Kingdom Hearts III is a 2019 action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, and Nintendo Switch. It is the third main installment in the Kingdom Hearts series and the twelfth game overall, and serves as a conclusion of the “Dark Seeker Saga” story arc that began with the original game. Set after the events of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, returning protagonist Sora is joined by Donald Duck, Goofy, King Mickey, and Riku in their search for seven guardians of light as they attempt to thwart Xehanort‘s plan to bring about a second Keyblade War. Their journey has them cross paths with characters and visit worlds based on different Disney and Pixar intellectual properties.
Concepts for Kingdom Hearts III began as early as 2005 after the release of Kingdom Hearts II in Japan, with the game’s development not being officially announced until 2013, following years of rumors and speculation. The game features recurring gameplay elements from the series, while expanding parties to five characters total, introducing new “Attraction Flow” attacks that incorporate various Disney Parks attractions, and including minigames inspired by classic Mickey Mouse cartoons in the style of 1980s LCD games.
Kingdom Hearts III was released worldwide in January 2019 and received generally positive reviews from critics. Critics praised its visuals, soundtrack, art style, gameplay, and variety of combat options, while reception towards its plot and presentation was more mixed. It sold over five million copies within its first week of release, becoming both the fastest-selling and best-selling game in the series’ history in North America. A downloadable content expansion of the game titled Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind-was released on January 23, 2020, for PlayStation 4, and on February 25, 2020, for Xbox One. A version of the game bundled with the DLC titled as Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind was released on Windows via Epic Games Store and Steam on March 30, 2021, and June 13, 2024, respectively. The same version was released on the Nintendo Switch via cloud streaming on February 10, 2022.
Gameplay
Gameplay in Kingdom Hearts III is similar to its predecessors, with hack and slash combat, which director Tetsuya Nomura stated would be along the lines of the system seen in Kingdom Hearts II, with an evolution similar to what was seen from Kingdom Hearts to Kingdom Hearts II, and closely tied to the gameplay in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. He also revealed that the handheld games of the series were where he could experiment with the combat mechanics, and that some of the well-received additions could appear in Kingdom Hearts III. Nomura noted that new gameplay elements are the “skeleton” of the game, saying development starts with a “fun element” for gameplay or system to then build the story and concept around.[13] Additionally, the development team “always want to try something new”, taking previously introduced mechanics and making small “tweak[s]” to them so they are customized for Kingdom Hearts III.
Sora returns as the main playable character, once again joined in the party by Donald Duck and Goofy, with the ability to have two additional characters join the party for a total of five-player parties. This is an increase from previous main entries in the series, where players were limited to two additional party members at any given time along with Sora. Certain parts of the game have Riku and Aqua as playable characters. Describing the gameplay, Nomura called the action “pretty frantic”, as well as “really flashy and exciting. The enemy AI is a lot more intricate, too, and I think the gameplay will reflect that new dynamic balance.” Sora can perform magic, with a new, powerful tier of each spell available to him, similar to what Aqua has available to her in Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage. Magic performs differently in underwater sections of the game, with Kingdom Hearts III introducing a new spell, Water. Team-up attacks are also featured, which combine Sora and various party members into one attack.
Players can equip various abilities for Sora and his party members, with the system to do so “an evolution of sorts” from the system used in Kingdom Hearts II. Character summons make a return from previous entries, this time known as “Links”, where an additional character joins the battle to assist the player with specialized attacks.
Sora faces Heartless, Nobodies, and Unversed in the game, with new variants of these enemy types appearing. In addition to these traditional “smaller” enemies, the player faces giant bosses, which give “Sora greater freedom of movement and room to experiment with attacks—including the new theme-park-ride summon attacks,” known as “Attraction Flow”. These attacks are inspired by the Disney Parks attractions Mad Tea Party, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, and Grizzly River Run, and generic pirate ship and carousel attractions; these attacks draw visual inspiration from Disney Parks’ Main Street Electrical Parade.
