The Kingdom Hearts series consists of some of the most beloved games. Some are playable on the PS5, while others are stranded on other platforms. From the iconic Kingdom Hearts 2 to the nostalgic Birth by Sleep, the series has been ongoing for over two decades, and has well over ten entries and hundreds of hours worth of content and breathtaking music for players to experience.
Those who have been playing the games for a while will likely already be caught up to the lore. But the same can’t be said for newcomers. Fortunately, there’s a sure-fire way to play the Kingdom Hearts games on the PS5. Some entries may be missed, but the crucial lore aspects are covered in other ways.
Kingdom Hearts All-in-One Package
It wouldn’t be a stretch to call Kingdom Hearts All-in-One Package the single best purchase any potential Kingdom Hearts player can make. The bundle, which frequently goes for a discounted price on the PlayStation Store, includes the complete main saga. While the three numbered mainline games being included are a given, that isn’t the only thing you can expect.
Multiple old Kingdom Hearts games have remastered versions added to this bundle. Not only this, but some games that were stranded on handheld platforms, such as Chain of Memories for the GBA or Dream Drop Distance for the 3DS, have been remade to work perfectly on modern consoles, including the PS4 and PS5.
Of course, some games didn’tt get the same treatment. Games such as 358/2 Days and Re:coded only have movie compilations for players to experience. The movies are included in this bundle too, making it easy for players to go through them at their own pace.
As for the actual play order, below is how you should play or watch everything in the Kingdom Hearts All-in-One Package:
- Kingdom Hearts Final Mix
- Re:Chain of Memories
- Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix
- 358/2 Days (movie)
- Birth by Sleep
- Re:coded (movie)
- Dream Drop Distance
- 0.2 Birth by Sleep Fragmentary Passage
- Kingdom Hearts III
Those who want some additional context from the mobile games that aren’t on the PS5 can also watch the Kingdom KH χ Back Cover movie before playing Kingdom Hearts 3. While it isn’t too important now, this movie will play an extremely large role in the future saga, and could be a good investment to ensure you don’t have to go back and watch it out of order later.
Kingdom Hearts 3 Re:Mind DLC
Kingdom Hearts 3’s Re:Mind DLC may not be included in the All-in-One Package. But it’s a direct continuation of the base game. Without getting into spoiler territory, the DLC shows what Sora does near the end of Kingdom Hearts 3. It also lets players control fan-favorite characters such as Roxas and adds more difficult versions of past boss fights.
However, the most important thing this DLC does is that it also has players fight a character who will be crucial in future entries in the series. Not only is the fight extremely fun, with many saying it may be the best in the series, but the ending hints at what players can expect from the next Kingdom Hearts saga. Some believe Square Enix should have added this in the base game. While that can’t be changed, it does cement how important the DLC is to really experience KH3.
Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory
Kingdom Hearts 3’s Re:Mind DLC hints at what will happen in the next saga. But Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory sets it up. The gameplay is very different from any other Kingdom Hearts game, playing as a rhythm game instead of an action-adventure game. However, the game eventually delves into some secrets and establishes what the main characters are doing.
Those who don’t want to play a rhythm game for some minutes of new content can watch the ending cutscene. This is recommended by many, since the game primarily only revisits everything that happened in the previous games. Melody of Memory serves as an excellent refresher, but an unnecessary game for those who remember everything.
