Kingdom Hearts III

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2513 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,827 out of 2513
  2. Mixed: 328 out of 2513
  3. Negative: 358 out of 2513
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  1. NinTanDao64
    Feb 25, 2019
    8
    In terms of audio and aesthetics, this installment blows all of its predecessors out of the water. The visuals are straight out of a fully rendered Pixar movie, and as always, Square never fails to deliver when it comes to KH music.

    The story on the other hand, was poorly paced unfortunately. The high bar that was set as a result of all of the games in between KH2 and KH3 left the    In terms of audio and aesthetics, this installment blows all of its predecessors out of the water. The visuals are straight out of a fully rendered Pixar movie, and as always, Square never fails to deliver when it comes to KH music.

    The story on the other hand, was poorly paced unfortunately. The high bar that was set as a result of all of the games in between KH2 and KH3 left the audience expecting a fantastic finale to the Xehanort arc, but the meaty portions of the story weren't covered until the final 6-8 hours of the game. There were a plethora of characters that we expected closure for by the end of the game, but all of their plots were tackled back to back which made the delivery feel slightly rushed. All of the stories in the Disney worlds felt like an abbreviated retelling of their standalone films, with Sora and friends watching from the sidelines when it should've been the other way around. The closure was there, but the delivery could've been done better simply by having the story progress slowly throughout the game rather than having it all back loaded.

    The combat is very satisfying and flashy, however Sora now has access to so many overwhelmingly strong options that it feels like the enemies don't stand a chance. There are periods where so many Situation Commands are present, and each one is so gamebreaking that the enemies don't survive long enough for you to go down the list. Because of this, it never felt like there was a 'wrong' decision when it came to choosing which command and in which order.

    Overall, the game is still very good. If it weren't for the pacing of the story and easy difficult it could easily be an instant classic.    … Expand
  2. TsukasaHiiragi
    Mar 2, 2019
    8
    Whilst some are claiming this is a masterpiece, I wouldn't go as far as saying that...but its certainly quite good whilst having a few minor issues and bugs, mostly related to targeting and a few bosses either being too annoying or too easy. One of the absolute main issues is that fact this suffers from its franchise heritage so any new players will be completely lost storywise, it hasWhilst some are claiming this is a masterpiece, I wouldn't go as far as saying that...but its certainly quite good whilst having a few minor issues and bugs, mostly related to targeting and a few bosses either being too annoying or too easy. One of the absolute main issues is that fact this suffers from its franchise heritage so any new players will be completely lost storywise, it has useful flashbacks and explains partly some of the events that lead up to KH3 but really does require you to have played some of the previous games to really appreciate this game.

    I liked the overall improvements to the gummi ship section, giving the player full freedom of movement and to explore finding power-ups, fighting bosses and waves of enemies is a fun distraction, the downside is that it can get a bit tedious after a while especially when your short of money and this is pretty much the only way to farm.

    The voice acting is essentially, although Donalds voice occasionally sounds way off especially when talking about resources nearby, sounds like the poor VA has strep-throat or something =P

    Overall, its a pretty great game, well above average but a few minor issues hold it back.    … Expand
  3. amalygrey
    Feb 23, 2019
    9
    A very enjoyable game. Can't wait to play for more content through the potential dlc. A must play for KH fan and a must try for newcomers
  4. tanmaya
    Mar 2, 2019
    8
    Kingdom Hearts 3 is a well-made game with a lot of gimmicks that makes it enjoyable to play . It has some issues mainly with the combat and lack of exposition story-wise. But overall the weakness doesn't really ruin the experience and I can surely say while it's not a masterpiece, KH3 is a great game that satisfy my expectations.
  5. jctanti
    Feb 11, 2019
    9
    tldr: For KH fans, I fully recommend this game - it's only a 9/10 b/c of some small things
    For non-KH fans, play the other games first, then come back to this one :) Or, of course, just skip it entirely.
    After finishing the main story, and briefly beginning the post-game content, I can safely say that this game has met, but not exceeded, my expectations of what Kingdom Hearts 3 was    tldr: For KH fans, I fully recommend this game - it's only a 9/10 b/c of some small things
    For non-KH fans, play the other games first, then come back to this one :) Or, of course, just skip it entirely.

    After finishing the main story, and briefly beginning the post-game content, I can safely say that this game has met, but not exceeded, my expectations of what Kingdom Hearts 3 was going to be.

    That being said, Kingdom Hearts 3 is a fantastic game, that also has its flaws.

    With regards to story, it has some problems; for example, the game doesn't weave the KH storyline with the Disney world storyline together throughout the game as smoothly as KH2 did, opting to more cleanly dedicate the first 60-70% of the game to Disney stories and VERY little to KH story. But in the end, I was ultimately satisfied with the way they ended the Xehanort arc, and if you're a Kingdom Hearts fan, I'm confident you will be too! There are some SERIOUS epic fan-service moments in this game where I got up on my feet and cheered.

    Gameplay-wise, bad news first, this game has some issues in two regards: (1) the game is somewhat on the easy side, even by Kingdom Hearts standards, and (2) the overall amount of side-quests and things to do outside the main story seem a bit lacking compared specifically to Kingdom Hearts 2.

