Kingdom Hearts Play Order: What to Play First and Why
Start with the original Kingdom Hearts, then play Chain of Memories before Kingdom Hearts II. This order keeps the story easy to follow.
In this article
You can start with the original Kingdom Hearts, then play Chain of Memories, then Kingdom Hearts II. The first game came out in 2002 on PS2, Chain of Memories followed in 2004 on GBA, and Kingdom Hearts II arrived in 2005 on PS2 [1].
This order keeps the story easy to follow before you reach Kingdom Hearts II. The plot is convoluted, and a list built around the series' history shows how Sora was set up as the Keyblade's chosen one and how Master Xehanort keeps trying to plunge the world into darkness [2]. Playing in this order means you meet each setup before the sequel relies on it.
When you're ready for the details, the Kingdom Hearts II walkthrough covers that game's progression, and the Re:Chain of Memories walkthrough explains its card-based battles before you begin.
How does the release order compare to the story order?
The core games line up cleanly by release year, and the release order is also the order of the list. Here is how the main entries compare.
Chain of Memories followed in 2004 on the GBA, which makes it the one entry in this group on a different platform [1]. You can see the platform switch in the table: PS2, then GBA, then PS2 again.
The collections change how you buy the games, not the order you play them in. That means one purchase can cover two rows of the table, and you still play the entries in the order shown.
The three dated entries run from 2002 to 2005, and they are spaced close together. Chain of Memories is the only one that breaks from the PS2 pattern, so the platform change is the main difference to keep in mind when you compare the order by year and by console.
Why play Chain of Memories before Kingdom Hearts II?
Play Chain of Memories before Kingdom Hearts II. It sits between the original game and the sequel, and skipping it leaves gaps in the story.
When it came out
Chain of Memories was released in 2004, one year before Kingdom Hearts II [1]. Following the release order keeps you in the sequence the games came out, so the earlier one comes first. If you jump from the original straight to Kingdom Hearts II, you skip the game that sits between them.
What the fan lists say
Community play orders put Chain of Memories ahead of the sequel. A GameFAQs board post lists Chain of Memories (2004, GBA) before Kingdom Hearts II (2005, PS2) [1]. A Steam Community guide titled 'Correct play order' also places Re:Chain of Memories in its release order, next to the 2004 date [3].
Because both lists follow the same release dates, you don't have to choose between competing orders for this step. The real question is whether to include Chain of Memories at all, and the lists say yes.
Why the story needs it
Kingdom Hearts II assumes you already know the setup from the earlier entries. When the sequel picks up a thread, you may not know where it started if you skipped the game where it began. That can make the later story feel harder to follow than it needs to be.
Think of it like watching the second season of a show without the first. You can still follow along, but you miss the reasons behind some events. Playing Chain of Memories first gives you that context before the sequel asks you to use it.
How to fit it in
Play Chain of Memories straight after the original Kingdom Hearts. When you finish it, move on to Kingdom Hearts II. Keeping the two games back to back helps the plot stay fresh, since you won't have to rebuild the story after a long break.
Where do the HD remaster collections fit in?
The HD remaster collections fit at the start of the lineup, so you play them before the later releases. Begin with Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX, since it covers the first games [3].
What the first collection includes
The 1.5+2.5 collection bundles Kingdom Hearts Final Mix with Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories [3]. That means you can play the opening story and the card-based follow-up from one release, instead of tracking down each game separately. To go further, see Kingdom Hearts Re.
Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX is listed first in the lineup [4]. Start there, then move to the next release in the list.
Where HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue goes
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue is a separate release from the 1.5+2.5 collection [4]. It sits second in the lineup, right after the first collection [4]. Treat it as its own purchase, not as a chapter inside the earlier bundle.
Keeping the story in order
Play the collections in the order they are listed. Each release picks up where the previous one ends, so the plot stays easy to follow. If you jump ahead to the 2.8 prologue first, you may find references to events you have not seen yet.
Here is the order to follow:
- Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX
- Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue
Once you finish both collections, you are ready for the later entries in the series.
What comes after Kingdom Hearts II?
Kingdom Hearts III and its Re Mind DLC come after the earlier entries, so they are the next games you play once Kingdom Hearts II is done. A play-order guide lists "Kingdom Hearts III & Re Mind DLC" after the HD collections, which is where you slot it in [4].
This placement also fits the story. Kingdom Hearts III ends with Sora setting off alone, after he left his friends for a solo adventure [2]. If you play it right after the earlier games, that ending lands while the events that led to it are still fresh.
Re Mind and Melody of Memory
Re Mind is a DLC pack, so you play it as part of the same Kingdom Hearts III entry rather than as a separate game. Finish the main game first, then start the expansion so the two stay connected [4].
Melody of Memory comes right after Re Mind in the same lineup: "Kingdom Hearts III & Re Mind DLC. Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory" [4]. Put it at the end of your run, after the story games are finished.
Why guides can disagree
Community guides may place some later entries differently, so one guide's order might not match another's. A thread called Kingdom Hearts Release Order and Best Play Order Guide covers the same question, which makes it a useful second opinion [5]. Open the newest guide before you start, and follow its placement for anything you are unsure about.
If you want a simple plan, play Kingdom Hearts III, then Re Mind, then Melody of Memory, one after another. That keeps the story moving and saves you from jumping back and forth between entries.
So which order should you follow?
Play Kingdom Hearts first, then Chain of Memories, then Kingdom Hearts II. That is the order the franchise's release dates give you [1].
Release order is the safest default because it follows how the story was told. Each game picks up where the last one leaves off, so you meet characters and events in the order they were introduced.
If you want an easier way in, start with the HD collections. The Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX bundles the early games, including Kingdom Hearts Final Mix and Re:Chain of Memories [3]. Playing those in order keeps the plot intact.
Your next step is simple: open the collection on your platform, start with Kingdom Hearts, and move on to Kingdom Hearts II once you finish Chain of Memories.