Kingdom hearts series#

The anticipated title would follow an older Sora as the story finally connected all the dots between the different games and brought all the characters together in a war against Xehanort, but even this story ended on a cliffhanger, resolved by a DLC that seemed to finally conclude Sora’s saga. Between all the remasters, Sora had been in the mind of fans for a few years leading up to Kingdom Hearts 3. Roxas further cemented his fan-favorite status in 358/2 Days, while the Birth by Sleep trio provided the most experimental vision for the games at their time.ĭream Drop Distance saw Sora and his rival Riku return, but this title only set up the further seven-year wait for Kingdom Hearts 3, during which a plethora of remasters would give fans a refresher on the complicated narrative.

Kingdom hearts series#

Square Enix had finally experimented with other playable characters, and this era would go on to largely define the Kingdom Hearts series and its timeline. From the release of Kingdom Hearts 2 in 2005 to the release of the third entry in 2019, there were at least 5 unique games that bridged the massive gap.

Kingdom Hearts’ many side entries that followed would go on to make the series notorious for avoiding Kingdom Hearts 3. The emotional ending could have been the end for the character, with only a vague post-credits scene driving the completed story forward. He reinforced many friendships, defeated the sinister Organization 13 and their leader Xemnas, and even reconciled with a fragmented part of his own self by the end. This adventure went a step above most aspects of the original, even seeing Sora visit all of Kingdom Hearts 2's Disney worlds twice over for good measure. Kingdom Hearts 2 is widely considered the peak of the series and the story of Sora, as this was the conclusion to his tale for several years. RELATED: Kingdom Hearts 4 Needs to Give Riku a New Villain as Personal as Ansem, Seeker of Darkness Kingdom Hearts 2 was the End of Sora’s Story for Years What followed was Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, and Sora’s time in Castle Oblivion would see him saving the day again in a hazy story involving losing his memories, hyping up his return. His journey in the original Kingdom Hearts could have been a self-contained story, having seen Sora across a multitude of Disney worlds before an intense, emotional conclusion after facing off against Ansem, Seeker of Darkness. A unique protagonist somewhere between Final Fantasy and Disney aesthetics, Sora’s boyish charm made him an instant fan favorite. The complexity of Kingdom Hearts wasn't present when it originally launched in 2002 and changed the gaming world while introducing Sora to the masses. Infamous for its convoluted plot, Kingdom Hearts has always found a way to keep Sora at the center, but it might be time to start considering the passing of the torch. The last entry was the perfect opportunity to conclude Sora’s journey, but Square Enix has chosen to usher in a new saga with him still at the forefront. Series protagonist Sora has been on many adventures over the past 20 years, and he’ll return to this role in Kingdom Hearts 4.

Kingdom Hearts 4 is on the horizon, and the franchise seems to be on a new course following the conclusion of the Xehanort Saga.