    (1): I've never thought of the KH games as being the most challenging games, and generally thought of them all as being easy (even on Proud or Critical mode), with the exception of some of the International/Final Mix post-game content/bosses, and of course, if you choose to do a Lvl 1 run. But Kingdom Hearts 3 takes the easy gameplay, and ramps it up even more. They crammed almost all the "Triangle"-mechanics from other KH games, or something similar, into this one as well, like shotlock, keyblade/form-changes , attractions, link summons, and your standard companion combo moves. Having all these moves at your disposal makes a lot of fights trivially easy; you simply have too much in your arsenal for any enemy, even bosses, to pose much of a threat. Like I said, I've never gone into a KH game expecting a Dark Souls experience or anything like that (nor do I WANT it to be that), but I definitely would have wanted a LITTLE more challenge in the standard-play combat. I did my initial run on Proud mode too, so between that and a pure Lvl 1 run, it would have been nice to see the a difficulty level somewhere in the middle.

    (2): The dedication to side-quests and optional battles seems to be have been toned down in this game. The notion of completing the side-quests in KH3 doesn't feel nearly as compelling as completing the Jiminy Journal in KH2 felt. So I wish there was more as far as side-quest content. But given that this isn't the International/Final Mix version, maybe that will be rectified later with such a release, or maybe DLC (which, to be clear, wouldn't be that bad - this game is fully worth the $60 price tag as it is, in my opinion, so it's NOT a "developer skimping on content with the intention of gutting us for DLC" situation).

    Now for the good stuff!

    As easy as the combat has become because of things highlighted above, it's still FUN. AS. HECK. Swinging the keyblade, transforming it into all manners of other kinds of weapons, casting extra-flashy, next-gen graphics spells, and just the overall graphical design overhaul the game has gotten makes every fight a truly beautiful spectacle to behold. The Keyblade you ultimately decide to use also dictates your fighting style to an extent, and there are a few different weapons variations to try out. You feel like an absolute boss when you destroy every mob of bad guys, and while not very challenging, fighting is still extremely satisfying.

    The addition of Pixar/3D Disney worlds was definitely welcome indeed! Seeing Toy Story, Monsters Inc, and Tangled characters as part of the Kingdom Hearts cast was something I'd wanted for a long time, and they pulled it off flawlessly. The worlds themselves have also received much of a graphical overhaul, and now feature much larger, richer areas to explore (honestly, sometimes too large - hunting down treasure chests has ironically become SO much more difficult now because of how detailed the worlds have become!). And the addition of some scattered, fully-voiced, NPCs throughout the non-Heartless-infested areas of some of the worlds makes them feel that much more alive.

    As for the story, if you're a KH fan, you will LOVE, at the very least, the last 30-40% of the game - as implied earlier, in true KH fashion they save most of the juicy stuff for the last few chapters of the game, but it is so well worth it, I didn't even care. Epic moments, team-ups, battles, and conclusions to so many character arcs, the final moments of this game will truly be a joy to play through if you've followed the story so far    … Expand
  6. rayenatear
    Feb 9, 2019
    9
    I've been waiting for this game my entire life, so let's just jump right in. This game is very, very fun. The attractions, the form changes, and the little details.

    Worlds have actual citizens in them now that you can talk to, and you can have two more party members besides Donald and Goofy. This game also wraps up the hanging plot threads for quite a few characters, and is very    I've been waiting for this game my entire life, so let's just jump right in. This game is very, very fun. The attractions, the form changes, and the little details.

    Worlds have actual citizens in them now that you can talk to, and you can have two more party members besides Donald and Goofy. This game also wraps up the hanging plot threads for quite a few characters, and is very satisfying to watch as a longtime fan. There are many plot twists that you will never see coming and make the game more intriguing as a result.

    The major gripes I have mainly have to do with the plots of 3 worlds being messed with a bit too much for my liking, and another worlds inclusion in the game being questionable at best. There are also little things like why the Lingering Will just disappears after fighting Terra-Xehanort and reappears as the Guardian? it's kind of weird. Other then that i don't have much to complain about.

    Kingdom Hearts 3 is a satisfying conclusion to the original series. It's a game that has been a long time coming, and maybe it won't reach everyone's expectations. It has big shoes to fill after all.

