Kingdom Hearts has always been an unusual yet charming combination of ideas, bringing together Disney characters, elements of Final Fantasy and an increasingly elaborate mythology about hearts, memories and the battle between light and darkness. What began with Sora leaving his island home in search of his friends has grown into a sprawling saga spanning multiple games, protagonists and timelines. Kingdom Hearts Collection [I ~ III], published by Square Enix, brings most of this journey together in one package on PlayStation 5, making it considerably easier for newcomers to catch up before the next numbered instalment. However, while the collection offers an enormous amount of content, its value depends heavily on whether players are discovering the series for the first time or returning to adventures they may already own.
Despite its name, this is much more than a straightforward compilation of three games. The package combines Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue and Kingdom Hearts III with its Re Mind expansion. Together, these include seven playable experiences, alongside cinematic compilations of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days and Re:coded and the animated Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover. There is enough material here to occupy players for a very long time, and the different perspectives help flesh out the relationships and conflicts that drive the overarching narrative. The downside is that the story can become almost comically complicated, with characters, identities and events introduced across different entries before their significance becomes clear. Players who approach the series in release order will have the best chance of following its development, but even then, the sheer volume of lore can make the journey difficult to follow.
The original Kingdom Hearts Final Mix remains an appealing starting point, particularly because its basic premise is so easy to understand. Sora teams up with Donald and Goofy to travel through Disney worlds, fight the Heartless and search for his missing friends. The combination of familiar characters, imaginative settings and a more serious underlying story still works, even if the first game shows its age in certain areas. Platforming can be awkward, the camera is less cooperative than in later instalments, and some environments make navigation unnecessarily confusing. Nevertheless, the action RPG foundations remain enjoyable, with exploration, character progression and combat providing a satisfying framework for the adventure. The subsequent Re:Chain of Memories takes a more divisive approach by replacing conventional attacks and abilities with a deck-building system in which cards determine actions during battles. Its mechanics require an adjustment in mindset, but the system offers a distinctive alternative, while its treatment of memories and identity adds an intriguing chapter to the story.
Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix is arguably where the original formula comes together most convincingly. Combat is faster and more responsive, the camera is improved, and the addition of Drive Forms and Reaction Commands creates more opportunities to vary encounters. The worlds are also better integrated into Sora’s journey, helping the Disney-inspired adventures feel less disconnected from the larger narrative. Returning players will find plenty to appreciate here, while newcomers can experience one of the series’ strongest entries without having to track down its original release. Birth by Sleep Final Mix offers another worthwhile variation, following Terra, Aqua and Ventus through three interconnected campaigns. Its Command Deck system provides considerable freedom to customise attacks and magic, although it does not always deliver the same immediate fluidity as Kingdom Hearts II. These differences are one of the collection’s greatest strengths: the games share a common identity without relying on a single combat system throughout. They also mean that the overall experience is not equally polished from beginning to end.
The remaining entries help connect the dots between the mainline adventures, although their presentation and gameplay value vary. Dream Drop Distance HD introduces Dream Eaters as companions and alternates between Sora and Riku, with its Drop mechanic forcing players to switch characters as their individual timers expire. This adds variety but can interrupt the flow of exploration and combat. Meanwhile, 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage – follows Aqua in a relatively short adventure that serves as a bridge towards Kingdom Hearts III. Its presentation provides a glimpse of the visual direction that the third game would later take, although its limited length and occasional awkward character modelling make it feel more like an extended prologue than a fully fledged entry. The cinematic versions of 358/2 Days and Re:coded are useful for understanding the wider storyline, but they cannot replace the original gameplay. Their inclusion helps make the collection more comprehensive, yet the absence of playable versions remains a disappointment for anyone hoping to experience the entire series rather than simply follow its narrative.
On PlayStation 5, the technical improvements are welcome, but expectations should be kept in check. The older ReMIX collections already benefited from previous remasters, so their arrival on Sony’s current console does not amount to a comprehensive visual overhaul. The main advantages are the native PS5 versions, sharp presentation and generally smooth performance, with the older playable entries running at up to 60 frames per second. The improved camera controls in the original game also make a difference compared with its earliest release. Kingdom Hearts 0.2 benefits more noticeably from the updated hardware, while Kingdom Hearts III is the clear technical highlight. Its colorful environments, detailed character models and elaborate visual effects remain impressive, and the more consistent 60fps performance helps the fast-paced combat feel considerably smoother. Loading times are also reduced, making transitions between areas less intrusive. However, older pre-rendered cutscenes can look conspicuously dated beside the cleaner in-game graphics, and the improvements to the earlier collections are modest for anyone upgrading from PS4.
Audio remains an important part of the collection’s appeal. The music helps give each world its own identity, while familiar melodies and returning themes reinforce the emotional connections between characters and their adventures. The series’ combination of playful Disney-inspired material and more dramatic orchestral compositions continues to work particularly well, even when the plot becomes difficult to untangle. Dialogue and text also benefit from a clearer presentation in these versions, although the overall experience naturally retains the strengths and limitations of the original releases rather than offering a complete audio overhaul. For returning players, the soundtrack can be as important to the experience as the combat itself, bringing back memories associated with particular worlds and pivotal story moments. Newcomers, meanwhile, get to experience how the series’ presentation and atmosphere developed across several generations of games.
There are, however, a few omissions and practical drawbacks to consider before purchasing the collection. Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is not included, despite contributing further story material after the events of Kingdom Hearts III and Re Mind. The cinematic compilations also mean that some chapters can only be experienced through their story sequences rather than their original gameplay. Furthermore, the collection is divided into three separate packages that require individual downloads, and existing PS4 owners receive relatively little incentive to purchase everything again. Although Kingdom Hearts III and Re Mind benefit most clearly from the move to PS5, the older packages do not offer enough substantial changes to make repurchasing them an obvious choice for existing owners.
Ultimately, Kingdom Hearts Collection [I ~ III] is an excellent opportunity to experience the majority of Sora’s sprawling adventure on PlayStation 5, but its appeal is strongest for those who have yet to explore the series or who missed the earlier collections. The variety of combat systems, the imaginative Disney worlds and the gradual evolution of the games make the lengthy journey worthwhile, even if the narrative occasionally becomes more convoluted than it needs to be. Kingdom Hearts II remains a particular highlight, while Kingdom Hearts III benefits most from the improved performance and remains a visually striking conclusion to the main saga covered here. The collection is less compelling as an upgrade for existing owners, especially given the limited technical changes to several included titles and the absence of Melody of Memory. For newcomers, though, it provides an accessible way to experience a substantial portion of one of Square Enix’s most distinctive franchises before the next chapter arrives – with an unbeatable amount of value for money.
Score: 8.6/10