Ranking the Best Kingdom Hearts Game and the Worst

Fourteen years ago this week, Square Enix released Kingdom Hearts in Japan. The series became an instant success largely thanks to its blend of familiar Disney worlds, and famous Final Fantasy characters. Since then we’ve seen several new installments in the action series, plenty of re-releases, and the occasional Japan-only mobile game.

While each Kingdom Hearts game has its own charm, there are definitely some titles that are better than others. So with the series’ birthday upon us, it made sense to take a look back at the past 14 years, and rank Sora’s adventures from best to worst.

Before we get onto the list, here are a few things to consider. First off, only games released on PlayStation systems were considered for ranking. So that means no Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, or other mobile offerings. Second, and most importantly, there wasn’t some mathematical formula to come up with this list. It’s all just a matter of opinion.

We hope you enjoyed our look at the Kingdom Hearts series on PlayStation. It wasn’t easy to decide which game took top honors, as each entry in the series has its own merits!

In your opinion, which is the best Kingdom Hearts game? Which is the worst entry in the franchise? Share them in the comments below.

Essential Reading:

Kingdom Hearts Ranked

Ranking the Best and Worst of the Kingdom Hearts Series
Kingdom Hearts Re:coded

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded was already one of the weakest offering in the series on Nintendo DS, so it makes sense that it rounds out the bottom of our list. It also doesn't help that the story is yet another retelling of the events in the original Kingdom Hearts game, especially when the story is all players get in the PlayStation 3 version.
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days

Just like Re:coded, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days is just a series of cutscenes on PlayStation 3. The key difference, however, is that fans will actually want to check out 358/2 Days. The Kingdom Hearts II prequel offers up an intriguing story, and one that fills in plenty of backstory.
Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories

Now that we're onto actual games (and not just cutscenes), Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories is easily the worst of the bunch. Not only does Re:Chain of Memories provides very little story-wise (it's a retread of Kingdom Hearts), but its card-based combat system isn't very fun. It's weak from both a gameplay and narrative standpoint.
Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage

One of the coolest parts of Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, 0.2 was a short episode that takes place after Birth by Sleep. Players get to control Aqua, and it's the first time players get to see some of the tech that Kingdom Hearts III will use. Sadly, it's just not long enough to really eclipse other games.
Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD

This remake improves a lot upon the 3DS original, and takes place after Re:coded. One of the more unique systems in this entry is the ability to recruit Dream Eaters, which helps this stand out despite suffering some limitations due to its handheld design.
Kingdom Hearts

While there's definitely a nostalgia factor that comes into play when discussing Kingdom Hearts, there's little doubt that its sequels managed to improve upon the original. This PS2 classic wowed gamers when it was released in 2002, but the gameplay is noticeably rough around the edges when compared to its superior sequel.
Kingdom Hearts Final Mix

Originally a Japanese exclusive, Kingdom Hearts Final Mix was finally released worldwide in the Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix collection. Not only did the PlayStation 3 remaster show off enhanced visuals, but it also included new difficulty levels, additional cutscenes, and a brand new boss fight. Final Mix is definitely the best way to play the original game, and we're glad it's readily available on PS3.
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep had some drawbacks when it was released on PlayStation Portable in 2010. Long load times and an awkward control scheme ended up holding it back from fulfilling its true potential. That said, Birth by Sleep has a surprisingly dark story, and one that will stick with players long after the credits roll.
Kingdom Hearts II

Kingdom Hearts II was a step-up from the original in every way possible. The faulty camera that plagued the original was finally fixed, the combat felt more refined and there was a better selection of Disney worlds to check out. Most importantly, Kingdom Hearts II had a level based off Tron, so how can you not love it?
Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix

Much like the other Final Mix games, Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix was a Japanese exclusive update until it was released on PlayStation 3. There's several additional story scenes to watch, a tougher difficulty to play, and over a dozen new boss fights to take on. Overall, it's just a better version of what is already a great game.
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix

The PlayStation 3 version of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix helped the darkest game in the series finally reach its true potential and shine. The gameplay finally reached the high level of its story, as DualShock 3 support fixed all of the game's control issues. You won't find a better Kingdom Hearts game than Birth by Sleep Final Mix.