    But it was good enough for me, and that's all I care about.    … Expand
  7. Nandokan
    Feb 14, 2019
    9
    El mejor juego de la saga con diferencia.
    Los mundos son espectaculares y se asemejan mucho a las películas,sobre todo a la hora de contarlas,algo que parece que les cuesta con su propia historia.
    La dificultad es adaptable para todos los públicos,dice que es demasiado fácil incluso en difícil pero yo me lo he pasado en Normal y no es tampoco un paseo como dicen,hay jefes que te cuestan    El mejor juego de la saga con diferencia.
    Los mundos son espectaculares y se asemejan mucho a las películas,sobre todo a la hora de contarlas,algo que parece que les cuesta con su propia historia.
    La dificultad es adaptable para todos los públicos,dice que es demasiado fácil incluso en difícil pero yo me lo he pasado en Normal y no es tampoco un paseo como dicen,hay jefes que te cuestan mas que otros.
    La falta de personajes de Final Fantasy es un punto menos pero tampoco se les echa de menos del todo.
    Es un gran juego hecho para los fans mas fieles,me ha dejado con ganas de mas.    … Expand
  8. manatamin
    Feb 23, 2019
    9
    Kingdom Hearts 3 is a great game. The story might be confusing, but it is also one of the series' greatest strengths. Just because it's confusing, doesn't mean people can't follow it and while people often complaint about how the story is so convoluted, it's not really convoluted, it's just a lot to remember. With some effort the story is actually pretty straightforward. In KH3, most plotKingdom Hearts 3 is a great game. The story might be confusing, but it is also one of the series' greatest strengths. Just because it's confusing, doesn't mean people can't follow it and while people often complaint about how the story is so convoluted, it's not really convoluted, it's just a lot to remember. With some effort the story is actually pretty straightforward. In KH3, most plot points from previous games are resolved in satisfactory way. The game also remember to give fans the room to theorize since KH3 is not only the end but also the beginning of the future KH story.
    Graphic and music wise, KH3 is just spectacular. You can see that developers put a lot of effort in replicating the disney film's uniqueness into the game and it also shows that they put so many details into the world's design. The music is awesome as always. It is effective in evoking your emotions in many cutscenes. The battle ost has never been this epic.
    Overall, KH3 is a great game for fans and for people who are open to changes, because the game made some changes that might disappoint some fans while make other fans happy.    … Expand
  9. ravidrigs
    Feb 17, 2019
    9
    A very polarizing KH game which improves on a lot of aspect of previous entries while fell short on mainly story and combat (difficulty-wise) aspects. But overall, positives outweighs the negatives. The game still has its charms and still a very KH-ish game at its core
  10. peamkei
    Feb 22, 2019
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. KH3 is a nice game overall and it is worth buying even for new players that have not play any other KH games in the series. (But new players might want to go through some plots/summaries on youtube before diving in). But I must say I am a bit disappointed after completing the game. By completing, I mean getting all trophies. I am still craving for more contents. At the end, I still think it is a step down from KH2.

    Pros:
    - nice graphics ( Imo, this isn't necessary for a great game but surely add points )
    - great OST
    - easy and fluid combat for everyone at different age to enjoy the story
    - story progression ( Xehanort line done, I guess )
    - lots of mini games, ( diversity of gameplay?, good for a change of pace/mood )
    - space exploration for gummy ship , creative gummy ship editing
    - less grinding than before, easy money, easy xp, easy ultima weapon. (hardest part was to grind ingredients for synthesizing all stuff)
    - got to be the captain of the Black Pearl and sail in open sea

    Cons:
    - less worlds in total, worlds are small as in areas
    - easy combat even in proud mode
    - mini games are not that interesting, if not for getting Ultima weapon, I wouldn't bother to play a second time
    - Sora is like a bystander in most of the worlds, without much interactions with local characters and without involving in the original stories
    - no FF characters
    - unsatisfying last boss fight. not cool, not grand, not exciting, feels like a drag-on cut scene. Xehanort doen't look like a last boss, his attacks/skills doesn't match his power, pretty easy to dodge/guard. Got a feeling of "that's it?" after beating him. Actually waiting for his "3rd" form/fight at the first time but all I got was an ending. Can't compare to the epic boss fight in KH2. The laser blocking was tense as hell.
    - rubbish "secret" boss. It is not secret at all. It is not even strong. All 3 phases are basically the same animations and skills. Finish the fight even quicker than Xehanort. Give me back my Sephiroth in KH2.
    - Hearts-ception. hearts , hearts every where. hearts within hearts within hearts.

    Let me elaborate more on my points.

    Combat:
    I feel like it is concentrated on visual effects and fast pace rather than on the feeling of "hitting something" or "hitting hard". Sure, the attack animations are fluid, fast, flashy, colourful, massive aoe when doing pole dance. Most of the time, Sora's motion is unaffected/unhindered by how heavy the monsters are. It feels like going into a group of monsters hitting nothing but air. Not to mention the knock backs on both enemies and Sora are still fake af with them kind of floating backwards at a slow speed.
    The situational commands (ie triangle) are alright i guess. The form change? Nice to be powered up and have a different combo and finisher. The grand magics? I love them. They are kinda cool. The "rides"? If the cut scenes can be skipped, that would be nice. They are nice to look for a few times but they got annoying real quick. And you sometimes take damage from monsters in the rides. So I either don't use them at all, or quickly trigger the finisher right after I started them.
    The combat is just so easy (no lv lock of course)that you can keep pressing X through the whole game without problem. I am not asking for some dark souls level combat with stamina bar and recovery time management. But there is almost no technique involve in fights. I don't know, maybe some monsters can only be damage by counter attack? or magic? maybe can only be killed if Sora bait out some move? I know there are big fat guys with shield belly which can only be X at the back but that's about it. I can X X X X through everything else. Overall feels like a over simplify Disney version of devil may cry.

    Maps:
    There are like 9 worlds? too little man, just too little. Most of the worlds are too small in size as well. The representative must be winnie the pooh world. Basically 3 mini games in a room. Winnie the pooh story is also coming out of nowhere and also finish very suddenly. The big hero 6 world is like a garage base and a big empty city. You have nothing to do on streets during main story. There is nothing to really interact, NPCs are doing NPCs stuff without giving a single fk about you. If I am not going treasure hunting, I will not have the chance to appreciate the work they have put into the city buildings. The twilight town is small. I love Jack Sparrow's world tho. And if you have watched them Disney films before, correct me if I am wrong, Sora have no effects on the stories whatsoever.

