Kingdom Hearts

Kingdom Hearts is a 2002 action RPG developed by Square, an unlikely crossover uniting Disney characters and worlds with Final Fantasy stars. Players follow Sora, a boy separated from his friends when darkness consumes their island, who is chosen to wield a giant key-shaped weapon called the Keyblade.

Combat unfolds in real time as Sora, joined by Donald Duck and Goofy, travels to worlds themed after Disney films such as Aladdin, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Alice in Wonderland to battle shadowy creatures called the Heartless. The blend of action combat, light RPG leveling and magic, platforming, and beloved characters proved surprisingly cohesive and emotionally resonant, boosted by an all-star voice cast and a memorable theme song.

The game was a major commercial and critical success and launched a sprawling, famously intricate franchise spread across many platforms. Its many entries have been collected and remastered for modern systems, making the original and its sequels accessible to new players who wish to follow the whole saga.