For a first playthrough, don’t skip a Kingdom Hearts story outright if you want to follow the full series narrative. The safest route is to follow Square Enix’s collection grouping: HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX, then HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, then Kingdom Hearts III and its Re Mind content. If you want to save time, you can watch the story compilations included for two entries instead of playing their original games.
Can you skip any Kingdom Hearts games?
Not safely, if “skip” means missing the story entirely. Kingdom Hearts is a connected series, and Square Enix groups the first six stories together in HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX, followed by three adventures described as leading toward Kingdom Hearts III in HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue. The official collection pages establish that broad progression, but do not provide a title-by-title guide to every plot consequence of skipping an entry. [Square Enix]
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I–III] Amazon Exclusive Edition - PlayStation 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51RqOuv+TBL._SL160_.jpg)
|
KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I–III] Amazon Exclusive Edition - PlayStation 5 | $74.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Kingdom Hearts All in One Package (PlayStation 4) | $53.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Kingdom Hearts: The Story So Far (PS4) | $23.49 | Buy on Amazon |
That doesn’t mean you must play every entry in its original format. Two games in HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX are represented by story cutscene compilations, so you can watch those films instead of playing those versions.
The safest order for following the story
- Play or watch KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX. It contains Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, Re:Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, a 358/2 Days HD cutscene compilation, Birth by Sleep Final Mix, and a Re:coded HD cutscene compilation.
- Continue with KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue. This collection contains Dream Drop Distance HD, the χ Back Cover movie, and 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A fragmentary passage –. Square Enix describes these as key adventures leading up to Kingdom Hearts III.
- Play KINGDOM HEARTS III, then its Re Mind additional content. Square Enix describes Re Mind as the other side of the tale unfolding during the game’s climax.
This is a practical collection-based route, not a publisher-issued scene-by-scene chronology. Square Enix’s product listings and announcement describe the contents and broad placement of these groups. [Square Enix] [KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I~III]]
#1 Best Overall
- KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I–III] Amazon Exclusive Edition includes a double-sided poster.
- A value packed bundle featuring three collections: KINGDOM HEARTS -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX-, KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and KINGDOM HEARTS III + Re Mind (DLC).
- This product is also included in other bundle sets. Please ensure you do not purchase the same content more than once.
- Platform-exclusive Keyblade "Midnight Blue" included with purchase!
- To play the physical version of KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I–III], an internet connection and additional data download are required.
What can you watch instead of play?
358/2 Days
The HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX version is an HD cutscene compilation, rather than the original playable game. Use it if you want the included story material without playing that version.
Re:coded
This collection also provides Re:coded as an HD cutscene compilation. It is another option for following the story without playing the original version.
Rank #2
- The compilation includes the following games: KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX KINGDOM HEARTS FINAL MIX KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Chain of Memories KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days (HD Remastered cinematics) KINGDOM HEARTS II FINAL MIX KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep Final MIX KINGDOM HEARTS Re:coded (HD Remastered cinematics)
- KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 FINAL CHAPTER PROLOGUE KINGDOM HEARTS Dream Drop Distance HD KINGDOM HEARTS 0.2 Birth by Sleep –A fragmentary passage– KINGDOM HEARTS χ Back Cover (movie)
- KINGDOM HEARTS III
χ Back Cover
χ Back Cover is a movie in HD 2.8. By contrast, Dream Drop Distance HD and 0.2 Birth by Sleep are included as distinct experiences, not listed as cutscene films.
Which collection should you use?
The right option depends on your platform and whether you want playable games, included story films, and Kingdom Hearts III in the same bundle.
Rank #3
- Includes Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 Remix & Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue
- Catch up on the story leading up to Kingdom Hearts III
- Relive the magical adventures of Sora, Donald Duck, Goofy and friends
| Collection | What it covers | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I~III] | The HD 1.5+2.5 and HD 2.8 groups, plus Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind. | Square Enix announced it for October 8, 2026, on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Microsoft Store on Windows. Availability can vary by regional store. The physical version requires an internet connection to download additional data. [Square Enix] [Square Enix announcement] |
| KINGDOM HEARTS – The Story So Far | HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX and HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue. | This older PS4 option does not include Kingdom Hearts III. Confirm current availability before choosing it. [Square Enix] |
Before buying, check the listing for your platform and region. The collections differ in whether they include Kingdom Hearts III and Re Mind; within the earlier collections, some entries are playable games and others are story films.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why “not numbered” doesn’t mean “safe to skip”
Kingdom Hearts includes story entries beyond the numbered games. Square Enix’s own collections treat multiple non-numbered titles as part of the series’ story progression, including the three experiences in HD 2.8 that lead toward Kingdom Hearts III. A title’s number—or lack of one—is not a reliable guide to whether its story matters.
The official collection information does not explain every narrative dependency or detail all mobile-service story arcs. So there is no well-supported, definitive list of individual entries you can miss while retaining the whole story. The conservative choice is to cover every listed story, using the included films where available.
Quick Recap
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.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →
