- Publisher
- Square Enix
- First game
- Kingdom Hearts, 2002
- Latest release
- Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, 2020
- Collection
- First three games on Switch 2, PS5 and Xbox Series, October 8, 2026
- Announced
- Kingdom Hearts IV, late 2027
- Unavailable
- Union chi and Dark Road, servers closed
Play Order (Release) Recommended
0 / 13 playedThe order the games came out, which is how the series was written to be experienced.
Chronological Order
0 / 13 playedThe story timeline. The main change from release order is Birth by Sleep moving to the front; after that the games were already released in story sequence.
Long before the games
About Kingdom Hearts
The main series runs from Kingdom Hearts in 2002 through Kingdom Hearts III in 2019, with side projects and handheld entries in between and Melody of Memory as the most recent release. Kingdom Hearts IV was confirmed for a late 2027 window at D23 in August 2026, and the mobile entries have all shut down, which is why they sit at the end of the story order with a note that their cutscenes are still findable online.
A new compilation changes the practical advice for a new player. The Kingdom Hearts Collection brought native versions of the first three games to Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series on October 8, 2026, which is the cleanest way into the series on current hardware.
Melody of Memory is a rhythm game that recaps the story, so it belongs after Kingdom Hearts III in release order and at the very end of the story order, where Kairi looks back over everything that happened.
Good to know
Release order is the order the series was written to be experienced, and the story order only moves Birth by Sleep and the two mobile entries to the front.
Start with the Collection if you are on Switch 2, PS5 or Xbox Series, since the first three games are the backbone of the story and the remasters handle the awkward transitions. Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep is a short prologue and pairs well with the Collection.
Two mobile games are unavailable: Kingdom Hearts Union chi closed in 2021 and Kingdom Hearts Dark Road closed after its 2020 run. Their cutscenes are easy to find if you want the story, but do not plan a playthrough around them.
Kingdom Hearts IV is announced for late 2027, so there is a natural stopping point after Melody of Memory if you would rather not wait.
