Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
In fictional chronology, Kingdom Hearts begins in the ancient Keyblade era of χ, long before Birth by Sleep and Sora’s first adventure. But that is not the clearest order for a first playthrough: the χ-era stories were made to reveal background and mysteries within a saga already underway. For newcomers, start with Kingdom Hearts and follow the games’ story-presentation order; use the timeline below to see how the events fit together.
Kingdom Hearts games in chronological order
This is a broad sequence of story events, not a scene-by-scene calendar. Square Enix’s official timeline places the ancient stories relative to one another but does not assign them calendar years. The stories of Chain of Memories and 358/2 Days overlap, so they belong beside one another rather than in a perfectly clean sequence.
-
Kingdom Hearts χ (chi)
The oldest era in the series takes place in the distant Keyblade past. It follows Keyblade wielders and events leading toward the Keyblade War. Square Enix identifies this as the series’ oldest period, but does not give it an exact calendar year.
-
χ Back Cover
This companion story focuses on the Foretellers and events behind Union χ. In the collection, it is presented as a movie rather than a full-length game in the same format as the main entries.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.#1 Best Overall
Elebase USB to USB C Adapter for iPhone 18 Pro Max,USBC Car Charger Adapter- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
-
Union χ [Cross]
The ancient-era story continues on the far side of the Keyblade War, following the Dandelions. Its placement is relative; Square Enix’s official timeline does not provide a calendar date.
-
Dark Road
Much later than the χ-era stories, young Xehanort trains in Scala ad Caelum alongside his friend Eraqus. They investigate the disappearance of upperclassmen. The official timeline places this prequel period before Birth by Sleep, without stating an exact year.
-
Birth by Sleep
Set approximately ten years before Kingdom Hearts, this prequel follows Terra, Ventus, and Aqua as they train under Master Eraqus. Their lives become entangled with Master Xehanort’s plan and the threat of another Keyblade War.
Rank #2
Anker USB-C Hub, 5-in-1 USB Hub for Laptops, 4K HDMI Multiport Adapter- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
-
0.2 Birth by Sleep – A fragmentary passage –
A short bridge episode follows Aqua alone in the Realm of Darkness. It connects the events of Birth by Sleep to Kingdom Hearts III; it is not a full account of the intervening years.
Recommended: Update Every Outdated Driver on Your PC in One Scan - Free →Recommended: PC Feels Slow? A Free Scan Shows What's Dragging Windows Down →Recommended: Crashes or Glitches? A Free Driver Scan Usually Finds the Culprit →Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy. -
Kingdom Hearts
Sora’s main adventure begins when darkness consumes his home world. With Donald and Goofy, he travels between worlds, seals keyholes, and searches for Riku and Kairi.
-
Chain of Memories and 358/2 Days (overlapping stories)
Chain of Memories follows the aftermath of the first game as Sora and Riku reach Castle Oblivion and their memories come under attack. Around this period, 358/2 Days tells Roxas’s story inside Organization XIII, including his bonds with Axel and Xion. Square Enix describes 358/2 Days as a 358-day story; that duration does not mean its events fit neatly before or after every event in Chain of Memories.
Rank #3
Sale
Anker USB C Hub, 7in1 Multi-Port USB Adapter, 4K@60Hz USBC to HDMI Splitter- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
-
Kingdom Hearts II
After a year of sleep, Sora awakens and resumes his journey with Donald and Goofy. They face Heartless, Nobodies, and Organization XIII.
-
Re:coded
A message appearing in Jiminy’s Journal prompts an investigation in a data world. The story explores a connection to pain held within Sora’s heart.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy. -
Dream Drop Distance
Sora and Riku take the Mark of Mastery exam and travel through sleeping worlds as they prepare for the return of Master Xehanort. The events lead into the conflict of Kingdom Hearts III.
Rank #4
Sale
UGREEN USB to USB C Adapter Combo 4-Pack, 10Gbps USB C Converter Space Gray- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
-
Kingdom Hearts III and Re Mind
The main game brings the Dark Seeker conflict to its culmination as Sora and his allies gather the guardians of light and confront Master Xehanort. The Re Mind episode revisits another side of events during the climax, including Sora’s attempt to rescue Kairi.
-
Melody of Memory
Kairi revisits the past through memories and music, and the journey leads into new story developments. It follows the central conflict concluded by Kingdom Hearts III rather than serving as another prequel.
What order should you play the games in?
For a first playthrough, follow the saga’s story-presentation order, beginning with Kingdom Hearts, not the oldest events in the fictional timeline. The ancient χ-era stories provide background and mysteries that make more sense as part of the larger saga; starting there can put history ahead of the characters and reveals that first introduce it.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
There is no single play order that Square Enix declares mandatory. Its current collection page frames the experience as a journey beginning with the first adventure and groups the stories into collections. A practical route is to start with Kingdom Hearts, continue through Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts II, then follow the related story entries toward Kingdom Hearts III. Treat the χ-era entries as background to explore in that broader context, rather than assuming their chronological age makes them the correct starting point.
If your goal is to understand when events happen, use the chronological list above. If your goal is to experience the story as it unfolds for a newcomer, prioritize presentation order over fictional chronology.
Playing the stories or watching them
Playing gives you the games’ interactive context; watching story material can be a practical alternative if you mainly want to follow the plot. The formats are not identical: χ Back Cover is presented as a movie in the collection, while other entries are games. A watch-only route may save time, but it necessarily gives up the experience of playing those games. Whichever approach you choose, keep the overlap between Chain of Memories and 358/2 Days in mind rather than treating a summary’s chapter order as a precise event calendar.
Where the collections fit
Square Enix’s collection page groups the first six stories in Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX, three titles leading toward Kingdom Hearts III in Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind. These are collection groupings, not a claim that every title in a bundle happens in chronological order. The page identifies physical editions for select platforms; platform availability can differ, so check the listing for the edition and system you intend to use.
Recommended Free Tools
Quick Recap
Three timeline facts to keep straight
- The χ-era stories are the oldest in-universe material, but Square Enix’s official timeline does not date them to specific calendar years.
- Birth by Sleep is approximately ten years before Kingdom Hearts.
- Chain of Memories and 358/2 Days overlap around the transition between the first game and Kingdom Hearts II; a broad timeline cannot place every scene in a strict linear slot.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
