Kingdom Hearts Collection [I-III] (PS5) Review

On one hand, I need to give Square Enix props for going with a simple name like Kingdom Hearts Collection [I-III] for their latest compilation project. Still, on the other hand, the simplistic name feels like a disservice to the number of games prospective players can look forward to enjoying.

Kingdom Hearts Collection [I-III] is the latest effort from Square Enix in bringing together the vast majority of legacy Kingdom Hearts titles together. Additional games include everything that was on the PS4 version of the compilation and Kingdom Hearts III with its Re Mind DLC, including all the main numbered entries, in addition to Re:Chain of Memories, Birth by Sleep Final Mix, the cinematic HD movies for 358/2 Days and Re:coded, Dream Drop Distance HD, the 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage – playable episode, and the Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover cinematic movie.

In other words, you’re getting a substantial amount of content, making this collection perfect for newcomers looking to jump in before Kingdom Hearts IV drops sometime late next year, hopefully. Of course, on PlayStation 5, all of the titles available within the Kingdom Hearts Collection [I-III] are PlayStation 4 releases, making the package somewhat harder to sell to existing fans. However, this marks the first time Kingdom Hearts III, along with its Re Mind DLC, has received a native PlayStation 5 port.

“The PlayStation 5 version of Kingdom Hearts III and the Re Mind DLC benefit from faster SSD loading, with the game now loading almost instantaneously and creating a much more immediate experience.”

The PlayStation 5 version of Kingdom Hearts III and the Re Mind DLC benefit from faster SSD loading, with the game now loading almost instantaneously and creating a much more immediate experience. Additionally, while PS4 backwards compatibility already allowed the game to target a smoother 60 FPS, the native port of Kingdom Hearts III now runs at a completely locked 60 FPS on my PlayStation 5 Pro.

DualSense haptics have also been introduced, elevating the subtle controller feedback beyond its last-generation iteration. The biggest upgrade overall, however, is the native 4K presentation, moving beyond the lower resolution of the PS4 version, which could not reach the full 2160p resolution even through backwards compatibility.

Similarly, content like Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage, which used technology later seen in Kingdom Hearts III, has also received a noticeable bump in performance and fidelity thanks to its native PlayStation 5 port. Less exciting, but still welcome, is the inclusion of all the PlayStation 2, DS and 3DS content, which appears largely identical to the PlayStation 4 and PC versions released earlier, aside from faster overall loading times thanks to the SSD.

“Ultimately, Kingdom Hearts Collection [I-III] is the most accessible compilation made available to date, but it is a harder sell for those who have already played previous collections on PlayStation.”

One interesting thing to note about all the content available within the PlayStation 5 release of Kingdom Hearts Collection [I-III] is that it features the newly introduced Power Saver icon, meaning the titles can run in a more conservative state while drawing less power. This might not sound all that interesting, but with rumours of the next iteration of PlayStation being a handheld hybrid similar to the Nintendo Switch 2, the addition of a power-saving mode could hint at future compatibility with mobile hardware.

Conversely, it appears the physical version of Kingdom Hearts Collection [I-III] will include all of its content on disc, unlike the Nintendo Switch 2 edition, which appears to use a Game-Key Card. That makes the PlayStation 5 release particularly appealing to collectors who still crave physical media in 2026.

If you’ve yet to experience Kingdom Hearts in any capacity, Kingdom Hearts Collection [I-III] is an excellent point of entry, giving players roughly 150 to 200 hours of content if they stick to the main story. For trophy hunters looking to earn every Platinum, Kingdom Hearts Collection [I-III] can easily last more than 400 hours, making it an ideal obsession for anyone who wants to dig in before the fourth mainline entry arrives in 2027.

Ultimately, Kingdom Hearts Collection [I-III] is the most accessible compilation made available to date, but it is a harder sell for those who have already played previous collections on PlayStation. That makes it best suited to newcomers and trophy hunters who want everything in one package.