    Story:
    Mostly "I have friends, our hearts are connected together. You lonely loser, fk you." The conspiracy from Xehanort, which should kind of linking up all KH series so far, turns out to be a really simple one. "The world is tainted, I want a reset." - Xehanort. What an unexciting explanation.    … Expand
  11. Wrath_4givnez
    Apr 4, 2019
    9
    Allow me to preface this by saying I've played this game on an old ass CRT TV with a standard PS4 (so no PS4 PRO enhancements). With that out of the way, on to the review!

    Wow, has it ever been a long time coming for the mainline entry of the series to finally grace the fans with its presence. True, we've all had a fair few supplementary games in between (some good, some not as good),    Allow me to preface this by saying I've played this game on an old ass CRT TV with a standard PS4 (so no PS4 PRO enhancements). With that out of the way, on to the review!

    Wow, has it ever been a long time coming for the mainline entry of the series to finally grace the fans with its presence. True, we've all had a fair few supplementary games in between (some good, some not as good), but seldom did they scratch that Kingdom Hearts itch that's been present since the end of the official second entry, when players all around the world reached the ending cinematic, treated to a gorgeous CG cutscene with "Sanctuary" (Passion, if you're a Japanese player) by Utada playing as the ending/credits song. A long enough time that a fair bit has happened in-universe to the KH series and in the gaming industry. A long enough time that the game had swapped engines and console generations (even added a new console under the series banner) to accommodate for the time circumstances and climate (among other things).

    And, so, how did it fair?

    Gameplay: Maybe with a few exceptions here and there, the gameplay itself is probably the best the series has ever been. Elements from every major game in the series plays a definite part in the game. Combat and exploration is fast, fluid varied, and exciting with KH2's gold standard basic combat meshing together with some of the unique features that BBS and DDD brought to the table. Secret/collectable hunting is fun and expansive with the huge worlds, high level of detail, and the sheer verticality adding a layer of depth that previous games (even DDD) just didn't have. Side gameplay bits, such as the Classic Kingdom minigames, 100 Acre Wood puzzle challenges, and the sidequests that you can partake in for a few bonus rewards also add a bit of breathing room to help players take a break from their adventures through the Disney universe. The Gummi Ship makes a full-force return, now with perhaps the most robust and balanced out experience you could ever get out of the system, taking elements from KH1 and 2, while also taking some Ps and Qs from it's own main game and making it a bit more open and exploration focused. With all of that said, combat did seem a bit over powered (especially with the Attraction Flow attacks), which made even more glaring considering the highest difficulty setting available (Proud Mode) is perhaps the easiest it's been. The Worlds, while expansive and lengthy, still felt like there were a few worlds missing, with one of the fan favorites that managed to make a return (Twilight Town) being cut in half significantly (made more obvious by the seemingly abandoned storyline said world had). The minigames are a good distraction, but a tad on the monotonous side, and the side quests available are few and far between. Finally, while the Gummi System is the best it's ever been, it is a little slower and less exciting than what was done in KH2.

    Story: Let me just get this out of the way. To newcomers, the majority of the plot is almost impenetrable, and can only be deciphered by said newcomers that either utilize a Wiki and pay as close attention as possible, or take it upon themselves to play through the majority of the previous games (if you have a PS4, getting the "Story Thus Far" collection would be a good idea...). It is NOT recommended that, if you ARE a newcomer, you make this game your first in the series. Why do I say this? It has MGS4 Syndrome. Kingdom Hearts is a long series with a complicated story, and this game was made to finish the "Seeker of Darkness Saga", going to great lengths to tie up loose ends on that front. It will have A LOT of exposition and reminders to fans. A fan of the series on the regular will be required to pay attention at a bare minimum just to understand (just like MGS4). With this said, as a fan, I thought the ending, barring a few questions, was satisfying to me, with the final encounter being excellently executed.

    Visuals: Considering what kind of set up I've had while playing, the game still looked absolutely beautiful, and still ran at a near solid 60fps. It was smooth to play and smooth to watch. The fact that just about everything was voice acted was a big bonus, and the "flat cardboard" faces that showed up in previous games for certain cutscenes/moments are nowhere to be seen is even more impressive. To say this would look great on a PS4 PRO and a proper HD TV would then be the most understated understatments...

