Best Games Like Kingdom Hearts

Ever since its debut on the PS2, Kingdom Hearts has amassed a loyal following that’s always looking for new opportunities to revisit Square Enix’s unique RPG series.

Whether you’re a fan of the Disney-inspired worlds, eccentric cast of characters, or intricate RPG combat mechanics, there’s a lot that sets Kingdom Hearts apart from other games.

In this list, we’ll highlight the premier games like Kingdom Hearts to play in 2025, including games akin to Kingdom Hearts and the finest games like Kingdom Hearts on PC and Nintendo Switch.

We’ll be updating this list in the future with new titles, so make sure to check back and let us know if we missed any games that may appeal to Kingdom Hearts aficionados!

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Our first recommendation is the 3D remake of Square Enix’s legendary action-RPG Trials of Mana, which released in 2020 for Windows PC and consoles.

The game follows three protagonists chosen by the player, each with unique motivations and abilities that lead them to obtain the Mana Sword and use it to overcome a global threat.

Gameplay sees you controlling your team of heroes as they battle enemies in lively combat and navigate vast 3D environments, similar to Kingdom Hearts’ party system.

Each character class adds a distinctive flavor to the Trials of Mana’s combat, allowing you to mix and match powers to deliver potent attacks, much like Sora, Goofy, and Donald’s team-up attacks.

Ni No Kuni II makes several improvements to its predecessor’s gameplay loop that brings it a lot closer to feeling like a Kingdom Hearts game made by Studio Ghibli.

In it, you play as a young monarch who gets dethroned from his castle and sets out to build his own unique kingdom with help from a band of extraordinary companions.

Unlike the first Ni No Kuni, Revenant Kingdom introduces real-time combat, improved party customization, and new “Higgledies,” elemental creatures that cast spells and buff allies.

Like Kingdom Hearts, you’re able to combine your heroes’ abilities and combo off of each other’s attacks during battle.

There’s a substantial amount of overlap between the Tales and Kingdom Hearts fanbases due to both series’ distinctive take on RPG combat mechanics.

The initial Tales game came out approximately ten years earlier than the original Kingdom Hearts, but in this instance, we’ve decided to focus on an enhanced edition of the tenth primary installment, Tales of Vesperia.

The story follows an Imperial Soldier who forms a guild called Brave Vesperia to assist a noble lady on her quest to safeguard the world’s most precious resources.

Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition features an enhanced version of the series’ trademark Linear Motion Battle System, allowing for more party customization and strategic options during battles.

It was only a matter of time until we brought up Final Fantasy on this list, and predictably we actually have two titles in the series to recommend (more on that later).

Seeing as both franchises were created by Square Enix, we weren’t too surprised to learn that Final Fantasy XV‘s Active Cross Battle system is actually based on Kingdom Hearts’, at least partially.

Additionally, both games were created with the philosophy of giving players the flexibility to make combat as complex or straightforward as they want.

Those who have the expertise and dedication to master Final Fantasy XV’s battle system are rewarded with an array of spectacular special moves, coordinated attacks, magical techniques, and weapons to wield.

There’s a satisfying hack n’ slash aspect to Kingdom Hearts’ combat that will come naturally to anyone who’s played enough Devil May Cry games.

Set five years after the events of DMC 4, Devil May Cry 5 offers a novel new chapter about three supernatural fighters working together to defeat a Demon King before he destroys the mortal realm.

Series staple protagonist Dante is joined by Nero, a demon hunter with a retractable arm, and V, a poetry-loving customer of Dante’s who can summon ferocious familiars during battle.

If you’re a Kingdom Hearts fan looking to broaden your horizons, consider picking up the Special Edition, which introduces a new playable character, visual and performance options, and additional content.

Another Square Enix cult classic, The World Ends With You uses a similar character design philosophy as Kingdom Hearts, despite the obvious fact that one is 2D and the other is 3D.

It’s also an action-RPG, though combat relies on touch screen controls instead of Kingdom Hearts’ more conventional gamepad controls.

You can combine attacks using multiple characters during combat and raise their effectiveness by completing various music-based mini-games.

Final Remix is an improved adaptation of the original for Nintendo Switch that updates the gameplay and visuals in anticipation of an upcoming sequel, Neo: The World Ends With You.

Aside from both franchises being at least partially owned by Disney, there’s not much intersection between Kingdom Hearts and the original Marvel Ultimate Alliance games.

However, the most recent entry switches things up considerably, turning the squad-based action-RPG into an extensive dungeon crawler replete with stat progression and specific bonuses based on your party.

Depending on which of the 30+ heroes you have on your team, you’re able to pull off devastating combos that will leave the enemy staggering as you explore recognizable locations from the Marvel Universe.

Like Kingdom Hearts, Ultimate Alliance 3‘s narrative blurs the line between righteous and wicked, often pitting you against heroes who have become corrupted and aligning with villains for the same cause.

While the Persona series may be historically turn-based, Persona 5: Strikers is very much its own entity, combining elements of Musou games with the franchise’s distinctive flair.

It includes live action-RPG combat that expands on the main games while also acting as a direct sequel of the widely-acclaimed Persona 5.

The abundance of fodder enemies and over-the-top, grandiose attacks will feel familiar to any Kingdom Hearts fan, particularly those fresh off playing Kingdom Hearts 3.

Lastly, it’s also a much briefer affair than your average 100-hour Persona RPG, requiring about 30 to 40 hours to complete the main story, which isn’t too far off from a mainline Kingdom Hearts game.

The other Final Fantasy game we’re suggesting is most likely already on Kingdom Hearts fans’ radars but is still worth noting for anyone who’s on the fence.

Final Fantasy VII Remake updates the PlayStation classic with fully-realized environments, reimagined characters, and a revamped battle system that blends real-time combat with traditional strategy mechanics. 

What makes the remake so remarkable is that it stays true to the original 1997 game while expanding upon its lore through world-building that feels genuine.

Considering it was developed around the same time as Kingdom Hearts 3, it makes sense that they share some elements, such as organizing character abilities into separate sub-menus.

Nier: Automata is one of the few games that can go toe-to-toe with Kingdom Hearts when it comes to excessively complex, borderline peculiar storylines that are tough to follow.

However, in the game’s defense, this is primarily due to how its story is structured, requiring you to replay the campaign multiple times to gain new insights and revelations throughout its numerous conclusions.

It centers on an android named 2B and her companion bot 9S as the pair become entangled in a continuing struggle between colossal machines.

Fighting is quite elementary when compared to other action role-playing games, and the level of challenge is similar to Kingdom Hearts games.

Ys has been around for a long time and is primarily known for its satisfying real-time combat, which partially makes up for the series’ now antiquated graphics.

While Lacrimosa of Dana does little to nudge the visual needle forward, it’s still a standout entry in the series that’s worth recommending to anyone who likes Kingdom Hearts.

The story follows a group of survivors stranded on a mysterious island where they’re forced to battle off an assortment of gigantic monsters while investigating their surroundings.

Six playable characters offer varied playstyles and weapons/armor that can be upgraded by completing side-quests and exploring the open world.

A reminder worth exploring in 2025 is Dark Cloud 2, a PS2-era action JRPG that can be savored on PS4 through the PlayStation Network.

In it, you control two characters, Max and Monica, as they try to prevent a malevolent emperor from destroying the world by time-traveling to the past.

Combat is fairly straightforward and reminiscent of classic hack n’ slash games, but those looking for more depth will enjoy exploring Dark Cloud 2’s comprehensive weapon upgrade system.

It should be noted that this is another game that looks quite outdated by today’s standards, though some players may appreciate its highly unique look.