Kingdom Hearts is a series of action role-playing games developed and published by Square Enix (formerly Square). It is the result of a collaboration between Square Enix and Disney Interactive Studios, combining characters and elements from Square Enix's Final Fantasy series and multiple Disney franchises. Currently the series includes seven video games released on various platforms, a manga series, a novel series, video game soundtracks released on audio CDs, and a collectible card game.
The video games provide the canonical story of the series. The manga series is adapted by Shiro Amano and the novels are written by Tomoco Kanemaki and illustrated by Shiro Amano. The stories follow the events that take place in the video games with differences to account for the loss of interactivity that a video game provides. The manga and novel series are both divided up into three series based on each of the three main video games. Each series is further broken up into multiple volumes. The manga was originally serialized in Japan by Square's Monthly Shonen Gangan , but has since been released worldwide. The manga was released in the United States by Tokyopop near the end of 2005, but was discontinued in 2008.
Each game in the series has been critically and commercially successful, though each title has seen different levels of success. As of December 2006, the Kingdom Hearts series has shipped over 10 million copies worldwide, with 2.0 million copies in PAL regions, 3.0 million copies in Japan, and 5.6 million copies in North America. [1] [2] The main games in the series were released in chronological order, with each new game following the events of the previous. The exception is the V CAST mobile game, which was developed independently of Square Enix's games. Three new titles in the series were announced at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show. [3] Coded and Mobile were only released for Japan. Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is the latest game of the series, being released worldwide on November 11, 2020.
Title | Original release date | ||
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Japan | North America | PAL region | |
Kingdom Hearts | March 28, 2002 [4] | September 17, 2002 | November 15, 2002 |
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Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories | November 11, 2004 [7] | December 7, 2004 | May 6, 2005 |
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Kingdom Hearts II | December 22, 2005 [12] | March 28, 2006 | September 29, 2006 |
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Kingdom Hearts Coded | November 18, 2008 [14] | January 11, 2011 (Nintendo DS) | January 14, 2011 (Nintendo DS) |
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Kingdom Hearts Mobile | December 15, 2008 [17] | — | — |
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Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days | May 30, 2009 [18] | September 29, 2009 [19] | October 9, 2009 [20] |
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Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep | January 9, 2010 [21] | September 7, 2010 [22] | September 10, 2010 [23] |
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Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance | March 29, 2012 [24] | July 31, 2012 [25] | July 20, 2012 [26] |
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Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix | March 14, 2013 [27] | September 10, 2013 [28] | September 13, 2013 [29] |
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Kingdom Hearts χ | July 18, 2013 | April 7, 2016 | June 16, 2016 |
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Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix | October 2, 2014 [32] | December 2, 2014 [33] | December 5, 2014 [33] |
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Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue | January 12, 2017 | January 24, 2017 | January 24, 2017 |
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Kingdom Hearts III | January 25, 2019 [35] | January 29, 2019 [35] | January 29, 2019 [35] |
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The Kingdom Hearts Trading Card Game is a collectible card game based on the Kingdom Hearts series. It was first released in Japan to coincide with the release of Chain of Memories and was produced by Tomy. [38] The TCG features starter decks, playing mats, and booster packs. [39] In 2007, Fantasy Flight Games acquired the rights to translate the game and market it in North America. In the game, the player takes the role of Sora from the Kingdom Hearts games. Using the cards, players travel to worlds to battle the Heartless. The game allows for two players with a deck and "Player Card" to play together. [40] The game is distributed in a variety of booster packs. [41] The game was released in North America on November 15, 2007.
The music of the video game series Kingdom Hearts was composed by Yoko Shimomura with orchestral music arranged by Kaoru Wada. [42] [43] The original soundtracks of each game have been released on two albums and a third compilation album. The games feature two main theme songs, which were written and performed by Hikaru Utada, as well as music from Disney films.
