Kingdom Hearts III is not just a game—it’s an experience. A sparkling, chaotic, time-warping, emotion-packed thrill ride that asks players to punch monsters with magical key-shaped weapons while dealing with emotional trauma, confusing lore, and an ocean of Disney IP. If that sounds overwhelming, don’t worry. Whether you’re new to the series or jumping in after a long break, this guide is here to make sense of the madness and help you enjoy the journey.

The Story (Or: Why Is Everyone Crying?)

KH3 picks up after more than a decade of games, spinoffs, prequels, and mobile titles. If you’re a newcomer, this is where it gets messy: you’re expected to know it all. From Birth by Sleep to Dream Drop Distance, everything is canon, everything matters, and yes—even Mickey Mouse has trauma.

You play as Sora, cheerful anime boy and wielder of the Keyblade, who failed his Keyblade exam and is now on a redemption arc to unlock the Power of Waking. Alongside Donald Duck and Goofy, he must travel through various Disney and Pixar worlds to thwart the evil plans of Xehanort and his new Organization XIII. Meanwhile, other characters like Riku, Kairi, Aqua, and Ventus deal with their own emotional plotlines involving possession, memory loss, and friendship speeches.

KH3 tries to wrap up years of narrative threads while opening new ones for future games. It’s heartfelt and confusing. It’s dramatic and goofy. It’s Kingdom Hearts.

If you’re not caught up, the game includes recap videos in the menu. They’re vague. Your best bet? The Kingdom Hearts All-in-One or Story So Far collection. Or… just watch cutscenes online. Don’t read summaries. You’ll lose your mind.

What You Actually Do (Aka: Punch Things with Sparkles)

KH3 is a semi-linear action JRPG where you visit a variety of Disney/Pixar worlds. Each world tells a story—either a retelling of the movie or a sequel-ish continuation. You help characters solve problems, fight monsters, unlock new abilities, and occasionally break into musical numbers.

Every world is packed with combat, cutscenes, collectibles, minigames, and exploration. You’ll fight the same enemies often, but the way you fight them evolves constantly through new mechanics, environments, and allies. Expect to:

• Battle through Monsters Inc., Toy Story, Frozen, Tangled, and more.
• Unlock abilities, keyblades, and transformation moves.
• Use air-stepping, flowmotion, and shotlocks.
• Blow things up with Disney attraction rides like a teacup of doom.
• Cook gourmet meals with a rat.

And yes—combat is absurd. The more ridiculous it looks, the more powerful it probably is.

Combat 101: What the Game Sorta Tells You (But Not Really)

KH3’s combat is fast, flashy, and full of layers. Here are the core systems:

• Keyblade Combos: You have basic ground and aerial combos. They’re flashy and fun.
• Magic: Includes Fire, Water, Blizzard, Thunder, Aero, and Cure. It’s powerful and has utility. Use shortcuts!
• Flowmotion: Bounce off walls and poles to dash and spin. Optional, but stylish.
• Air Step: Target glowing points or enemies and zip to them instantly. Incredibly useful for mobility and combat.
• Shotlocks: Time-freezing attacks that vary by Keyblade. Devastating when used right.
• Situation Commands: Pop up after attacking to unlock powerful moves like Formchanges (keyblade transformations) and magic finishers.
• Team Attacks: Random co-op moves with Donald, Goofy, or guest characters. Use when available.
• Attraction Flow: Giant theme park rides used in battle (carousel, pirate ship, etc). Ridiculously over-the-top.
• Summons: Classic Disney characters like Simba or Stitch come to help when called. Requires full MP.

Tip: Use shortcuts for magic and items. Please. Don’t suffer through menus.

World Design: Wide, Vertical, Occasionally Confusing

Worlds are bigger than ever. Some are open, like Pirates of the Caribbean, with full ship sailing. Others are more linear. Either way:

• Look for treasure chests and map pieces.
• Interact with your environment.
• Expect set-piece moments and cutscenes galore.
• You can always return to completed worlds to mop up collectibles or face challenges.

RPG Elements: Managing Stats and Gear

Behind all the sparkle and chaos is a surprisingly deep RPG system:

• Abilities: Equip new ones as you level up. Spend AP points, but be choosy.
• Gear: Equip Keyblades, armor, and accessories. Look for passive boosts.
• Items: Healing, boosting, and crafting materials. Keep them stocked.
• Keyblade Forge: Use synthesis materials to upgrade keyblades.
• Moogles: Your adorable item shopkeepers. Buy, sell, synthesize gear here.

Then there’s cooking. Find ingredients across the worlds and cook meals with Remy (Ratatouille) in Twilight Town. Dishes give temporary stat boosts and EXP bonuses. Mini-games are short but very timing-based. Expect some chaos.

Optional Content: For the Completionists

• Lucky Emblems: Hidden Mickeys across all worlds. Snap photos to unlock rewards.
• Classic Kingdom: Retro mini-games. Cute but simple.
• Flantastic Seven: Giant flans offering score-based mini-games for prizes.
• Battlegates: Post-game combat challenges. Great for grinding and testing builds.
• Gummi Ship Exploration: Fully 3D space travel, ship combat, and exploration. Optional, but packed with content.

The DLC – ReMind: For the Lore Addicts and Masochists

ReMind is paid DLC that expands the ending, adds new bosses, difficulty modifiers, and a powerful photo mode.

Included in ReMind:

• ReMind Scenario: Retells the final acts with new perspectives and characters.
• Limit Cut Episode: 13 brutal data fights (superbosses).
• Secret Episode: One final hidden boss fight and lore teases.
• Premium Menu: Toggle easy/hard modifiers (like no healing, one-hit kills).
• Data Greeting Mode: Create scenes using characters and locations.

Warning: The optional bosses are HARD. Be level 99, have optimized gear, and bring patience.

Quick Tips & Beginner Advice

• Don’t panic about the story. Enjoy the ride, then dig into the lore later.
• Take your time. Explore each world fully before moving on.
• Use shortcuts. Map magic, Cure, and items to your shoulder buttons.
• Keep your keyblades upgraded. Each has unique moves—find what works for you.
• Guard and dodge. Basic advice, but crucial on higher difficulties.
• Mix magic and melee. Spell slinging can save your butt.
• Visit Moogles often. Synthesis is your best path to great gear.
• Set Donald and Goofy to prioritize Sora. So they’ll actually heal you.
• Don’t hoard food. Cook and eat dishes before tough fights.

Final Thoughts

Kingdom Hearts III is ridiculous, heartfelt, and deeply satisfying once you embrace its absurdity. It’s a love letter to fans and a beautiful chaos machine of emotion, action, and imagination. If you’re willing to dive into its many systems, let go of needing to understand everything right away, and just feel your way through, it becomes something unforgettable.

So go forth, Keyblade wielder. Your heart is your guiding key—and also your inventory menu. Probably.