Sora also has the ability to jump on certain enemies, such as ones shaped like a vehicle. Regarding traversal, Nomura noted the new mechanic, called “Athletic Flow” in Japanese, was refined from the Flowmotion mechanic from Dream Drop Distance, which players felt was “a little too free… and it was kind of hard to control on their end.” “Athletic Flow” allows the player to utilize the environment to access previously unreachable areas. Co-director Tai Yasue stated this mechanic was created “to try something new” and “radically change the gameplay” for the Hercules world, which led to its use in the other worlds. As a result, each world was able to have “more height, scale and sense of discovery.”
Situation Commands also return from previous entries, which can trigger the Keyblade transformations. Nomura revealed that Keyblade transformations were conceived as early as the development of Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix and would be similar to Aqua’s ability in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, saying, “Each Keyblade transformation is unlocked by clearing all missions in one of [the game’s] worlds, and each individual world offers its own unique Keyblade transformation.” He further elaborated stating there were two forms each Keyblade can take, with “multiple layers in terms of transforming” starting with one transformation and achieving the second after “successfully connect[ing] your combos”.
The Keyblade transformations active the various “Formchanges” –Power, Guard, Magic, and Speed– and change Sora’s outfit, similarly to the “Drive Form” mechanic in Kingdom Hearts II. Various Keyblades are linked to each form; for example, the Toy Story world Keyblade actives Power Form for Sora, with the Keyblade’s transformations changing into a hammer and then into a drill.
There is also “Second Form”, which changes Sora’s battle skills rather than transform the Keyblade. Unlike previous games in the series, players are able to quickly switch between different Keyblades seamlessly during gameplay rather than from the game’s equipment menu, and each Keyblade can be leveled up to increase their abilities. Shotlocks also return, which use a focus meter that can target and lock on to individual enemies with the attack depending on which Keyblade is equipped.
Each world offers a specific gameplay element, such as first-person shooter “Gigas” mechs in the Toy Story world, downhill sledding in the Frozen world, and naval, underwater, and aerial combat in the Pirates of the Caribbean world, which also features numerous smaller islands at sea which can be explored. The Gummi Ship also returns as a means of travel between the different worlds of the game. The mechanic has been split into two phases: exploration, which has been likened to being more open-world without a fixed travel route as in previous games; and combat, which has increased its scale from previous games, with more enemies present. Gummi Ship customization also returns, with more options available than in previous Kingdom Hearts games.
Various mini-games playable throughout Kingdom Hearts III, including a cooking-themed game featuring Remy from Ratatouille, and a music game in the Tangled world. Additionally, the “Classic Kingdom” features over 20 games presented in the style of 1980s LCD games such as Game & Watch, while the 100 Acre Wood world features puzzle games. Members of the development team suggested each type of mini-game featured, with Nomura working on the “Classic Kingdom”. Kingdom Hearts III also has a “Memory Archive” feature, which has several short films explaining the basic story elements of the series from the previous games.
Setting
The story opens with the final scenes of Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage, and serves as a conclusion of the “Dark Seeker/Xehanort Saga” that occurs in most preceding games. Most of the worlds featured in the game inspired by Disney properties are new to the series, including the Kingdom of Corona (based on Tangled), Arendelle (Frozen), San Fransokyo (Big Hero 6), and the Pixar-based worlds Toy Box (Toy Story) and Monstropolis (Monsters, Inc.). Two new original worlds created specifically for the game also appear: a limbo for dying hearts called the “Final World”; and Scala ad Caelum, a “seat of power” for past Keyblade wielders, where the game’s final battle takes place. Returning Disney worlds include tutorial stage Olympus (Hercules), the Caribbean (Pirates of the Caribbean), and the 100 Acre Wood (Winnie the Pooh), while original worlds include Twilight Town, the Dark World, the Land of Departure, and the Keyblade Graveyard. Worlds such as Yen Sid‘s Mysterious Tower, Radiant Garden, Disney Castle, and the Destiny Islands appear exclusively via cutscenes. The “Classic Kingdom” mini-games are inspired by classic Walt Disney Productions Mickey Mouse cartoons, including Giantland, The Karnival Kid, Musical Farmer, The Barnyard Battle, The Klondike Kid, and Mickey’s Mechanical Man.
