Kingdom Hearts: where to start and what to buy

So you’re lost in the Kingdom Hearts catalogue, right? Good news: you’re in the right place. I’ll walk you through the whole series so you know where to start (and what you can skip — it’s long).

But first, the new stuff. We’ll cover those in a dedicated piece closer to launch; until then you can check our releases calendar.

Where the buzz comes from

Square Enix has put Kingdom Hearts back in the spotlight: on October 8, 2026, KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I~III] lands on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It’s the “everything through III” pack as one storefront product, and on Switch 2 it finally runs natively (not in the cloud). On PC, that same content has been sold on Steam since 2024 as Integrum Masterpiece.

In parallel, Kingdom Hearts IV is already announced (same platforms + PC), but with no date (TBD). We’ll leave that for the end; first let’s get you caught up on what already exists.

What Kingdom Hearts is about (no spoilers)

In short: a kid named Sora travels through Disney and Pixar worlds (for some reason) with Donald and Goofy, Keyblade in hand, fighting Darkness and protecting worlds — and the hearts of the friends you make along the way. Real-time combat, plenty of RPG systems, and a plot that gets tangled… on purpose.

The numbered “main” line (I, II, III) isn’t the whole story: there are spin-offs, remakes, and even HD movies inside the packs. The good news is that almost everything canonical through III lives in three collections.

The games (release order)

First, the map (original platforms, before the compilation packs):

Yes, the names are diabolical. Still, you don’t need to hunt down old versions: in 2026 almost everything is playable via HD packs. IV is the next chapter, but it’s not for sale yet, and Collection / Integrum cover everything through III.

What packs exist?

To keep the store from melting your brain: there are three individual packs. Those are the building blocks. On top of that, Square Enix sells (or has sold) bundles that give you all three in one go — under different names per platform, because a single consistent name would have been too easy for Square Enix, who clearly wanted to confuse you a bit more.

The three individual packs

HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX

Six stories (the first two “big” games + bridges):

• Kingdom Hearts Final Mix (the improved 1)
• Re:Chain of Memories
• Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix
• 358/2 Days (HD cutscene compilation; not playable)
• Birth by Sleep Final Mix
• Re:coded (HD cutscene compilation; not playable)

HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue

The bridge into III:

• Dream Drop Distance HD
• χ Back Cover (movie)
• 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A fragmentary passage (short playable episode)

Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind

The close of this era of the series, with the Re Mind DLC included in current pack editions.

So what should you buy?

Different names, same content (the three packs above):

• Collection [I~III] — Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series, and PC; lands October 8, 2026 (see releases). Native on Switch 2.
• Integrum Masterpiece — the same pack on PC (Steam), already available.

If you can wait until October and play on console (or want the “new” product), go Collection. If you’re on PC and want to play now, go Integrum. No need to buy the three packs separately. The upside of Collection, besides landing natively on Switch 2, is that in the store you grab it as one current-gen product.

Once you know what to buy, the real question remains: of every game (in a pack or not), which ones do you prioritize?

The meat of it: must-plays vs skippable fluff

For everyone’s sanity, I’ll keep it simple: here’s a numbered recommended play order so you don’t have to overthink it.

The essentials (if you care about the story)

Those seven get you to IV without going in blind.

The fluff (safe to skip if you want)

Not everything in the pack is sacred. Ranked from “worth it” to “skip”:

• 358/2 Days (HD movie): not playable, but it covers important story threads. Worth watching between II and Birth by Sleep (1–2 hours); if you only skip one “medium” thing, don’t make it this.
• χ Back Cover (short movie): useful if you dig the weird lore; if not, no big deal.
• Re:coded (HD movie): the weakest link for III’s plot. Short on time? Skip it.
• Melody of Memory and the mobile games (Union χ, etc.): off the critical path; the story that matters is already in the packs.

Conclusion

If you made it this far, the plan is simple:

1. One bundle: Collection [I~III] (consoles + PC, Oct 8, 2026) or Integrum (PC/Steam, already out). Same content; no need for three separate packs.
2. Play the 7 essentials in that order. That’s enough to understand through III (and reach IV without getting lost).
3. Pack movies: prioritize 358/2 Days; the rest, if you feel like it.
4. Kingdom Hearts IV: announced, no date. Not in Collection / Integrum.

In one line: Collection or Integrum + the seven essentials. Everything else is garnish.

A taste of what’s next: Kingdom Hearts IV

IV is confirmed for Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, but the date is still TBD. It isn’t in Collection / Integrum: those close the era through III (with Re Mind). If you care about the next chapter, the smart move now is catch up on that bundle and wait for Square Enix to lock a calendar. And if you want a bit more, here’s the official trailer for Square Enix’s next entry:

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Official links: Square Enix – Collection I~III · KH IV (Press Hub) · Steam – Integrum Masterpiece · Steam – HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX.