Newcomers to “Kingdom Hearts” can dive in with “Kingdom Hearts Collection [I–III]”! A perfect chance to catch up now.

I had the opportunity to get an early hands-on with *KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I–III]*, which will be released by Square Enix on October 8, 2026.

This title bundles *Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 Remix*, *Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue*, and *Kingdom Hearts III + Remind* into a single package. It truly offers a comprehensive overview of the *Kingdom Hearts* series.

In this article, from the perspective of a first-time player to the series, I’ll share my initial impressions upon starting the game and highlight key aspects of *Kingdom Hearts Collection [I–III]* that prospective players should know—all without spoilers.

Actually, I belong to a generation that has been familiar with video games since around the time the original *Kingdom Hearts* was released. Despite that, I’d never had the chance to experience the series until now, so this was essentially my first time playing it.

The reason is simple: the sheer number of titles. While the main series is numbered up to *III*, there are many spin-off titles that bridge the gaps between them, so when you finally try to get started, you end up wondering, “Which one should I play first, anyway?” Although I was interested, I just couldn’t bring myself to dive in.

However, *Kingdom Hearts Collection [I–III]* is structured to let you enjoy all the titles essential to following the story—from the original through *III* and even the additional content—all in one package. Not everything is playable; some content is included as cutscenes—but I’m grateful that I didn’t have to go out and buy individual games here and there.

So I figured, “Now’s the time,” and decided to dive right in. This time, I’ve been playing through the three titles in order, focusing mainly on the opening sections of each.

I haven’t played through them thoroughly, but by experiencing them bit by bit, I’ve been able to see the differences between each title and make discoveries unique to a first-time playthrough. In what follows, I’ll share my impressions—avoiding spoilers as much as possible—while incorporating officially released information.

*Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 Remix* — Starting here, I’ll explore the foundation of the series

*Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 Remix* includes *Kingdom Hearts -Final Mix-*, *Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories*, *Kingdom Hearts II -Final Mix-*,and *Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep -Final Mix-*. It also includes HD video content for the two titles *Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days* and *Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded*.

While the phrase “six titles included” might make it seem as though you can play through all of them, the latter two are presented in a format where you follow the story through cutscenes.

In the original game, the protagonist, Sora, wields the Keyblade and travels through various Disney worlds alongside Donald and Goofy. Subsequent titles delve deeper into the backgrounds of the characters and events, and *Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep -Final Mix-* takes us back to a time before Sora and his friends.

By shifting perspectives with each title, the series allows players to explore the relationships and the tale of light and darkness that form the foundation of the entire franchise. For first-time players, it’s best to start by playing the included titles in the order they’re presented.

When I first played through the opening stages of *Kingdom Hearts -Final Mix-*, what immediately captured my heart was, of course, seeing Disney and *Final Fantasy* characters coexisting in the same world.

Seeing familiar faces naturally interact within the story—and I know it might sound strange coming from someone my age—was incredibly exciting. It’s a truly surreal feeling to encounter characters you’ve known for years in a game world you’re visiting for the first time.

At its core, the game is an action RPG where you progress by defeating enemies to gain experience points, leveling up, and upgrading your equipment and abilities. The controls are intuitive, but it’s not just a matter of mashing buttons—you also need to strategize how to use magic and healing.

Since I’ve had so many opportunities lately to play games with complex systems, this feeling of gradually nurturing the protagonist bit by bit struck a chord of nostalgia for me personally.

And despite the cute visuals and flashy collaborations, the story is full of intriguing mysteries.

Although I’m still in the early stages, there are already plot points that make me wonder, “How will this all tie together later?” so I wanted to take a break at a natural stopping point to reflect on what’s happened so far. One of the game’s appeals is that, since you can play all the titles together in this collection, it’s easy to go back to previous stories whenever you’re curious.

*Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue*—Three Titles You’ll Want to Play Before *III*

*Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue* includes *Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep – Fragmentary Passage**Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD*, and the animated short *Kingdom Hearts Key Back Cover*.

*Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD* depicts new trials faced by Sora and his best friend “Riku,” while “Kingdom Hearts Key Back Cover” is a video production chronicling events that took place long before the series began.Meanwhile, in *Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep – Fragmentary Passage*, the story unfolds in the World of Darkness with “Aqua” as the protagonist.

Although these titles serve as a bridge leading up to *III*, they are not mere recapitulations; rather, their structure expands the game’s universe from distinct perspectives. In this article, I’ve provided a general overview of these included titles, focusing primarily on their opening sequences.

In *Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD*, the focus is on Sora and Riku; in *Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep -Fragmentary Passage-” features Aqua, and the animated short “Kingdom Hearts Key Back Cover” delves even further into past events—the perspective from which the story is viewed shifts with each title.

Honestly, it’s difficult to grasp all the connections just from the early parts, but that’s precisely why I’m grateful to be able to follow each title as a cohesive whole. While I’m not yet at the stage where I can fully evaluate how the story will unfold, I did feel the joy of gradually getting to know the world leading up to *III*.

*Kingdom Hearts III + Remind*—A Major Milestone in the Accumulated Story

*Kingdom Hearts III + Remind* is a title that combines the main game, *Kingdom Hearts III*, with *Kingdom Hearts III Remind*, which was released as paid downloadable content. This installment marks a major turning point in the story that has unfolded throughout the series, bringing together characters and events from the past.

In the main story, Sora once again journeys through the worlds of Disney and Pixar to prepare for the impending final battle. After playing *1.5+2.5* and *2.8* in succession, I found myself increasingly curious to see how the characters and events introduced so far would all come together.

Another highlight is the appearance of familiar worlds from movies like *Toy Story* and *Frozen*. Although I’ve only just begun the story, I’m once again experiencing the joy of following an entire series in one go.

*Remind* includes additional episodes that retrace events depicted in the main story’s climax from a different perspective. Since this content is intended to be enjoyed after completing the main story, I won’t go into detail about it here to avoid spoilers.

While I’ll refrain from sharing specifics since they relate to future developments, I want those just starting the series to keep in mind that “it doesn’t end with *III*.”

It’s precisely because you’re starting now that you can enjoy it

This time, I had the opportunity to get a brief taste of each of the three titles, and the greatest reward was being able to gradually grasp the full picture of a series that had intrigued me for years but which I’d never gotten around to playing.

The freshness of seeing Disney and *Final Fantasy* characters come together, the nostalgic feel of leveling up while advancing through the adventure, and the worldview that gradually expands across the various titles—all of these elements made me want to sit down and play from the very beginning all over again now that I’ve discovered the entry points for each game.

Furthermore, with the Nintendo Switch 2 version—which I played this time—you can not only settle in front of the TV to play but also advance the story bit by bit in Handheld Mode. With so many titles in the series, finding a block of time to play can often be a challenge, so being able to catch up using spare moments throughout the day is a major advantage.

Furthermore, the latest numbered entry, *Kingdom Hearts IV*, is scheduled for release in late 2027.

Whether you want to trace the story from the very first game leading up to the new release or revisit titles you’ve played before, this collection seems like the perfect opportunity to open the door to the series—especially for those who, like me, have been hesitating, wondering, “Can I still catch up now?”

*Kingdom Hearts Collection [I–III]* is scheduled for release on Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox on PC for 11,000 yen (tax included).

© Disney. © Disney/Pixar. Developed by SQUARE ENIX

KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I~III] -PS5
￥8,929
(価格・在庫状況は記事公開時点のものです)

Amazon

楽天市場

KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I~III] -Switch2
￥9,583
(価格・在庫状況は記事公開時点のものです)

Amazon

楽天市場