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What Kingdom Hearts games do you need to play before Kingdom Hearts III? For a first playthrough focused on understanding the story, use this route: Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, Re:Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, Birth by Sleep Final Mix, Dream Drop Distance HD, 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A fragmentary passage –, then Kingdom Hearts III.
358/2 Days, Re:coded and χ Back Cover add context, but the current collections present them as cinematics or a movie rather than full playable steps. The order below follows the series’ release-era story progression and is an editorial recommendation for newcomers, not a first-time-player sequence officially published by Square Enix.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Kingdom Hearts All in One Package (PlayStation 4) | $53.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue (PlayStation PS4) | $10.28 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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KINGDOM HEARTS - HD 1.5+2.5 Remix - PS4 | $60.07 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Kingdom Hearts All-in-One Package - PlayStation 4 | $63.98 | Buy on Amazon |
What this order is designed to do
Kingdom Hearts III concludes the arc Square Enix calls the Dark Seeker Saga, which runs from the original Kingdom Hearts through Kingdom Hearts III and its Re Mind downloadable content. The plot assumes you understand several characters, identities, factions and conflicts introduced outside the numbered games. Playing only Kingdom Hearts I and II leaves major gaps.
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This route prioritizes narrative continuity over the fictional chronology of the worlds. Birth by Sleep, for example, takes place years before the first Kingdom Hearts in-universe, but it works best here after Kingdom Hearts II because its revelations and character connections land more clearly. Likewise, Dream Drop Distance is a direct setup for the opening situation in III, while 0.2 functions as a short bridge into the next chapter.
#1 Best Overall
- 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
The recommended seven-step route
1. Kingdom Hearts Final Mix
Begin with the first game in its Final Mix edition. It establishes Sora, Donald and Goofy, the Keyblade, the major Disney worlds and the central conflict that later entries repeatedly revisit. Final Mix is the version included in the HD 1.5+2.5 collection, so you do not need to locate the original release separately.
Do not treat the first game as optional background. Its ending, character relationships and terminology are the foundation for every later entry, including plot points that III expects you to recognize immediately.
2. Re:Chain of Memories
Play Re:Chain of Memories next. It covers the story between the first game and Kingdom Hearts II, following Sora’s journey through Castle Oblivion and introducing organizations and memory-related concepts that become important later.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The card-based combat is substantially different from Kingdom Hearts Final Mix. If the system frustrates you, adjust your deck and use room-based card choices rather than abandoning the story. The HD 1.5+2.5 collection includes this remake, not merely a video summary.
3. Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix
Kingdom Hearts II follows directly from the events of Re:Chain of Memories and pays off its unanswered questions. It expands the cast, develops the Organization conflict and establishes emotional stakes that later games assume you know.
Use the Final Mix edition supplied in HD 1.5+2.5. Starting here without Re:Chain of Memories is possible, but the opening and several character encounters are designed around knowledge of the preceding game.
4. Birth by Sleep Final Mix
Birth by Sleep is a prequel in the fictional timeline, told through the separate campaigns of Terra, Ventus and Aqua. It explains the origins of several central figures and conflicts that III treats as established history.
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Rank #2
- Brand New, Factory Sealed
- Genre: Strategy & Role-Playing
- Subgenre: Action RPG
- Brand: Square Enix
- Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue PS4
Play all three campaigns if you want the intended context. Their combined perspective matters more than any single route, and the game’s closing material connects its personal stories to the larger saga. The Final Mix version is part of HD 1.5+2.5.
5. Dream Drop Distance HD
Dream Drop Distance is the major preparation chapter for Kingdom Hearts III. Its Mark of Mastery premise, character pairings and final developments move the saga toward the confrontation that III depicts.
It is included in HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue. Although its mechanics differ from the numbered console games, skipping it means entering III without the story’s immediate setup and without understanding why several characters are where they are.
6. 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A fragmentary passage –
Play 0.2 immediately before III. It is a short, playable bridge centered on Aqua and the Realm of Darkness, and it provides the clearest transition from the events of HD 2.8 into the opening circumstances of III.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesBecause it is brief, some players are tempted to leave it until later. For a first run, that weakens its purpose: its value is as a lead-in, not as a post-game side story. It is included in HD 2.8.
7. Kingdom Hearts III
Kingdom Hearts III is the endpoint of this focused route and the numbered finale of the Xehanort saga identified in the PlayStation Store’s PS4 listing. By this point, you have covered the original adventure, the intermediate Castle Oblivion story, the second game’s Organization conflict, the prequel protagonists and the immediate lead-up to the final confrontation.
If your edition includes Re Mind, regard it as additional downloadable content attached to III rather than a replacement for the main campaign. The newer Collection [I~III] listing specifically includes III plus Re Mind DLC; older package listings may name only Kingdom Hearts III.
Which entries are optional movies or cinematics?
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
The HD 1.5+2.5 package contains HD-remastered cinematics from 358/2 Days, not the original playable Nintendo DS game. Watch them after Kingdom Hearts II if you want a fuller understanding of Roxas, the Organization and the period surrounding the second game.
It is supplementary for the seven-step route because the collection does not provide its original gameplay. Watching the cinematics can deepen the emotional impact of later scenes, but it is not a required playable checkpoint before III.