Title | Original release date | ||
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Japan | North America | PAL region | |
Kingdom Hearts Original Soundtrack | March 27, 2002 [44] | March 23, 2003 | November 25, 2002 |
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Kingdom Hearts -Final Mix- Additional Tracks | December 26, 2002 [45] [46] | — | — |
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Kingdom Hearts II Original Soundtrack | January 25, 2006 [47] | — | — |
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Kingdom Hearts Original Soundtrack Complete | March 28, 2007 [48] | — | — |
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Piano Collections Kingdom Hearts | May 27, 2009 [50] | — | — |
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Piano Collections Kingdom Hearts Field & Battle | January 13, 2010 [52] | — | — |
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Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep & 358/2 Days Original Soundtrack | February 2, 2011 [53] | — | — |
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Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance Original Soundtrack | April 18, 2012 [54] | — | — |
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The plot of the manga, drawn by Shiro Amano, stays true to the events in the video games, though it does diverge at certain points. Certain fights were shortened or excluded and some minor characters and worlds visited in the game were also excluded. The first series was re-released in three volumes in Japan in December 2006 as "Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix". The manga series has been well received. Several of the manga volumes were listed on USA Today's "Top 150 best sellers". [55] [56] [57] The highest ranked volume was Kingdom Hearts volume 4 at #73. [56] Every volume listed stayed on the list for at least two weeks; Kingdom Hearts volume 4 stayed the longest at four weeks. However, due to Tokyopop's 2008 restructuring, the Kingdom Hearts manga series was cancelled after the 2nd volume of Kingdom Hearts II's manga was released.
Title | Original release date | ||
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Japan | North America | PAL region | |
Volume 1 | October 25, 2003 [58] | October 11, 2005 [59] | — |
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Volume 2 | April 24, 2004 [63] | January 10, 2006 [59] | — |
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Volume 3 | November 24, 2004 [67] | April 11, 2006 [59] | — |
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Volume 4 | January 31, 2005 [71] | July 11, 2006 [59] | — |
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Boxed Set | — | October 10, 2006 [59] | — |
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Title | Original release date | ||
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Japan | North America | PAL region | |
Volume 1 | October 22, 2005 [76] | October 10, 2006 [59] | — |
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Volume 2 | April 22, 2006 [76] | February 13, 2007 [78] | — |
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Boxed Set | — | October 9, 2007 [78] | — |
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Title | Original release date | ||
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Japan | North America | PAL region | |
Volume 1 | December 22, 2006 [76] | July 3, 2007 [80] | — |
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Volume 2 | August 22, 2007 [76] | May 9, 2008 [82] | — |
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Volume 3 | April 22, 2008 [76] | — | |
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Volume 4 | November 22, 2008 [76] | — | — |
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Volume 5 | August 22, 2009 [76] | — | — |
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Volume 6 | May 22, 2013 [76] | — | — |
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Volume 7 | November 22, 2013 [76] | — | — |
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Volume 8 | July 22, 2014 [76] | — | — |
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Volume 9 | February 22, 2015 [76] | — | — |
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Volume 10 | August 22, 2015 [76] | — | — |
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Title | Original release date | ||
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Japan | North America | PAL region | |
キングダムハーツFINAL MIX 1 | December 22, 2006 [76] | May 28, 2013 [83] | — |
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キングダムハーツFINAL MIX 2 | January 22, 2007 [76] | May 28, 2013 [83] | — |
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キングダムハーツFINAL MIX 3 | March 22, 2007 [76] | — | — |
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No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
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1 | June 22, 2010 [84] | 9784757529021 | November 19, 2013 | 978-0-316-40118-0 |
2 | March 22, 2011 [85] | 9784757531673 | January 21, 2014 | 978-0-316-40119-7 |
3 | October 22, 2011 [86] | 9784757533882 | March 25, 2014 | 978-0-316-40120-3 |
4 | April 22, 2012 [87] | 9784757535213 | October 28, 2014 | 978-0-316-28676-3 |
5 | September 22, 2012 [88] | 9784757536913 | January 20, 2015 | 978-0-316-33626-0 |
A novel series has also been released in Japan. It is written by Tomoko Kanemaki (金巻ともこ, Kanemaki Tomoko) and illustrated by Shiro Amano. Like the manga series, it is divided up into separate series based on the games. Yen Press began releasing the novels in English-language omnibus editions in 2015. [89]
Title | Original release date | ||
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Japan | North America | PAL region | |
The First Door | June 30, 2005 [90] | March 24, 2015 [91] | October 29, 2014 [92] |
