The Kingdom Hearts series is a beloved action RPG franchise that masterfully blends the worlds of Disney and Square Enix. Since its debut in 2002, the series has grown into a sprawling, time-bending saga filled with emotional storytelling, complex lore, and fast-paced combat.
Following the journey of Sora and his friends across numerous games, Kingdom Hearts has released entries on multiple platforms, often with interwoven narratives that are key to understanding the overarching story.
In this guide, we’ll list the Kingdom Hearts games in both production and chronological order—helping newcomers and longtime fans navigate the series’ rich and sometimes confusing timeline.
The Kingdom Hearts Series In Production Order
1. Kingdom Hearts
| Initial Release Date | March 28, 2002 |
| Developer | Square |
| Platform(s) | – PlayStation 2 |
Kingdom Hearts (2002) follows a boy named Sora who teams up with Donald Duck and Goofy to search for his friends and stop dark creatures called the Heartless.
The trio travels through various Disney-themed worlds, meeting characters like Aladdin, Ariel, and Jack Skellington, while facing off against classic Disney villains and uncovering a mysterious plot involving “Kingdom Hearts,” the heart of all worlds.
The game blends fast-paced combat, emotional storytelling, and a unique mix of Disney and Final Fantasy elements.
2. Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
| Initial Release Date | November 11, 2004 |
| Developer | Square Enix | Jupiter |
| Platform(s) | – Game Boy Advance |
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (2004) is a direct sequel to the original Kingdom Hearts. It follows Sora, Donald, and Goofy as they enter Castle Oblivion, where they lose their memories while trying to find a mysterious girl named Naminé.
The game introduces a unique card-based battle system and features recreated memories of past Disney worlds. Meanwhile, a new group called Organization XIII is introduced, setting the stage for future games. The story explores themes of memory, identity, and the cost of remembering or forgetting what’s important.
3. Kingdom Hearts II
| Initial Release Date | December 22, 2005 |
| Developer | Square Enix |
| Platform(s) | – PlayStation 2 |
Kingdom Hearts II (2005) is the sequel to Chain of Memories and continues the story of Sora, Donald, and Goofy as they battle the Heartless and a new threat: the Nobodies, led by Organization XIII. The game begins with a mysterious boy named Roxas, whose story ties deeply into Sora’s past.
As Sora awakens, he travels to new and returning Disney worlds, meeting characters like Mulan, Jack Sparrow, and Simba. With improved combat and deeper storytelling, the game explores themes of identity, friendship, and the struggle between light and darkness.
4. Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories
| Initial Release Date | March 29, 2007 |
| Developer | Square Enix | Jupiter |
| Platform(s) | – PlayStation 2 – Game Boy Advance |
Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories (2007) is a full 3D remake of the original Chain of Memories for the PlayStation 2. It retells Sora’s journey through Castle Oblivion, where he loses memories while searching for his friends and encounters the mysterious Organization XIII.
The game keeps the card-based battle system but adds voice acting, cutscenes, and enhanced visuals. It also includes a second playable story featuring Riku, who battles his inner darkness while climbing the castle from the basement. The remake bridges the gap between Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II with more depth and clarity.
5. Kingdom Hearts Coded
| Initial Release Date | November 18, 2008 |
| Developer | Square Enix |
| Platform(s) | – Mobile |
Kingdom Hearts Coded (2008) follows a digital version of Sora created from Jiminy Cricket’s journal. When mysterious messages appear in the journal, King Mickey and friends digitize it to investigate.
The story explores a virtual world filled with glitches, where Data-Sora battles bugs and uncovers hidden memories related to past events. The game combines puzzle-solving, platforming, and combat, and it helps set up future storylines involving lost memories and characters connected to the deeper lore of the series.
6. Kingdom Hearts Mobile
| Initial Release Date | November 18, 2008 |
| Developer | Square Enix |
| Platform(s) | – Mobile |
Kingdom Hearts Mobile (2008) was a companion app to Kingdom Hearts Coded for mobile phones. It featured a customizable avatar system and a virtual hub called the “Avatar Kingdom,” where players could interact, play mini-games, download wallpapers, ringtones, and earn outfits inspired by Kingdom Hearts characters.
While it didn’t have a traditional story, it served as a social platform and entertainment hub tied to the Kingdom Hearts universe. The service was exclusive to Japan and discontinued in 2013.
7. Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
| Initial Release Date | May 30, 2009 |
| Developer | h.a.n.d. |
| Platform(s) | – Nintendo DS |
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (2009) follows Roxas, a member of Organization XIII, during the time between Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II. The game explores his daily missions, friendship with fellow members Axel and Xion, and his growing doubts about the Organization’s true purpose.
Gameplay focuses on completing missions, battling Heartless, and uncovering secrets. It features both a single-player story mode and a multiplayer mode with various Organization characters. The story adds emotional depth to Roxas’s character and explains key events leading into Kingdom Hearts II.
8. Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
| Initial Release Date | January 9, 2010 |
| Developer | Square Enix |
| Platform(s) | – PlayStation Portable |
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010) is a prequel set ten years before the original Kingdom Hearts. It follows three Keyblade wielders—Terra, Aqua, and Ventus—as they train under Master Eraqus and face a new enemy called the Unversed.
Each character has their own storyline, revealing different parts of the larger plot involving Master Xehanort’s dark plans. The game introduces new worlds and a dynamic combat system with customizable abilities. Birth by Sleep explores themes of friendship, destiny, and the origins of the series’ main conflict, setting the stage for the events of the entire saga.
9. Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded
| Initial Release Date | January 9, 2010 |
| Developer | Square Enix |
| Platform(s) | – PlayStation Portable |
Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded (2010) is a remake of Kingdom Hearts Coded, featuring updated gameplay and added story elements. It follows a digital version of Sora, known as Data-Sora, as he explores a corrupted version of Jiminy Cricket’s journal to uncover the meaning behind a mysterious message.