    Final: Barring a few issues (the feeling of the lack of worlds, overpowered Attraction Attacks, extremely convoluted story that didn't answer EVERY question, and somewhat monotonous minigames) this is probably one of the better ways to end the saga. While I WISH there was more in the game, what I got was a extremely satisfying dance across the universe with Sora the Heartfelt Dunce, Goofy the Observant, and Donald the Uselessly Overpowered, with the return of a lovable side-cast and rogues gallery.    … Expand
  12. TheJavok
    Feb 16, 2019
    9
    Un juego a la altura de su saga, que cierra una saga pero comienza otra, artistica y jugablemente es un deleite para la vista, aunque con pequeños fallos de camara como en sus juegos anteriores, un sistema de combate bastante agil que en la mayoria de sus mundos ofrece mecanicas y minijuegos que resfrescan la franquicia.
    Si bien narrativamente no responde en su totalidad a lo esperado por    Un juego a la altura de su saga, que cierra una saga pero comienza otra, artistica y jugablemente es un deleite para la vista, aunque con pequeños fallos de camara como en sus juegos anteriores, un sistema de combate bastante agil que en la mayoria de sus mundos ofrece mecanicas y minijuegos que resfrescan la franquicia.
    Si bien narrativamente no responde en su totalidad a lo esperado por algunos, no quita esa chispa de epicidad y de sentimientos encontrados a medida que avanza en la historia.
    Finalmente su dificultad, a decir verdad no posee una curva de crecimiento tan elevada o que se vuelva irregular en ciertos puntos, por lo cual se invita a futuros jugadores intentar jugar este maravilloso juego en su dificultad mas alta. Un juego completamente recomendado, pese a fallos que a no respresentan un impedimiento o un punto en contra a gran escala.    … Expand
  13. aryamara
    Feb 23, 2019
    9
    As a long time KH fan, the game did not disappoint. There is certainly a feeling that I've outgrown the game as I get older, but overall the game still has its charm. Certainly one of the best KH game I've ever played
  14. Maan
    Feb 12, 2019
    9
    This is my first meeting with the KH games, it was an impulse buy and I absolutely do not regret it. I should've started with the remakes, but oh well.. It was a nice addition that they added the memories section to catch up with the series. I really enjoy the gameplay, the story and it all isn't to hard to get into it. There are a lot of cut scenes, which I normally hate if there is justThis is my first meeting with the KH games, it was an impulse buy and I absolutely do not regret it. I should've started with the remakes, but oh well.. It was a nice addition that they added the memories section to catch up with the series. I really enjoy the gameplay, the story and it all isn't to hard to get into it. There are a lot of cut scenes, which I normally hate if there is just too much, but I find it ok, because you learn so much about the story and for that I give it a 9. Overall great game and so much detail. They delivered a very well end product!… Expand
  15. nancykeys
    Feb 15, 2019
    9
    As a disney fan, I love seeing Disney world in this game. all the details they put into the world is just amazing. As a KH fan, I was a bit disappointed with the smaller area of the original worlds. But overall, KH is still a great game
  16. Varhe20
    Feb 13, 2019
    9
    I just recently got into the Kingdom Hearts series and what a journey it has been. I bought the all-in-one collection in 2018 and played through each game and watched all the movies, and I have to say that it was one of the greatest gaming experiences of my life. I fell in love with the characters (especially Axel/Lea), worlds and of course the gameplay. And the conclusion is finally hereI just recently got into the Kingdom Hearts series and what a journey it has been. I bought the all-in-one collection in 2018 and played through each game and watched all the movies, and I have to say that it was one of the greatest gaming experiences of my life. I fell in love with the characters (especially Axel/Lea), worlds and of course the gameplay. And the conclusion is finally here (for this arc anyway). For some the wait has been extremely long and I can't even imagine what the long time fans of the series are feeling right now.

    Kingdom hearts 3 blew my mind away. First of all the graphics are mind blowing in some parts of the game. The Caribbean world for example looked absolutely beautiful. The character models were a bit iffy in some parts but overall it's a very gorgeous game.

    The first half of the story felt a little out of place for me. The Disney worlds were for the most part great, but the overall Kingdom Hearts plot didn't progress almost at all during them. The stories in each of the worlds was basically just a collection of the biggest scenes in the movies and I would have enjoyed an original story in them instead. On the other hand the story in the other half of the game was everything I had hoped it would be. We got a satisfying end to the Xehanort storyline and I was left satisfied. And at the end of the game I was an emotional wreck. The second half of the game had so many emotional scenes in it that I was surprised I still had tears left in me at the end. The end did also setup the future of the series and I'm happy the franchise isn't going to end here.

    The gameplay for me felt a bit too easy. In the past games I usually played on the easiest difficulty since I wasn't really looking for a challenge and just wanted to enjoy the story, but damn those games were still hard. I got stuck on the last bosses of those games for days (could be that I just suck though). The Disney rides in the game I didn't enjoy at all. They were just so uninteractive and op that I just chose not to use them once I had tried them a couple of times. Hopefully they add a critical mode in the future and tweak the gameplay somehow so that the hardcore fans can get a challenging experience.

    Overall the game is well worth your time especially if you're a long time fan. This definitely isn't for those who have not played the past games and if you're only looking for a challenge in the combat and are not interested in the story, this isn't for you either. Even though I just recently got into the series I will forever cherish these games in my heart because they truly are something special.    … Expand
  17. MightyMilky
    Feb 1, 2019
    9
    It lives up to the hype for longtime fans, but will leave newcomers scratching their head. Unfortunately the only decent way to catch up on the series' complicated and confusing story is to search for a recap on youtube. The recap videos you can watch from the main menu do a terrible job at explaining the plot so far.
  18. wellingw
    Feb 15, 2019
    8
    I've been a KH fan since when it first released in ps2 and have played most of the games in the series. I just want to say the amount of effort they put into the game is just pretty amazing if you know how game development works. Every KH game always tried to shake its core a bit, so it is unavoidable that some will get disappointed, but tbh the complaints I have seen toward this game areI've been a KH fan since when it first released in ps2 and have played most of the games in the series. I just want to say the amount of effort they put into the game is just pretty amazing if you know how game development works. Every KH game always tried to shake its core a bit, so it is unavoidable that some will get disappointed, but tbh the complaints I have seen toward this game are just outrageous and unfair. Some fans sets very high rigid expectation of how they prefer KH3 to be and ended up disappointed, when arguably it's their own fault for setting unreasonable expectations. Personally, despite all its flaws I still enjoy the game very much. Despite felt a bit short and sometimes lacks explanation, the story still works and delivered a satisfying end to Xehanort Saga. The dialogue is better than ever, the interaction between the Trinity trio is just fun to watch. Graphics and ost are amazing. 8/10 0verall… Expand
  19. Virus12
    Feb 11, 2019
    9
    The end of the Dark Seeker Saga.
    Pros:
    -fun combat -amazing ost -smart writing -aesthetically beautiful -amazing gummi ship exploration -keyblade transformations are awesome -equip 3 keyblades at once Cons: -too easy even on proud mode, turning off experience is a cop out in my opinion -i don't like attraction flow attacks -still some questions left unanswered -combo    The end of the Dark Seeker Saga.
    Pros:
    -fun combat
    -amazing ost
    -smart writing
    -aesthetically beautiful
    -amazing gummi ship exploration
    -keyblade transformations are awesome
    -equip 3 keyblades at once