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Darkness Within | July 29, 2005 [93] | March 24, 2015 [91] | October 29, 2014 [94] |
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Title | Original release date | ||
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Japan | North America | PAL region | |
《ソラ編》上 | October 22, 2005 [95] | September 22, 2015 [96] | — |
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《ソラ編》下 | November 30, 2005 [97] | September 22, 2015 [96] | — |
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Reverse/Rebirth | January 31, 2006 [98] | September 22, 2015 [96] | — |
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Title | Original release date | ||
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Japan | North America | PAL region | |
Roxas—Seven days | April 22, 2006 [99] | June 20, 2017 [100] | — |
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The Destruction of Hollow Bastion | July 16, 2006 [101] | June 20, 2017 [100] | — |
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Tears of Nobody | September 29, 2006 [102] | December 19, 2017 [103] | — |
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Anthem—Meet Again/Axel Last Stand | February 27, 2007 [104] | December 19, 2017 [103] | — |
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No. | Title | Original release date | English release date |
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1 | The 14th | July 30, 2009 [105] 9784757526044 | June 26, 2018 [106] 9781975327491 |
2 | Go to the Sea | January 28, 2010 [107] 9784757527744 | June 26, 2018 [106] 9781975327491 |
3 | Xion-Seven Days | May 28, 2010 [108] 9784757528888 | June 26, 2018 [106] 9781975327491 |
No. | Title | Original release date | English release date |
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1 | Something Strange | December 24, 2010 [109] 9784757531116 | - |
2 | Best Friends | February 24, 2011 [110] 9784757531543 | - |
3 | To the Future | May 26, 2011 [111] 9784757532212 | - |
No. | Title | Original release date | English release date |
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1 | Side Sora | June 28, 2012 [112] 978-4-7575-3652-4 | - |
2 | Side Riku | September 27, 2012 [113] 978-4-7575-3751-4 | - |
There have been numerous books that provide walkthroughs and supplemental information to the video games. Square Enix has released six Ultimania guides and one bonus book on the Kingdom Hearts series exclusively in Japan. The Ultimania guides primarily serve as strategy guides for their respective games, revealing secrets from the developers' perspective. They also contain interviews with the staff, extended information on backstory, and original artwork. In North America, BradyGames has been given exclusive rights to publish strategy guides for the games.
Title | Original release date | ||
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Kingdom Hearts Ultimania | June 13, 2002 [114] | — | — |
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Kingdom Hearts Official Strategy Guide | — | September 11, 2002 [115] | — |
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Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories Official Strategy Guide | — | December 3, 2004 [117] | — |
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Kingdom Hearts Ultimania Revised Edition | December 17, 2004 [119] | — | — |
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Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories Ultimania | December 17, 2004 [120] | — | — |
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Kingdom Hearts Series Ultimania α ~Introduction of Kingdom Hearts II~ | December 9, 2005 [121] | — | — |
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Kingdom Hearts II Ultimania | February 23, 2006 [123] | — | — |
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Kingdom Hearts II Limited Edition Strategy Guide | — | March 23, 2006 [124] | — |
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Kingdom Hearts II Official Strategy Guide | — | March 27, 2006 [125] | — |
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Kingdom Hearts -Another Report- | March 29, 2007 [127] | — | — |
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Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+ Ultimania | May 2, 2007 [128] | — | — |
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Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania | March 25, 2010 [129] | — | — |
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Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep: Signature Series Guide | — | August 31, 2010 [130] | — |
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Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Ultimania | May 28, 2012 [131] | — | — |
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Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Signature Series Guide | — | July 31, 2012 [132] | — |
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Kingdom Hearts is a 2002 action role-playing video game developed by Square for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It is the first game in the Kingdom Hearts series and is the result of a collaboration between Square and The Walt Disney Company. An expanded re-release of the game featuring new and additional content, Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, was released exclusively in Japan in December 2002. The Final Mix version of the game was later remastered in high definition and released globally as part of the Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix collection for the PlayStation 3. The game was later ported and released as part of the bundled Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix collection for PlayStation 4 in March 2017, Xbox One in February 2020, Windows in March 2021, and Nintendo Switch in February 2022.