The Toy Story, Monsters, Inc., and Big Hero 6 worlds feature original stories, with the former set between the events of Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3, and the latter two set after the events of their respective films. This is different from previous worlds in the series, which have often loosely followed plot lines from the films on which they were based, including the Tangled, Frozen, and Pirates of the Caribbean worlds. On the amount of worlds featured in the game, Nomura noted the development team focused on creating “rich gameplay in an individual world… designed so players can take their time and enjoy the gameplay that’s available” opposed to having “multiple different little worlds”.
Characters
The main protagonist and playable character of the game is Sora, a 15-year-old boy who uses a key-shaped weapon called the Keyblade to battle the forces of darkness. Sora is accompanied by Donald Duck and Goofy, the royal magician and knight captain of Disney Castle, respectively. The three are supported by other Keyblade wielders, several of whom they must rescue in preparation for their final confrontation with Master Xehanort, the series’ primary antagonist, as “guardians of light”; Mickey Mouse, an experienced Keyblade Master who is Donald and Goofy’s king; Riku, a Master and Sora’s best friend; Kairi, another of Sora’s friends, a Princess of Heart and a novice wielder; Aqua, a Master trapped in the realm of darkness; Ventus, a comatose boy whose heart has merged with Sora’s; Terra, a young man who was possessed by Xehanort; Axel/Lea, a former member of Organization XIII and fellow novice with Kairi; Roxas, Sora’s Nobody, who merged his existence with Sora’s; and Xion, a replica member of the Organization whose existence was erased from her friends’ memories.
Organization XIII returns as the game’s antagonists, led by Master Xehanort, with different members from previous games such as past incarnations of himself, as established in Dream Drop Distance. Kingdom Hearts III also introduces a new original character named Yozora, who features prominently in an in-universe video game commercial in the Toy Story world, and later in the secret ending. As with previous games in the series, a multitude of Disney characters appear in worlds based on their respective films and properties. Disney characters who serve as members of Sora’s party include the returning Hercules and Jack Sparrow; new to the series are Woody and Buzz Lightyear, Sulley and Mike Wazowski, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, Marshmallow, and Baymax. Characters that appear as summon “Links” for Sora include Dream Eaters such as the “Meow Wow” from Dream Drop Distance, Wreck-It Ralph from the film of the same name, Simba from The Lion King, Ariel from The Little Mermaid, and Stitch from Lilo & Stitch. Remy from Ratatouille (who is referred to in-game by his nickname of “Little Chef”) appears in one of the game’s mini-games at the bistro.
Most Final Fantasy characters were excluded from the initial game release as Tetsuya Nomura felt that they would detract from the story, and that the Kingdom Hearts characters needed less support than they did before; the Moogle character returns as the item shopkeeper, while the Re Mind DLC sees previous Final Fantasy characters appear.
Plot
Yen Sid begins preparing seven Keyblade wielders as guardians of light to counteract Master Xehanort’s plan of forging the χ-blade. Sora, accompanied by Donald Duck and Goofy, resumes his travels across other worlds to regain his “power of waking”, the ability to restore lost hearts, which he lost after nearly being possessed by Xehanort.[d] Sora’s group is antagonized by Organization XIII, who target the seven Princesses of Heart as substitutes for the guardians while seeking their thirteenth and final member. Meanwhile, Riku and King Mickey search the realm of darkness to retrieve Aqua, while Kairi and Lea train as Keyblade wielders.
Sora and Riku are contacted throughout their travels by former Organization member Ienzo, who uncovers research notes from Ansem the Wise revealing that the hearts of Roxas and two others—later identified as Ventus and Xion—are dormant within Sora’s heart. Sora suggests implanting Roxas’s heart in an artificial Replica body made by Vexen, one of the Organization’s reserves, after learning that the Organization’s time-traveling members are using the same method to exist in the present. Meanwhile, the Heartless Ansem abducts Ansem the Wise from the realm of darkness, but Vexen rescues Ansem the Wise. Revealing himself as a double agent, Vexen enlists fellow reserve Demyx to deliver a spare Replica for Roxas to inhabit.