    Cons:
    -too easy even on proud mode, turning off experience is a cop out in my opinion
    -i don't like attraction flow attacks
    -still some questions left unanswered
    -combo customization is quite limited
    -this might be a good spot to find some ingredients

    Overall I really enjoyed the game and although the ending leaves you asking more questions, i think that is how games are meant to be if a sequel is coming. If you like Kingdom Hearts then buy the game, if you aren't a fan of the direction it is going in then end it here.

    I think the game stands on it's own 2 feet pretty well despite the difficulty being very easy. I am hoping that critical mode gets introduced and it is reminiscent of KH2's Critical mode where I can start off with a bunch of lucky strike abilities.

    The world's are huge and deserve to be explored thoroughly or, at least what you would perceive to be thoroughly only to find you are missing a chest or a secret emblem.

    Phil would drive us nuts in KH2. Prepare for Donald to absolutely top that.

    I do think a few things could be improved upon as with any game but this game is a very solid entry and I really liked it. Oh it also has a very achievable Platinum trophy. 1 play through only.    … Expand
  20. MikeRuiger
    Jan 29, 2019
    8
    Without going into much detail. This is a great next step in the franchise, a few missed opportunities. All in all it’s a game worth your money but not necessarily worth the wait.
  21. Zenter
    Feb 4, 2019
    9
    A great game with a lot of hearts and time put into it, basically a love letter for the series' long time fans. Its main strength just like other KH games is its cast of characters and the ability of the characters and story to invoke a broad range of emotions which is a rarity for games in general.

    The story offered a satisfying conclusion to a saga while also setting for the stone for    A great game with a lot of hearts and time put into it, basically a love letter for the series' long time fans. Its main strength just like other KH games is its cast of characters and the ability of the characters and story to invoke a broad range of emotions which is a rarity for games in general.

    The story offered a satisfying conclusion to a saga while also setting for the stone for the next saga. It's not in any way a perfect story nor it need to be perfect. But when it hits, it hits all the right notes. Although many things still left unexplained and some parts of the story lacks coherence, I do not think of it as a major weakness. For the series it's just how the story is supposed it hook its target audiences, to keep the interest alive. The only thing I found problematic is how most of the plot is contained within the last quarter of the game rather than spread more equally throughout the game. But I kinda get it why they have to do that considering the fast-pacing of the endgame's story development (8.5/10)

    As for the characters, the main characters, especially Sora and the gang once again what makes the game so fun to play and watch. In KH3, it just gets better. The dialogue is better than ever, the comedy is spot on, each story cutscenes are a feast to watch and the voice acting is as good as the previous numbered instalments. Watching Sora and the gang are as fun as ever and watching their interaction often puts a smile on my face. The thing they can do better? Some characters were not given enough spotlight resulting in missed opportunities relating to emotional payoff of some characters and some ended up much to be desired in terms of character development. On a side note, although I understand the disappointment on the lack of FF character, I do not think they are much relevant to the story in KH3, therefore I am okay with the omission (8.5/10)

    Aside from likeable characters and interesting story, the game also has awesome graphics and smooth animation. Each world has been made to resemble the original source/movies as close as possible and the level of details put into the world design is just unbelievable. I have no major complaint graphic-wise (9.5/10)

    Music wise, KH3 is incredible. Although many of the ost are brought from the previous titles, most of them have been recomposed, enable them to invoke nostalgic feelings while offering a fresh take to some of the most beloved ost of the series. The new ost are equally awesome and some are very memorable. (9.5/10)

    The gameplay is very fun. They added so many new features such as keyblades transformation, so many minigames, attractions, new ability, etc into the game that add so much variations and options of what you can do. The map is bigger than ever and the gummi ship features has been improved into something more enjoyable. But with all the things they add to the gameplay, Square Enix seems to forget to balance it with the difficulty. With all the arsenals players have in their hands, the game felt easier than it used to be. The enemies' difficulty felt nerved compared to previous games. They are not as challenging as they used to be. The map felt a bit empty likely because the increase of the size of the map is not balanced by adding more enemies and content into some particular maps. I really hope they can fix this with future update. Overall the gameplay is still good, but with some tweakings and possibly a final mix treatment, the gameplay could be a lot better (7.5/10)

