Kingdom Hearts III

About

Kingdom Hearts III is a single player hack and slash game with fantasy, drama and kids themes. It was developed by Square Enix Creative Business Unit I and was released on March 27, 2019. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

The Deluxe Edition includes: - The Game - Deluxe Edition package - Collectible Pin - Steelbook Case - Artbook

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 135 reviews

story51 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Amazing visuals and spectacle to behold.
The strongest gameplay in Kingdom Hearts has ever been.
A lot of new worlds to explore and discover.

There is a lot of exposition in the beginning that feels awkward.
Many cutscenes are long and can be tedious.
The story can be confusing for newcomers and lacks depth in some areas.

story
357 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
74%
12%
The story of "Kingdom Hearts III" is a complex culmination of over a decade of narrative threads, offering a satisfying conclusion to long-standing arcs while simultaneously overwhelming newcomers with its convoluted lore. While the game successfully ties together various plot points and maintains themes of friendship and light versus darkness, many players find the pacing uneven, with significant exposition and awkward dialogue detracting from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game features engaging Disney worlds and moments of humor, making it enjoyable for fans, though it may leave those unfamiliar with the series feeling lost.
- “The storyline is rich and emotionally compelling, blending themes of friendship, courage, and adventure.”
- “It wraps things up nicely, connects all the loose plot threads together, and holds true to themes of friendship and teamwork (which the gameplay reinforces constantly).”
- “This is exactly what fans of the series wanted and, best of all, somehow, someway, all the crazy plot threads are dragged together, kicking and screaming, into an utterly satisfying conclusion.”
- “The story is confusing and poorly told, with the voice acting being terrible.”
- “The plot has always been a bit vague, but it's clear now that it has no particular direction.”
- “After years and years of countless games that expand on the story while we wait for a 'conclusion', this game waits to try to wrap everything up until the last couple hours and it's kind of a mess.”
gameplay
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The gameplay in Kingdom Hearts III is widely praised for its smoothness, responsiveness, and variety, making it the strongest in the series to date. Players appreciate the engaging combat mechanics, exploration of new worlds, and the integration of beloved elements from previous titles, although some note a lack of challenge and occasional inconsistency in gameplay depth. Overall, the game offers a visually stunning and fun experience, with a rich array of optional content that enhances replayability.
- “The gameplay is smooth, responsive, and incredibly fun, with a perfect balance of action-packed combat and engaging exploration.”
- “This is present most in the gameplay, which is the best Kingdom Hearts has ever been--enough to redeem any shortcomings you may find with the story and presentation.”
- “The gameplay is the best in the series and feels very smooth and intuitive.”
- “The gameplay is very inconsistent.”
- “The gameplay loop was pretty much run through a tldr disney plots that didn't do anything fun or engaging with character actions, exploration, or anything really, until its time for big plot mode of the KH universe which was also really disappointing.”
- “There were some issues where you had to master a specific mechanic (flow-motion attacks) in order to defeat certain enemies.”
graphics
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
36%
4%
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals and vibrant art style, effectively bringing beloved Disney worlds and characters to life. While many players appreciate the overall aesthetic and improvements over previous titles, some have noted issues with framerate and inconsistencies in character design, particularly with original characters. Overall, the graphics are considered a highlight, contributing significantly to the immersive experience, despite some critiques regarding gameplay depth and storytelling.
- “The graphics and visuals are nothing short of stunning, immersing players in a vibrant and enchanting world filled with beloved Disney characters and iconic locations.”
- “The graphics were phenomenal, the Unreal Engine is just unreal.”
- “As the games progressed over the years, it was evident that more effort was being put into it as far as development, graphics, character interaction, special actions, etc. I had high expectations for KH3 and was not disappointed!”
- “After playing 0.2 in preparation for 3, I became worried due to the horrific framerate and graphic quality in 0.2.”
- “Though, I would have personally taken a hit in graphics in order to smooth out the framerate, especially seeing as almost all other KH games have no problem running at 60 on the PS4 Slim.”
- “Everything from the slightly sub-par graphics to the overly varied menus and mini-games to the blank and a bit slow load screens.”
music
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
27%
7%
The music in Kingdom Hearts III is widely praised as a standout feature, with many reviewers highlighting its stellar soundtrack that blends original compositions with iconic Disney tunes, enhancing the emotional depth of the game. Yoko Shimomura's work is particularly noted for its quality, with players often finding themselves immersed in the music during gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a masterpiece, contributing significantly to the game's presentation and player experience.
- “That being said, the most amazing thing about Kingdom Hearts III's presentation is the music.”
- “Furthermore, the game's soundtrack is a masterpiece in itself, featuring a mix of original compositions and iconic Disney tunes, enhancing the overall gaming experience and adding to the emotional depth of the story.”
- “I'm so glad they took their time making this - the music is amazing, familiar strains, yet original to this entry; the plot is now clear and heartwarming; improvements in graphics and gameplay are impressive.”
- “No going to Arendelle Castle or entering Elsa's ice palace... just add a musical number and finding Olaf mini game... it was just an awful world.”
- “However, the dialogue, music, and mood of the battle worlds is pathetic.”
- “Like, the entire song 'Let It Go' is an example of a cut scene.”
emotional
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
12%
"Kingdom Hearts III" delivers a deeply emotional experience, particularly for longtime fans, with its rich storyline that intertwines themes of friendship, courage, and adventure. The game effectively evokes nostalgia through its soundtrack, blending familiar Disney tunes with new compositions, enhancing the emotional depth of the narrative. While some emotional moments may resonate more with players familiar with the series' history, the overall journey is described as heartwarming and satisfying, making it a compelling conclusion to the saga.
- “It can be quite emotional even to hear the game's opening theme as it reminds you of everything you've done throughout the series, but even more emotional are the beats the game hits when remixing old tunes to feel brand new, and the new themes it brings to the table to make the characters, worlds, and the relationship between them all connect.”
- “The storyline is rich and emotionally compelling, blending themes of friendship, courage, and adventure.”
- “Furthermore, the game's soundtrack is a masterpiece in itself, featuring a mix of original compositions and iconic Disney tunes, enhancing the overall gaming experience and adding to the emotional depth of the story.”
- “The gameplay is smooth, but the story is incredibly boring.”
- “I felt no emotional connection to the characters or the plot.”
- “The game tries to be emotional, but it falls flat and feels forced.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some moments are genuinely hilarious and feature clever, self-aware dialogue, others fall flat with awkward delivery and clichéd attempts at comedy. Players appreciate the absurdity and goofiness of certain scenes, but find that the humor can often feel forced or cringeworthy, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these inconsistencies, there are standout moments that shine through, particularly in the interactions involving beloved characters like Donald Duck.
- “That's absolutely hilarious and I love it.”
- “There are some tongue-in-cheek, self-aware, even 4th wall-breaking lines that make for some humorous scenes.”
- “The story is all over the place and is only sparingly scattered with satisfying moments, save for the scenes that are so ridiculous they’re actually hilarious.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate the smooth performance during action sequences and the beautiful graphics, some report occasional framerate issues, particularly on lower-end hardware. Despite these concerns, the majority find the game runs well enough to maintain engagement, though there are notable criticisms regarding performance and storytelling coherence.
- “There is always a lot of action going on, and the game runs smoothly, allowing you to keep track of everything.”
- “Graphically, it's beautiful to me. I remember some people complaining about this on launch, but honestly, it looked gorgeous to me (who is primarily a high-end PC player using a base PS4). Though the framerate was an issue at times, even with the better performance option turned on.”
- “The optimization allows for a seamless experience, even during intense moments in the game.”
- “The framerate was an issue at times even with the better performance option turned on.”
- “Performance is not very good.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while it can feel tedious, especially with certain keyblade actions, it also adds depth to exploration and is necessary for achieving 100% completion. Overall, grinding is seen as a tolerable element that enhances the gameplay without becoming overly burdensome.
- “This made exploring the large worlds interesting, but not tedious.”
- “You still are not going to boot up the game to just do it for hours unless you are grinding for 100% completion on synthesis items, but at the same time it isn't something you wish wasn't included either.”
- “Some of the newer actions are fun (running up the walls!), but the different keyblade actions are cool at first - and then tedious.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Character development in the game is largely criticized, with many reviewers noting a lack of meaningful growth, particularly for the protagonist, Sora, who is portrayed as simplistic. While the game features returning favorites and impressive graphics, the convoluted story and excessive reliance on Disney elements detract from character depth, leaving some development scenes feeling unnecessary.
- “There is absolutely no relevant character development.”
- “Sora’s character development died apparently because he’s treated like an imbecile.”
- “Some character development scenes were pointless.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's replayability is rated low at 2/5, indicating that it may not offer significant incentives for players to revisit it, though opinions on this aspect can vary widely among individuals.
- “Replayability is quite low; once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to return.”
- “After finishing the main story, I found no compelling reasons to replay the game.”
- “The lack of varied outcomes or different paths makes replaying feel unnecessary.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is cleverly integrated, with advertisements feeling like a natural part of the experience rather than intrusive. Players appreciate how the promotional elements align with the original Toy Story narrative, enhancing rather than detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- “The toy story intro was so well done that I was like, 'Why is there an advertisement for a game in the game?' Only to realize that was very much a part of the original Toy Story story.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report experiencing frequent computer glitches and issues when entering codes, indicating a lack of stability in this aspect of the game.
- “When you get the codes, you risk computer glitches and problems when entering them.”

