What Is The Definitive Order To Play?

[Gungren]

Haven't played since the ps2 era, vividly remember playing 1 + COM. Looking forward to getting back into this franchise!! just wondering what the definitive order is for the games and the cutscene packs so I can understand and enjoy the story throughly

I keep seeing different list, so whichever order is the most rewarding & understanding lmk. Thanks
can't wait to play and join the community!

[Zunnoab #931]

Originally posted by Kryll:

Originally posted by Zunnoab #931:

It may usually be true, but I'll say it again:
It's not true for Life is Strange and Life is Strange: Before the Storm. Chronological is better for those, by far, in my opinion. The prequel doesn't spoil anything and it only adds to the experience not knowing anything about Life is Strange itself.

My nephew insisted I play them and also insisted chronological vs. release. It was the right choice. For those games.

There's a creative process that goes into the way they intentionally make these stories "out of order". You might feel it didn't matter, but for the majority of people who played LiS first, the devs completely understood that the players would know things like Rachel dies the whole time, and what the phone at the end meant instead of it being a mystery to solve.

They crafted the prequel in a way as if it was made first, for a new player. I don't feel it didn't matter; I'm glad I played the prequel first. I didn't even know the original had anything supernatural. The prequel doesn't spoil that.

[BTHorseman]

If you want to be exceptionally pedantic about play order....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVlap_4YUIo

Otherwise release order would be the best in my opinion due to how the gameplay mechanics expanded / changed every iteration. Best example would be playing through the Yakuza franchise in chronological order. Yakuza 0, Kiwami and Kiwami 2 got better visually and mechanically however the quality takes a nosedive with 3, 4 and 5 since they are just PS3 remasters and not remakes (aside from 0 being a new game entirely).

It's a weird comparison i know but you get the idea...

[Santoryu]

Originally posted by Crusta Pipocondria:

I've seen too many people ruin the experience for them in series like Resident Evil, Metal Gear and Devil May Cry because of that chonological order crap.

Probably not the best example tho

[WhitePhantom]

Always go in release order unless it's your second time around and you want to go chronological. These things are made under the assumption that the audience will keep up with it all as it comes out, so prequels and other side works will reference future events and you're suppose to know what they're talking about.

[Comrade Yurika]

Originally posted by Shock_&_Awe:

Originally posted by hypersonic0509:

Why do people keep putting 0.2 bbs after bbs. I know the story it's telling happens after bbs, but Mickey is the one telling story to riku, after the events of ddd, which is shown in the very first cutscene.

0.2 is a sequel to BBS. Why would it ever be put before BBS?

The point isn't that it should be before BBS, but that it shouldn't be directly after it but after DDD, since the framing sequence of the game is set after the ending of DDD

[⑨ ChocolateMystia]

Originally posted by ⛧:

If i'm wrong, you can correct me. But i believe it is

(1.5+2.5)
Kingdom Hearts 1 Final Mix
ReChain of Memories
Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix
358/2 Days (Movie)
Kh Birth By Sleep Final Mix
Kh Recoded (Movie)

(2.8)
Kh Dream Drop Distance
Kh Back Cover (Also a movie.)
0.2 Birth By Sleep

Kh3 + ReMind

Melody Of Memory (Which isnt on steam)

This is the correct order, with a couple additions:

For Back Cover, you also need to watch the cutscenes for the now defunct mobile games Kingdom Hearts X, and Union Cross. Technically the best order would be KHX, Back Cover, Union Cross, but there's plenty good 1-2h recaps on YT summarizing both games, and my personal recommendation; a fandub of the 2 mobile games that also combines Back Cover where relevant, so you can get the full KHX story in one go.

After Melody of Memory, there's a mobile game called Dark Road, which continues from the KHX trilogy. This one is still playable, or you can just watch it, you don't miss much gameplay-wise. These 2 don't spoil each other I think, so you can do them in any order.

Lastly, there's Kingdom Hearts Missing Link, which is the next game coming out this year for mobile.

