Everything begins generations before Sora, the young protagonist of the Kingdom Hearts series, existed. But many of these games have bearing on the events of Kingdom Hearts 3. We call them spinoffs, because they deviate from the central plot of Sora’s journey, as depicted in the core games. There are tons of games that don’t have numbers attached but are very much important to the overarching story.

But first they need to find new allies and rescue some old Keyblade students: Terra, Aqua, and Ventus. Sora, Donald, Goofy, King Mickey, and their allies band together as the Guardians of Light and take out Xehanort and his 12 allies before they can gain access to the knowledge and power that lies within Kingdom Hearts. Now, an evil wizard, Xehanort, aims to re-create that historic battle - the Keyblade War - to forge the X-blade and gain access to the power of the Kingdom Hearts. Need the shorthand version? Here’s our best attempt:Īn ancient battle between light and dark fractured the world. If you’re a newcomer, a dabbler, or a fan, we’re here to explain Kingdom Hearts in as much detail as you care to have. So: What the heck even happens in Kingdom Hearts? We’ve done our best to clarify that on the eve of Kingdom Hearts 3, the game we’ve long waited for to complete this sprawling saga.

Adding complexity, the series’ release order doesn’t mirror its in-universe chronology. The backstory spans nearly 17 years, more than seven games, and as many as six different video game systems. Delving into Kingdom Hearts for a newcomer is, in a word, overwhelming.

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