    Kingdom Hearts 3 is a great game. If you're a fan of the series who has been following the development of the series through many titles (not just KH1 and KH2) and has been waiting for so long, this game will likely offer almost everything you'd hoped for the game and you will have much fun playing it. Although it does have some cons, those cons likely will not ruin the experience you get from it. Is it a game worth buying? yes, especially for fans. Is it a game worth waiting for? Yes definitely. Overall 8.5/10. Extra points for the great effort put into every details of the game 9/10    … Expand
  22. ShutupandJive
    Jan 29, 2019
    8
    Early impressions have been very good, although for a game released in 2019 I had noticed some issues I thought were worth mentioning. I've noticed that the english voices have been done kind of lazily and I understand that a lot of work is involved in doing it perfectly, but this game has been in development for a LONG time and I guess I was just expecting 2019 level of voice matching andEarly impressions have been very good, although for a game released in 2019 I had noticed some issues I thought were worth mentioning. I've noticed that the english voices have been done kind of lazily and I understand that a lot of work is involved in doing it perfectly, but this game has been in development for a LONG time and I guess I was just expecting 2019 level of voice matching and seamless conversations. Other issue I had was with movement still getting bugged out on uneven surfaces in the Environment.

    There are too small issues I have had but the game has been exceptional besides those and is continuing to exceed my expectations in terms of character/story depth, graphics and combat.    … Expand
  23. Michaelmare
    Feb 11, 2019
    9
    Positives:
    - Awesome graphic resembles the movies
    - Great ost - The usual fun dumb dialogues and interactions - Detailed world - Keyblade transformations - Conclusive end to xehanort saga - Setting interesting beginning for upcoming games - Variative combat - Really fun to play - Lots of minigames Cons: - Enemy UI and difficulty felt unbalanced (weaker than it should be).    Positives:
    - Awesome graphic resembles the movies
    - Great ost
    - The usual fun dumb dialogues and interactions
    - Detailed world
    - Keyblade transformations
    - Conclusive end to xehanort saga
    - Setting interesting beginning for upcoming games
    - Variative combat
    - Really fun to play
    - Lots of minigames

    Cons:
    - Enemy UI and difficulty felt unbalanced (weaker than it should be). Added arsenals to player's combat (eg: attractions) is not balanced with increase in enemy's damage scaling
    - Some emotional payoffs were lackluster
    - Lack of postgame content
    - Original areas were lacking in term of size

    Overall, still a great game with a different priority compared to previous KH games    … Expand
  24. grayzeppelin
    Feb 14, 2019
    9
    As a KH fan, the game didn't disappoint. I'm amazed at the level of details given into every world. The combat is lacking, but still very fun. A great experience overall
  25. jrdnnn
    Feb 18, 2019
    8
    Most definitely worth the 13 year wait, Kingdom Hearts 3 rounds off the main series in signature, if a little unsurprising, style. The story is of course beyond convoluted by this stage and in all honestly this entry only makes things worse, but if you were a fan of any of the previous installments, the enduring appeal is still there. Perhaps it's because I'm older now, but the story andMost definitely worth the 13 year wait, Kingdom Hearts 3 rounds off the main series in signature, if a little unsurprising, style. The story is of course beyond convoluted by this stage and in all honestly this entry only makes things worse, but if you were a fan of any of the previous installments, the enduring appeal is still there. Perhaps it's because I'm older now, but the story and dialogue are so apparent as this game's downfall now. However, the OVERALL story momentum, visuals, music and outstanding gameplay really make up for this.

    The standard hack-and-slash gameplay has been refined and redrafted to near-perfection this time round. Variety stems from the keyblades themselves this time; unlike other entries where keyblades are essentially just stat and visual upgrades, keyblades each have their own transformation style which completely changes your entire attack pattern. Without spoiling the worlds that give you each, the keyblades turn into guns, spears, yo-yos, gauntlets, staffs and more, achieved by hitting combos in succession and triggered with the 'situation command' button. These situation commands also include team attacks, summons and form-changes and makes combat more dynamic than ever before. Add to this Sora's wonderful jumping, gliding, dashing and dodging abilities, the gameplay is at the absolute peak of the series and as fluid as ever.

    Each world visited is a treat to behold. Exploring these Disney worlds is a joy for anyone familiar with them and while the stories' links to the main narrative is questionable, I honestly didn't care due to the immense fun I was having. The music and visuals are top notch and reflective of each world. The story's end sees one of the most breathtaking environments and accompanying score I've seen through the games, and if you can get by the jargon, awkward voicing and cheese of the stuff going on, the ending is definitely a nice end to the main series.

    Finally, the mini-game and side game variety on offer is up there with Nier Automata (which has definitely inspired a lot of design choices in KH3). Each world has countless things to be getting on with between beating up Heartless from sledging to cooking to photography to playing videogames (inside a videogame). A special shoutout to the gummi ship sections in this game - these are vastly improved and are endlessly fun with space-invader style battles, galactic exploration and the opportunity to build your ship exactly how you want it, including as a dog on a skateboard (?)