Important to note: EVERY entry matters, nothing is filler or spinoff, everything is a part of the story and comes back sooner or later. People in the original days ignored Chain of Memories and went straight to 2, then were super confused.

As for why do release order and not chronological for first timers: later releases were made while keeping in mind what knowledge the player already has. The prequel games throw around a lot of concepts assuming the viewer is already familiar with them, and there's also a lot of reveals and nods towards players that you wouldn't get if experiencing it chronologically.

To finish, I'd also recommend you try to go for the secret ending of the games that have one. You can look up online the requirements to get them, or if it's too hard just watch them online. Same goes for the optional hard bosses. Again, no need to beat them, many are super ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, but there's a couple I think are worth checking out, if only to see their intro cutscene and be aware of what they look like. (Mainly Unknown in KH1, and Lingering Will in KH2).

[Dama]

Just here to echo what others are saying and play in release order, dont do chronological. The thing with this series (and is the reason why people say its confusing) is the games set up mysteries that get explored in the next game, sometimes that next game is a prequel. By playing in chronological you miss that set up and therefore moments wont be as impactful.

Sincerly hope you enjoy this series as its one of my and many others favourites for a reason, enjoy the roller coaster ride that is Kingdom Hearts.

Remember OP, RELEASE ORDER!!!!!!

[Pronounce]

1
Re:com
2
358/2
BBS
Re:coded
DDD
0.2
3

[FauxEars]

Originally posted by Santoryu:

So basically
Newcomers:release order
Not newcomers: chronological order

Been playing this since the PS2 days and I still prefer release order.

[FauxEars]

Also, if you're a newcomer, I recommend playing CoM on the easiest setting, since it was really just a game to tide people over until the 2nd game. The purpose of the game is to set things up for KH2. They also made the gameplay very strange compared to the first one, and it turns a lot of people off when playing it for the first time.
Don't make the experience more bumpy than it already is; play it on easy.

[Santoryu]

Originally posted by Wilford111:

Originally posted by Santoryu:

So basically
Newcomers:release order
Not newcomers: chronological order

Been playing this since the PS2 days and I still prefer release order.

Your choice. Everyone can choose according to their wishes.

[Xeromus]

KH1, then CoM, then KH2, then stop. Leave it there and let your dreams remain unshattered.

[Sir Happy]

Originally posted by Angry:

Originally posted by ⛧:

If i'm wrong, you can correct me. But i believe it is

(1.5+2.5)
Kingdom Hearts 1 Final Mix
ReChain of Memories
Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix
358/2 Days (Movie)
Kh Birth By Sleep Final Mix
Kh Recoded (Movie)

(2.8)
Kh Dream Drop Distance
Kh Back Cover (Also a movie.)
0.2 Birth By Sleep

Kh3 + ReMind

Melody Of Memory (Which isnt on steam)

This is the best order to play, but the ds games are good so I recommend trying to find a way to play those.

Getting a modded 3ds is cheap for 100$ or play on a emulator for ds.

[NamelessNP]

Originally posted by Wilford111:

Also, if you're a newcomer, I recommend playing CoM on the easiest setting, since it was really just a game to tide people over until the 2nd game. The purpose of the game is to set things up for KH2. They also made the gameplay very strange compared to the first one, and it turns a lot of people off when playing it for the first time.
Don't make the experience more bumpy than it already is; play it on easy.

Re: CoM isn't that difficult, the original GBA game was a lot worse

[Dama]

Originally posted by NamelessNP:

Originally posted by Wilford111:

Also, if you're a newcomer, I recommend playing CoM on the easiest setting, since it was really just a game to tide people over until the 2nd game. The purpose of the game is to set things up for KH2. They also made the gameplay very strange compared to the first one, and it turns a lot of people off when playing it for the first time.
Don't make the experience more bumpy than it already is; play it on easy.

Re: CoM isn't that difficult, the original GBA game was a lot worse

Re: COM is actually fun as hell once you get a bunch of sleights. Sadly people will just play it for five minutes and hate the combat and skip the game. Its not difficult at all, in fact you can make the game piss easy with the right sleights.