Skip Critic Reviews

83%Critics’ scoreBased on 52 critic reviews

Skip Game Offers

Buy Kingdom Hearts III

KINGDOM HEARTS III
$59.99
See offer on PS Store

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Kingdom Hearts III

81%208reviews

KINGDOM HEARTS Ⅲ

2019

Hack and Slash

87%20.7kreviews

Tales of Arise

2021

Open World Hack and Slash

75%486reviews

KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue

2020

Hack and Slash

+10

73%2kreviews

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

2015

Open World Hack and Slash

83%8.6kreviews

FINAL FANTASY XVI

2024

Hack and Slash

More games like Kingdom Hearts III

Skip Game News

Kingdom Hearts 3 Player Figures Out How To Skip Arendelle's Snowstorm

March 7 on thegamer.com

A Late Look Minis Diablo, Balatro and Kingdom Hearts III

March 1 on azurewebsites.net

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Kingdom Hearts III is a hack and slash game with fantasy, drama and kids themes.

Kingdom Hearts III is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

Kingdom Hearts III was released on March 27, 2019.

Kingdom Hearts III was developed by Square Enix Creative Business Unit I.

Kingdom Hearts III has received positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Kingdom Hearts III is a single player game.

Similar games include KINGDOM HEARTS Ⅲ, Tales of Arise, KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, FINAL FANTASY XVI and others.

Kingdom Hearts III

Platforms

About