Sora is a character and the main protagonist of Disney and Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts video game series. Introduced in the first Kingdom Hearts game in 2002, Sora is portrayed as a cheerful teenager who lives on the Destiny Islands and has been best friends with Riku and Kairi since childhood. When they plan to go on a journey to see other worlds, they are separated by creatures known as the Heartless, with Sora obtaining a weapon called the Keyblade. Donald Duck and Goofy then recruit him in their journey across various worlds to aid their king, Mickey Mouse, while Sora searches for his friends. Along the way, the trio protects the worlds they visit from the Heartless and other villains.
Riku is a fictional character from Square Enix's franchise Kingdom Hearts, debuting in the original 2002 Kingdom Hearts game. Riku is introduced as a teenager who wishes to visit other worlds with his friends Sora and Kairi. After a way to other worlds is opened, Riku meets the evil fairy Maleficent who pits him against Sora, leading to Riku falling to darkness and ultimately being possessed by Ansem, Seeker of Darkness. Riku is freed thanks to Sora and returns as a protagonist in following games.
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories is an action role-playing video game co-developed by Square Enix and Jupiter, and published by Square Enix in collaboration with Disney Interactive in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance. The game serves as an intermediary between the two larger-scale PlayStation 2 games in the Kingdom Hearts series. It was one of the first GBA games to incorporate full motion video (FMV).
Kingdom Hearts II is a 2005 action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix in collaboration with Buena Vista Games for the PlayStation 2 video game console. The game is a sequel to Kingdom Hearts, and like the original game, combines characters and settings from Disney films with those of Square Enix's Final Fantasy series. An expanded re-release of the game featuring new and additional content, Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, was released exclusively in Japan in March 2007. The Final Mix version of the game was later remastered in high definition and released globally as part of the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix collection for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, and Nintendo Switch.
Kingdom Hearts is a series of action role-playing games created by Japanese game designers Tetsuya Nomura and Shinji Hashimoto, being developed and published by Square Enix. It is a collaboration between Square Enix and The Walt Disney Company, and is under the leadership of Nomura, a longtime Square Enix employee.
Roxas is a character from Square Enix's video game franchise Kingdom Hearts, who first appears in Another Side, Another Story, a bonus trailer found in Kingdom Hearts and later as a cameo during the final scenes of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Roxas would make his first full appearance in Kingdom Hearts II. He is a "Nobody" who was born from the series' main character Sora after he briefly lost his heart during the events of the first game. Kingdom Hearts II reveals that he is a member of Organization XIII, a group of Nobodies who need him for his ability to wield the Keyblade, a weapon that allows him to capture hearts. As a member of the organization, Roxas bears the title "Key of Destiny". He is also the protagonist of the video game Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, which revolves around his origins. He is voiced by Kōki Uchiyama in Japanese and Jesse McCartney in English.
Shiro Amano is a Japanese manga artist who has worked on several projects, including his adaptation on the popular Kingdom Hearts series.
Code Age is a 2005 multimedia franchise developed and published by Square Enix. It was created by Yusuke Naora and split between three projects; the manga Code Age Archives, the mobile role-playing video game Code Age Brawls, and the PlayStation 2 action role-playing game Code Age Commanders. Code Age uses a science fiction setting on the inner surface of a hollow world similar to a Dyson sphere. The narratives revolve around an apocalyptic threat to civilization, with the protagonists gaining powers from absorbing monsters dubbed the Otellos.