    The overall experience was immense fun, never dull and an emotional/nostalgic thrill above all else. Hampered by its tired plot, confusing characters, and endless light/darkness-themed dialogue, this is far from the best game in the series (as a whole). But what it does succeed in is providing a diverse, enjoyable, exciting and visually stunning slice of cartoon action with tight controls and surprising depth to each facet of its gameplay. As a fan since 2002, I'm definitely satisfied with the ending to a series instrumental to my childhood, although I fear the story-based flaws will be the nail in its coffin in the coming years, if there are plans for more...    … Expand
  26. vodas
    Feb 11, 2019
    9
    This was one of the most fun gaming experiences I have had in years. The combat was simply silk smooth and very enjoyable - did not even think of running from any battles because they were just that fun. I even went as far as to get the Ultima Weapon and defeat the secret bosses (tornado Gummi boss including...gosh that was long) which I did not do with previous titles. The worlds wereThis was one of the most fun gaming experiences I have had in years. The combat was simply silk smooth and very enjoyable - did not even think of running from any battles because they were just that fun. I even went as far as to get the Ultima Weapon and defeat the secret bosses (tornado Gummi boss including...gosh that was long) which I did not do with previous titles. The worlds were gorgeous and the maps were highly enjoyable (no open-world - thank God - got tired of those kind of games)

    The only real problem with KH3 is the pacing of the story. They definitely kept too much of the main plot at a standstill until the very end - it felt as almost NOTHING at all happened until you finish the last Disney world. The Disney worlds were fun and all, but they should have continued with the main plot at least a bit after every world or two. Also the very point of going to these worlds was kind of...too simple. There was no clear reason to do it - a mistake which was not so prominently made in the previous mainline titles. So because of all of this - most of the game up until the finale felt like a bit of a filler (which again - I did not feel as much in the previous titles even though there always was some filler).

    But even with this kind of a big negative I can't give the game any lower than 8.5 just because it kept me glued to the screen until the very end (and even after) - which most games nowadays are not able to do.    … Expand
  27. adambay
    Feb 12, 2019
    8
    I have been a fan of KH since KH2. I played almost all the numbered titles and the handheld games. KH3 is a very KH-ish game yet there is something fresh in it just like every game in the series. I found the game very enjoyable. I was ready to be disappointed by this game since some fans seems to dislike it for some reasons. After I played it, tbh I found it very good and found manyI have been a fan of KH since KH2. I played almost all the numbered titles and the handheld games. KH3 is a very KH-ish game yet there is something fresh in it just like every game in the series. I found the game very enjoyable. I was ready to be disappointed by this game since some fans seems to dislike it for some reasons. After I played it, tbh I found it very good and found many critiques toward the game are just exaggerating. I was mostly impressed by the amount of details put into every world. It just felt alive. Yoko Shimomura did it again with the ost and I just love seeing Sora and the gang having fun in the game. The only disappointment I have toward the game is how the story felt rushed at the end and how the combat is a bit too easy for my liking. Overall though, the positives outweigh the negatives. Definitely worth buying… Expand
  28. Sjoerdt9
    Feb 6, 2019
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Contains SPOILERS.
    Game is fun. Lots of gameplay elements, worlds are varied.
    Long time KH fan here, but:
    - game is way too easy, even on Proud mode. One of the major reasons is the attractions which give you an invulnerability frame.
    - I feel the story could've been handled better. Spoiler warning: for example, they spend some time thinking on how they can bring Roxas back, they want to reconstruct his heart with the data in data Twilight Town. They also need a vessel to put it in though. When arriving at the final world, Roxas just returns out of nothing. So basically all that building up was for nothing. Ansem/Xemnas imply they have put Sora on a path again, but nothing of the sort is revealed. Lingering Will appears out of nothing without any real reason for him suddenly appearing. Several organization members helping Xehanort without having any motivation to do so (they even explicitly state so themselves), Xion reappears without any justification on how. Same with like the KH mobile game 'players' appearing to help Sora & co without any reason why that would happen.
    Xehanort does an entire 180 personality wise at the end, which is weird.
    Protagonists are about as dangerous as butter knives during cutscenes, which makes no sense whe you look at them in past games. They get knocked out right away at some points. Then, a few minutes later in the story they can suddenly hold out against multiple of the same bad guys again (while being outnumbered).
    - Story pacing isn't too good. You get a bit of 'real' story at the start, then you have to go through several 'filler' Disney worlds, get another tiny amount of 'real KH story', another few hours of random Disney worlds, then the ending. I like the Dinsey worlds in KH games, but the KH series could do with some more time being dedicated to its own story.    … Expand
  29. SultanOfSwing44
    Feb 6, 2019
    9
    Minus 1 point because they forgot to put final fantasy chars in the game. It feels shorter than the other games but i may be remembering wrong. My kh2 file shows 80 hrs and my kh3 one shows 40. That being said, its everything we all hoped it would be.... Except the final fantasy part.
  30. IronAvenger
    Feb 7, 2019
    9
    Nearly perfect conclusion to a series I’ve loved my entire life. Great combat, great visuals, great characters. Only complaint is that it’s a little too easy even on Proud. If Critical gets a release later it’ll be a perfect 10
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Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Best PS4 Game of 2019
11
#11 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2019
89
#89 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 88 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 81 out of 88
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 88
  3. Negative: 1 out of 88
  1. TheSixthAxis
    Jan 30, 2020
    80
    Kingdom Hearts III doesn’t go in the direction some RPG fans will no doubt have been hoping for. It’s unashamedly over the top in just about every way, from its barmy story and stunning presentation to its huge cinematic battles. There’s plenty of depth here too, though you’ll need to find your bearings first.
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  2. Gamersky
    May 31, 2019
    85
    There is no doubt that Kingdom Hearts III will make long term fans moved or even cry. As for those new to the franchise, I believe they also can be satisfied because of tons of classic Disney elements and solid combat system, even though they could barely understand the main story.
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  3. Riot Pixels
    Apr 20, 2019
    73
    If you like animated movies from Disney and Pixar, and you want to relieve some of the key moments, welcome to Kingdom Hearts 3.
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