The game mixes platforming, puzzle-solving, and RPG combat with changing gameplay styles across worlds. While largely a side story, it provides important hints about lost memories and sets up future events in the series, especially those involving characters connected to Birth by Sleep.
10. Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
| Initial Release Date | March 29, 2012 |
| Developer | Square Enix |
| Platform(s) | – Nintendo 3DS |
Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance (2012) follows Sora and Riku as they take the Mark of Mastery exam to become Keyblade Masters. They are sent into sleeping worlds to defeat creatures called Dream Eaters and awaken the worlds from slumber.
The game introduces fast-paced “Flowmotion” movement and lets players switch between Sora and Riku’s stories. As the journey unfolds, they uncover a deeper plot involving Master Xehanort’s return and a looming clash between light and darkness. The game sets the stage for the final battle in the Kingdom Hearts saga.
11. Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix
| Initial Release Date | March 14, 2013 |
| Developer | Square Enix |
| Platform(s) | – PlayStation 3 |
Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix (2013) is a collection that remasters key early Kingdom Hearts titles in high-definition. It includes Kingdom Hearts Final Mix (an enhanced version of the original game), Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories, and cinematic scenes from Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days.
The collection offers improved graphics, gameplay tweaks, and added content, making it a great way to experience the series’ beginnings before moving on to Kingdom Hearts II.
12. Kingdom Hearts χ
| Initial Release Date | July 18, 2013 |
| Developer | Square Enix |
| Platform(s) | – Web browsers – iOS – Android |
Kingdom Hearts χ (2013) was a browser-based online game. It’s set long before the main series, during the Age of Fairy Tales, and tells the story of Keyblade wielders protecting the world from darkness.
Players created their own characters, joined one of five factions, and participated in battles and quests. The game explored the origins of the Keyblade War and the struggle between light and darkness. It later evolved into mobile versions called Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ and Union χ, expanding the story and player base worldwide.
13. Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix
| Initial Release Date | October 2, 2014 |
| Developer | Square Enix |
| Platform(s) | – PlayStation 3 |
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix (2014) is a remastered collection for PlayStation 3 that includes Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix, and cinematic scenes from Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded.
The collection features enhanced graphics, improved gameplay, and additional content, allowing players to experience key stories that bridge the gap between the original Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts III.
14. Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ
| Initial Release Date | September 3, 2015 |
| Developer | Square Enix |
| Platform(s) | – iOS – Android |
Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ (2015) is the successor to Kingdom Hearts χ. It expands on the story of Keyblade wielders during the Keyblade War, focusing on player-created characters who join factions and fight darkness in an online world.
The game features questing, multiplayer battles, and a card-based combat system. It also provides important lore about the origins of the series’ conflict, tying into the larger Kingdom Hearts narrative. Later, it was rebranded as Kingdom Hearts Union χ.
15. Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue
| Initial Release Date | January 12, 2017 |
| Developer | Square Enix |
| Platform(s) | – PC – Xbox One – PlayStation 4 |
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue (2017) is a compilation for PlayStation 4 that includes three parts: Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD (remastered), Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage (a new story focusing on Aqua’s journey after Birth by Sleep), and Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover (a cinematic retelling of events from Kingdom Hearts χ).
This collection bridges the gap between Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance and Kingdom Hearts III, offering new story insights and enhanced visuals.
16. Kingdom Hearts III
| Initial Release Date | January 25, 2019 |
| Developer | Square Enix |
| Platform(s) | – PC – Xbox One – PlayStation 4 – Nintendo Switch |
Kingdom Hearts III (2019) is the long-awaited sequel that concludes the “Dark Seeker” saga. Sora, along with Donald and Goofy, teams up with old and new allies to stop Master Xehanort from starting another Keyblade War.
The game features stunning visuals, expansive Disney worlds like Frozen and Tangled, and fast-paced, fluid combat with new abilities and summons. It wraps up major storylines while exploring themes of friendship, light versus darkness, and the power of the heart.
17. Kingdom Hearts Dark Road
| Initial Release Date | June 22, 2020 |
| Developer | Square Enix |
| Platform(s) | – iOS – Android |
Kingdom Hearts Dark Road (2020) is a prequel that explores the origins of Xehanort, the main antagonist of the series. Set in Scala ad Caelum, it follows a young Xehanort and his classmate Eraqus as they train to become Keyblade Masters.
The game focuses on their missions to uncover the truth about missing wielders and the nature of darkness. With card-based combat and a story-rich experience, Dark Road reveals what led Xehanort down his dark path and deepens the lore of the Kingdom Hearts universe.
18. Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory
| Initial Release Date | November 11, 2020 |
| Developer | Square Enix |
| Platform(s) | – PC – Xbox One – Nintendo Switch – PlayStation 4 |
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory (2020) is a rhythm action game that celebrates the music and story of the series. Players tap along to iconic tracks while controlling characters like Sora, Donald, Goofy, and others across Disney-themed stages.
The game revisits key moments from the franchise through music and cinematics. It also includes a new story epilogue following Kingdom Hearts III, featuring Kairi and teasing future events. With over 140 songs and multiplayer modes, it blends nostalgia with gameplay in a unique way for the series.
The Kingdom Hearts Series In Chronological Order
Here is the Kingdom Hearts franchise in order of the overall plot and story chronology.
- Kingdom Hearts χ / Unchained χ / Union χ
- Kingdom Hearts Dark Road
- Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
- Kingdom Hearts
- Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
- Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days
- Kingdom Hearts II
- Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded
- Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
- Kingdom Hearts III
- Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory