TheKingdom Heartsseries has always strived to use its child-friendly aesthetic to tell heartwarming stories. With countlessDisneyproperties scattered throughout each game, it makes sense why much of the series can feel a bit silly, but the plot, influenced largely by theFinal Fantasyseries, is sure to leave fans scratching their heads in response to how absurd this combination can get.
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While the originalKingdom HeartsusedFinal FantasyandDisneyto tell a lot of its stories, the series is now able to thrive without the aid these franchises provided before. That said, it’s nice to see them return throughout the series, even if they’re not necessary. If not forSquare Enixand Disney’s collaboration, most ofKingdom Hearts' recurring monsters and characterswould never have existed.
7Jiminy Cricket
Though Jiminy Cricket is largely sidelined for most of theKingdom Heartsseries, he remains one of Sora’smost reliable alliesin each game he appears in. His introduction inKingdom Hearts 1saw him aiding Sora, Donald, and Goofy on their quest to locate King Mickey, Kairi, and Riku.
Since then, Jiminy has become somewhat more of a main character.In Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, he acted as the trio’s main source of reason, while inKingdom Hearts 3, he accompanied Sora on his journey to recover his friends' hearts. He may not always seem like the most crucial character in the series, but without him and his journal, Sora would have no way to keep track of the friends he met, the villains he vanquished, and the adventure he went on.
6Ice Titan
The Ice Titan is first found when Sora enters the Gold Match at Olympus Coliseum. The creature may not seem like too much of a threat at first, but players will quickly come to view it as one ofthe most challenging bossesin the game.
Since its debut appearance, the Ice Titan has become much less of a threat. InKingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, it teams up with its master, Hades, and mounts an attack against Aqua. Even though Aqua defeats it, it managed to return one final time to enact its vengeance inKingdom Hearts 3.
5Winnie The Pooh
While players don’t necessarily need to completethe 100 Acre Woodin any ofKingdom Hearts' entries, doing so will allow them to experience some of the series' most heartwarming moments. Each visit Sora makes to Pooh’s home requires him to partake in a series of minigames to move the plot forward, and though it might feel a bit arbitrary, it can be quite a fulfilling experience.
With so much at stake, it’s nice to visit Winnie the Pooh and his friends in the 100 Acre Wood to calm one’s nerves. Though he may not be the most iconic Disney character in the series,this silly old bearcertainly is one of the most memorable and is, therefore, one of the best.
4Dream Eaters
Dream Eaters, first introduced inKingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, acted as Sora and Riku’s party members during theirMark of Mastery exam. They proved to be faithful little companions, Meow Wow especially, but very little was known about what they truly were.
Since then, Dream Eaters have featured in multiple games, but their role inKingdom Hearts: Union X [Cross]served to explain their origins. When Daybreak Town fell into chaos,the Keyblade wielders of yorewere given two choices: fade into someone else’s heart or become a Dream Eater. All those who chose the second option became the lovable creatures fans of the series are familiar with, some of whom Sora met on his journey. InKingdom Hearts 3, Sora learns how to summon them.
3Darkside
The Heartless were first introduced inKingdom Hearts 1duringthe game’s tutorial segment. To move forward, Sora needed to defeat a few small ones known as Shadows, but they weren’t overly challenging. The real threat, Darkside, made itself known in the final area.
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Even after defeating the Darkside boss in this dream-like world, it manages to return two more times before the credits roll. Since then, it has appeared in nearly every game since, with its most frightening form existing inKingdom Hearts0.2:A Fragmentary Passage. InKingdom Hearts: Coded, it took the form of Sora’s Heartless.
2Leon & The Gang
Though they may not appear in every entry,Final Fantasycharacters usually serve a big purpose inKingdom Hearts’overarching story. InKingdom Hearts 1,Leon, Yuffie, Aerith, and Cidmentor Sora on his journey to reunite with Riku and Kairi. Thanks to their help and Cid’s space travel experience, Sora can continue his search in other Worlds.
InKingdom Hearts 2, these characters return to their home in Hollow Bastion and vow to protect it from any dangers that attack. While they were absent fromKingdom Hearts 3, theRe MindDLC made them a crucial part of the story once again.
1Sephiroth
Sephiroth’s role inFinal Fantasy 7may be a little bit more compelling than what he strives for inKingdom Hearts, but it’s hard to deny how terrifying it is when he reveals himself to Sora in bothKingdom Hearts 1andKingdom Hearts 2.
Sora first meets Sephirothupon entering the Platinum Match in Olympus Coliseum, where he is then forced to battle the One-Winged Angel alone. InKingdom Hearts 2, Sephiroth plays a somewhat more important role before providing Sora with yet another bafflingly challenging boss fight. He makes a few appearances inKingdom Hearts: Union X [Cross]and one more inKingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, but none have been as iconic as his appearances in the numbered titles.