Kingdom Hearts Re:coded
Re:coded also appears in the collection as HD-remastered cinematics rather than a playable version of the original game. It supplies additional context about the data world and the cast, but it is not essential to the focused progression above.
Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover
χ Back Cover is presented as a movie in HD 2.8. It explores the Foretellers and the ancient history behind the wider Kingdom Hearts setting. That material is useful if you want series lore beyond the Dark Seeker Saga, but it does not function as a playable chapter in the route to III.
There is no need to force Back Cover into a precise position for a first playthrough. Watch it when you want broader historical context, rather than delaying the playable story to fit a chronology the collection itself does not require.
What each collection contains
The practical way to obtain this sequence is to use the official collection groupings. Confirm your platform and region before buying: similarly named packages do not always advertise identical contents.
| Collection or listing | Platform information | Included playable games | Included video material | Important format notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX | Included in the PS4 All-In-One package; other platform availability depends on the current store listing. | Kingdom Hearts Final Mix; Re:Chain of Memories; Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix; Birth by Sleep Final Mix | 358/2 Days HD-remastered cinematics; Re:coded HD-remastered cinematics | The two listed side stories are videos, not playable remasters. |
| HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue | Included in the PS4 All-In-One package; verify current platform support in your region. | Dream Drop Distance HD; 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A fragmentary passage – | χ Back Cover movie | Back Cover is a film, not a playable game. |
| KINGDOM HEARTS All-In-One Package | Square Enix’s 2025 European announcement describes the PS4 package. | Both collections above plus Kingdom Hearts III | All cinematics and the Back Cover movie supplied by those collections | The older PS4 listing identifies Kingdom Hearts III; it does not present the newer Re Mind wording. |
| KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I~III] | Square Enix Store listing names PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2. | HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX; HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue; Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind DLC | The movies and cinematics included in the two HD collections | The physical version listing says an internet connection and an additional data download are required. |
Prices, stock, regional editions and platform support can change. Check the exact store page immediately before purchase, especially if you need a physical copy, want Re Mind included, or are choosing between a PS4 package and a newer PS5 or Nintendo Switch 2 listing.
Rank #4
- Includes 10 Magical KINGDOM HEARTS experiences – A perfect way to begin the legendary KINGDOM HEARTS series
- Travel to beloved Disney and Pixar worlds to defend them from the evil heartless
- Unlock the power of the Keyblade and team up with Final Fantasy, Disney, and Pixar characters in the ultimate battle against darkness
- Test your battle skills with multiple combat possibilities, including powerful spells and team-up attacks
- Uncover the Dark Seeker Saga and learn about the legendary Keyblade Masters
Choose a route based on how much story you want
The focused first-time route
Use the seven playable steps and watch 358/2 Days, Re:coded and χ Back Cover only if you want their added context. This gives you the strongest preparation for III without requiring every video presentation in the collections.
The fuller saga route
Play the four HD 1.5+2.5 games, watch 358/2 Days, watch Re:coded, play Birth by Sleep if you have not already, then continue through Dream Drop Distance, χ Back Cover, 0.2 and III. This approach consumes more time but exposes nearly all of the collection’s story material before the finale.
The minimum-risk shortcut
If you have limited time, do not cut the three setup-heavy entries: Birth by Sleep, Dream Drop Distance and 0.2. They supply background and immediate lead-in material that III assumes. You can postpone the optional cinematics, but skipping the playable setup produces more confusion than skipping a movie.
Common play-order mistakes
- Following fictional chronology from the start: Beginning with Birth by Sleep may seem logical because it is a prequel, but it reveals information designed to be understood after the first two games.
- Assuming every collection item is playable: 358/2 Days and Re:coded are HD cinematics, while χ Back Cover is a movie in the cited packages.
- Stopping after Kingdom Hearts II: The later prequel and setup games introduce the people and conflicts that III expects you to know.
- Buying by title alone: All-In-One and Collection [I~III] listings differ in platform, DLC wording and physical-download requirements.
- Expecting a publisher-certified newcomer order: Square Enix frames the saga and lists package contents, but the seven-step first-time sequence is an editorial synthesis.
How large is the saga you are entering?
Square Enix reported more than 38 million Kingdom Hearts units shipped worldwide in its 2025 package announcement, including more than seven million Kingdom Hearts III units across physical and digital shipments. Those are dated shipment figures from that announcement, not current sales totals, but they show why III is marketed as the endpoint of a long-running saga rather than a standalone introduction.
The publisher’s own description places the arc from the original Kingdom Hearts through Kingdom Hearts III plus Re Mind. Treating the games as one connected sequence explains the recommended order: each title supplies a different piece of the cast, mythology or immediate setup that the finale brings together.
Final checklist before you start
- Reserve enough time for all three Birth by Sleep campaigns if you want their complete perspective.
- Confirm that your copy contains Final Mix editions where listed; those are the versions supplied by the HD collections.
- Check whether your package includes Re Mind or only Kingdom Hearts III.
- For a physical Collection [I~III] copy, have internet access available for the required additional download.
- Decide in advance whether you want the optional cinematics and Back Cover movie, so you do not mistake a video item for missing gameplay.
With those checks complete, start with Kingdom Hearts Final Mix and move through the seven playable entries in the order given above. That sequence preserves the story’s intended reveals while giving Kingdom Hearts III the context it expects.
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