Summary
Kingdom Heartshas been one of Square Enix’s most popular franchises ever since it began over 20 years ago, a legacy that’s likely to be continued whenKingdom Hearts 4eventually releases. Well known for featuring a convoluted but wholesome plot across the Dark Seeker Saga, which ended with the third entry, theKingdom Heartsgames at their best feature some of the most creative storytelling that the medium has to offer.
The original was released back in 2002, but the prequel side of theKingdom Heartstimeline only came to be explored years later. It was afterKingdom Hearts 2and multiple spin-offs likeChain of Memoriesthat the time before Sora was properly depicted, but it has become one of the memorable sides of the series for many fans. As the next mainline title is set to delve into the enigmatic newLost Master Arc, the past ofKingdom Heartscould become more relevant than ever.
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Kingdom Hearts Union X Dark Road
Originally released asKingdom Hearts X, this prequel is set centuries before the events of Sora’s first adventure. It takes place in a time when a group known as the Foretellers rallied unions of keyblade wielders to collect light;Xwould lead into the historical Keyblade War referenced in the main series.Union Xwould go on to serve as an update that continued the story in a data simulation for most of its run. Seeing the end of the conflict of its characters in Daybreak Town, this mobile game’s ending directly set up the location of Scala ad Caelum in a connection toKingdom Hearts 3.
Kingdom Hearts Dark Roadwas technically a continuation ofUnion X, but it was instead focused on the origins ofDark Seeker Saga antagonist Xehanort. Set during a youthful era that sees Xehanort being heroic as the student of a keyblade master alongside Eraqus,Dark Roadsets up the events of all the original titles fans are familiar with. Featuring a dramatic story centered around the betrayal of one of Xehanort’s close friends, this game skips forward in time at the very end following these events. After 60 years of studying darkness, Xehanort becomes the villain seen in his first appearance.
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
Birth by Sleepis set a decade prior to the firstKingdom Hearts. Focused on the trio of Terra, Ventus, and Aqua, this game sees them all ultimately encounter tragedy in ways that lead directly into the mainline games. Fantastical keyblade transformations and three separate narratives made this game a turning point for the franchise as a whole. Sora, Riku, and Kairi even make appearances as small children in passing of the torch moments that made it clear the world ofKingdom Heartsexisted long before them. The first title to prominently feature Master Xehanort, Birth by Sleep has an even more connected role in theKingdom Heartstimelineafter years of further development.
Included in theKingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologuecollection, the gameKingdom Hearts: 0.2 Birth by Sleep -A fragmentary passage-serves to bring the stories of several key titles together. With its connection toDream Drop Distancein Mickey,0.2tiesBirth by Sleep’s ending into the lead-up toKingdom Hearts 3. Seeing Aqua journey through the Realm of Darkness during the 10 years in which she was trapped there, she witnesses the events of the series from an outside perspective. Reviewing nearly the entire timeline through Aqua’s eyes,0.2still seems to begin years before the firstKingdom Hearts. AsKingdom Hearts 4is set to push the series into the fictional reality of Quadratum, perhaps another game in this style could end up similarly helping the transition one day.
Kingdom Hearts 4is in development.
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