Code Age Commanders: Tsugu Mono Tsugareru Mono is a Japan-exclusive action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix on October 13, 2005, for the PlayStation 2. It is part of the Code Age series, a franchise created by video game artist Yusuke Naora and designed to span different interweaved titles in multiple platforms and media. The series consists of Commanders, the mobile phone game Code Age Brawls, and the manga Code Age Archives. The story depicts the struggles of people surviving in a fictional "intraglobular world" menaced by impending destruction, mysterious warped creatures, and different factions warring against each other. The game focuses successively on the viewpoints of four main protagonists.
Aqua is a character from Square Enix's video game franchise Kingdom Hearts. First making cameo appearances in Kingdom Hearts II and its updated version Final Mix, she is introduced in the prequel Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep alongside her friends Terra and Ventus. The three are Keyblade apprentices training under Master Eraqus, and are the playable protagonists. As the only one among her friends to obtain the rank of Keyblade Master, Aqua is assigned to monitor Terra and Ventus as she combats dark creatures known as the Unversed.
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep is an action role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix in collaboration with Disney Interactive Studios for the PlayStation Portable, serving as the sixth installment in the Kingdom Hearts series. The game was released on UMD in Japan on January 9, 2010, in North America on September 7, 2010, and in PAL regions on September 10, 2010. An international version of the game titled Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix was released in Japan in January 2011, featuring the changes made in the non-Japanese versions. A direct sequel, Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep - A Fragmentary Passage, was released in January 2017 as a part of a bundle of games called Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue.
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days is an action role-playing video game developed by h.a.n.d. and Square Enix in collaboration with Disney Interactive Studios for the Nintendo DS. It is the fifth installment in the Kingdom Hearts series, and takes place near the end of the first game in parallel to Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, leading directly into the events of Kingdom Hearts II. The game was released worldwide in 2009. The story is told from the perspective of Roxas, and follows his daily life within Organization XIII and his relationship with fellow Organization member Axel; it also introduces a fourteenth member, Xion, who befriends them.
Kingdom Hearts Coded is an episodic action role-playing puzzle video game developed and published by Square Enix, in collaboration with Disney Interactive Studios, for mobile phones. Coded was a Japan-only release announced at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show. A Nintendo DS remake, titled Kingdom Hearts Re:coded, was released in Japan, North America, Europe, and Australia. A cinematic remake of the game was included in the Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix video game compilation for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, and Nintendo Switch.
Kingdom Hearts Mobile was an online community-based social gaming networking service developed by Square Enix for the NTT DoCoMo in partnership with Disney Mobile Japan. It was launched on December 15, 2008 in Japan in conjunction with the video game Kingdom Hearts coded for mobile phones.
Tetsuya Nomura is a Japanese video game artist, designer, producer, and director working for Square Enix. He was hired by Square initially as a monster designer for Final Fantasy V (1992), before being shifted towards secondary character designer alongside Yoshitaka Amano for Final Fantasy VI (1994). Final Fantasy VII (1997) had him working in the original story alongside Hironobu Sakaguchi, and marked his debut as the lead character designer, a capacity he would retain for several future installments of the series, as well as other Square Enix titles such as The Bouncer and The World Ends with You. He also created well-known Cactuar, Gilgamesh and Tonberry characters.
Square Enix Image Studio Division, is a Japan-based CGI animation studio dedicated towards creating video game cut scenes and full-length feature films for Square Enix. Square Enix Image Studio Division was founded as Visual Works, the CGI department for Square that was responsible for creating the pre-rendered CG sequences for the company, starting with Final Fantasy VII in 1997.
One Room of Happiness is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hakuri. The manga was first published in Square Enix and Pixiv's web manga magazine Gangan Pixiv since February 22, 2017 and reached more than 75 million viewers as of June 2017. A television drama adaptation starring Anna Yamada and Shūhei Uesugi premiered on TV Asahi July 8, 2018. The official English title of the drama adaptation is A Little Room for Hope.