Riku and Mickey are attacked by Aqua, who has become corrupted by the dark realm’s influence. Discovering Master Eraqus‘s Keyblade on the Destiny Islands, Sora uses it to enter the realm of darkness and aid his friends, defeating and restoring Aqua. Aqua then travels to awaken Ventus at Castle Oblivion, which she transforms back into the Land of Departure. When she is attacked by Vanitas, Sora rediscovers his power of waking and revives Ventus, who fends Vanitas off.
The seven guardians arrive at the Keyblade Graveyard to battle the Organization, only to be consumed by a swarm of Heartless summoned by the possessed Terra. Sustained by Kairi’s power, Sora awakens in a limbo realm called the Final World, where a Chirithy guides him in restoring his fragmented body. He then uses the power of waking to revive his friends and travel back in time to the moment before their defeat, which is averted by the appearance of Terra’s lingering will. In the guardians’ ensuing battle against the Organization, Terra regains control of his body and reunites with Aqua and Ventus, while Roxas and Xion—the latter of whom was duplicated as the Organization’s final member—regain their hearts from Sora and reunite with Lea.
After the other Organization members are defeated, Xehanort provokes Sora into attacking him by destroying Kairi’s body, allowing Xehanort to acquire the χ-blade and unlock Kingdom Hearts. Sora, Donald, and Goofy hinder Xehanort by transporting him to his boyhood home of Scala ad Caelum, where they eventually defeat him. In Xehanort’s dying moments, Eraqus’s spirit emerges from Terra and convinces Xehanort to surrender the χ-blade. After sealing Kingdom Hearts, Sora decides to use the power of waking to save Kairi, despite being warned about the grave consequences of doing so. Afterwards, Sora’s allies gathers at the Destiny Islands, where a revived Kairi stays beside Sora before he fades away.
In a post-credits scene, Organization member Xigbar summons the Foretellers and reveals himself to be Luxu, their fellow Keyblade apprentice. In a flashback to their youth, Eraqus and Xehanort—having finished a chess game reminiscent of Sora’s final battle with Xehanort—begin a new game that predicts a battle with Luxu and the Foretellers.
Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind
Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind is a downloadable expansion set during and after the climax of the game. It is divided into three separate scenarios—”Re Mind”, the “Limitcut Episode”, and the “Secret Episode”—which are unlocked in sequential order after the original game is cleared.
The titular scenario depicts Sora’s rescue of Kairi during the game’s ending scenes. Assuming an incorporeal form, Sora travels back in time to the battle between the guardians of light and the Organization, passing through the guardians’ hearts to reach Kairi. Despite his initial failure, Sora finds and assembles fragments of Kairi’s heart in Scala ad Caelum before his past self’s final battle with Xehanort, restoring Kairi. After revisiting the Final World to invite Chirithy to the realm of light, Sora visits his friends’ worlds with Kairi before his disappearance.
The “Limitcut Episode” is set one year after Sora’s disappearance; his allies have since led an ongoing search for him, while Kairi has entered stasis after volunteering as Ansem the Wise’s test subject to help Sora. During a visit to Radiant Garden, Riku analyzes digital copies of Sora and the Organization’s members programmed into Cid Highwind‘s computer, hoping to uncover clues to Sora’s whereabouts through their battles. After the analysis proves inconclusive, Riku is approached by the Fairy Godmother to meet with Yen Sid, who has determined a method of finding Sora through Riku and two others.
The “Secret Episode” focuses on Sora, who has become trapped in the Final World since his disappearance. There, Sora encounters Yozora, who claims to have been requested to save Sora, but questions Sora’s identity and battles him atop a skyscraper in a modern-day metropolis.[f] If Sora wins, Yozora fades away before Sora returns to the Final World; if Sora loses, Yozora crystallizes him and goes to the Final World instead. Afterward, regardless of who wins, Yozora awakens in a car while a closing narration ensues in his and Sora’s voices, with the battle’s victor saying, “None of this makes sense to me.”
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