days
- Birth by Sleep Final Mix
- Re:coded
- Dream Drop Distance HD
- χ Back Cover; also follow available Union χ story material for the wider ancient-era story
- 0.2 Birth by Sleep
- Kingdom Hearts III, then Re Mind
- Melody of Memory
- Dark Road story material, if you want the additional Xehanort backstory
Entries in this route are not all presented as full playable games in the HD collections. In particular, the collection versions of 358/2 Days and Re:coded are cutscene compilations, while χ Back Cover is a movie. To experience the original 358/2 Days gameplay, you need the Nintendo DS game.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the Kingdom Hearts collections include
Square Enix announced KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I~III] for October 8, 2026. As of October 7, 2026, its announced platforms are Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Microsoft Store on Windows. The publisher notes that store availability may vary by region.
Rank #2
- The compilation includes the following games: KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX KINGDOM HEARTS FINAL MIX KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Chain of Memories KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days (HD Remastered cinematics) KINGDOM HEARTS II FINAL MIX KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep Final MIX KINGDOM HEARTS Re:coded (HD Remastered cinematics)
- KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 FINAL CHAPTER PROLOGUE KINGDOM HEARTS Dream Drop Distance HD KINGDOM HEARTS 0.2 Birth by Sleep –A fragmentary passage– KINGDOM HEARTS χ Back Cover (movie)
- KINGDOM HEARTS III
| Collection component | Included content | Presentation |
|---|---|---|
| HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX | Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, Re:Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, Birth by Sleep Final Mix, 358/2 Days, and Re:coded | The first four are games; 358/2 Days and Re:coded are HD cutscene compilations. |
| HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue | Dream Drop Distance HD, χ Back Cover, and 0.2 Birth by Sleep | χ Back Cover is a movie; the other two are games. |
| Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind DLC | Kingdom Hearts III and its Re Mind downloadable content | Game and DLC. |
Square Enix says the physical edition requires an internet connection to download additional data, so do not assume the complete collection is contained on the physical media. If you already own an older HD collection or need a different platform, check current regional storefront listings: availability depends on platform and region.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
- Includes Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 Remix & Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue
- Catch up on the story leading up to Kingdom Hearts III
- Relive the magical adventures of Sora, Donald Duck, Goofy and friends
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
