The 10 BEST Kingdom Hearts Worlds

We’ll acknowledge that we might be cheating with this one as Timeless River is a world within a world, accessible through one corner located within Disney Castle. Nevertheless, it is way too spectacular to leave off this list! With very little source material to work with, Square Enix managed to create an entire realm dedicated to the classic Mickey Mouse cartoons of the 1920’s and 30’s. From the rubber-hose style designed for Sora to the compressed audio and UI design, Timeless River was a massive love letter to not just “Steamboat Willie”, but also to the early years of animation.

As you’ll see in some of our other entries, we won’t always be talking about just one iteration of a world. Case in point, Olympus. It was just way too hard deciding between Olympus Coliseum in the first two games and the rendition we saw in “Kingdom Hearts III” where we got to explore outside of the battle arena. On one hand, you had an exciting world dedicated to “Kingdom Hearts’” immensely satisfying combat mechanic with a few hidden bosses thrown into the mix. On the other, you had an expansive environment that allowed us to see more of Herc’s world, which took full advantage of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One’s capabilities. If Olympus comes back for “Kingdom Hearts 4”, you won’t see us complaining!

Agrabah has had the pleasure of being featured in FOUR games: the first “Kingdom Hearts”, “Kingdom Hearts II”, “358/2 Days”, and “Coded”. This level of frequency might irk some players, but what makes Agrabah special is how it’s different with every game, specifically with the Cave of Wonders. The first iteration of Agrabah had us going through several rooms avoiding boulders while fighting Heartless and using Abu to trigger mysterious gems. The second version in KH2 was much heavier in combat while focusing more on the mysticism behind the Cave of Wonders for its presentation and set pieces. It's truly a fantastic world that brings new ideas every game.

Kingdom of Corona

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If there was one word we could use to describe the world of “Tangled” it is “breathtaking”. The Kingdom of Corona is just as gorgeous as it was in the movies. From the forest that hides Rapunzel’s tower to the creepy Marsh further down from it, every facet of the realm is highly detailed and absolutely beautiful to the point where it looks ripped straight from the movie. Speaking of, the way Rapunzel, Flynn, and Mother Gothel are rendered and animated almost perfectly recreates the way they look and feel in “Tangled”. And the most surprising part? They don’t look so alarmingly different when standing next to Sora!

The World That Never Was

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The stomping grounds for Organization XIII is perhaps the most disturbing world in the “Kingdom Hearts” franchise, and we’re all here for it! The empty streets of the city give off that uncomfortable feeling of loneliness and the sense that something might be lurking around the corner to ambush you. And the Castle That Never Was towering from above evokes that menacing and uncertainty you get from the mysterious Organization XIII. Of course, that’s just from what we see in “Kingdom Hearts II”. The interior we saw in “358/2 Days” was just as intimidating with its elegantly empty decor, and the surreal iteration of the world in “Dream Drop Distance” was wonderfully trippy.

Toy Box

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Toy Box is admittedly here primarily for historical purposes. For years, we barked for Nomura and his team to start putting Pixar worlds in “Kingdom Hearts”, mostly “Toy Story”. Our hunger intensified when everyone learned about the scrapped Woody and Buzz character models buried deep in KH2’s files. And finally seeing them in “Kingdom Hearts III” and running around Andy’s room… It was magical. But what made it more exciting was how the Heartless would possess toys, letting the combat lean into the absurdly fun fantasy we’d have as kids where robots are fighting cowboys and aliens in cities of building blocks. It’s simply impossible to be miserable when in Toy Box.

Much like “Toy Story”, Simba and company found themselves on the cutting room floor at one point before finally being put into “Kingdom Hearts II”. Look, it already had us when we saw the “Lion King” versions of Sora, Donald, and Goofy. Its true claim to fame, though, is how it expands upon the combat and almost makes you play the game differently. Your attacks and general movement are faster, making every fight feel more intense than it typically is in other worlds. It also allowed Nomura and the team to emphasize the Pride Lands’ vast size while still being able to adhere to the PS2’s limitations. In other words, it’s a technical achievement that pays the utmost respect to one of Disney’s most beloved movies of the ‘90s.

Backtracking is often a nuisance, but when done right, it can make for a memorable portion of the game. It’s why we love Traverse Town so much! While you will revisit this place a lot, you’re always uncovering some new secret with every visit. You get a new piece of lore from Yuffie and Leon, a new Gummi Ship part installed by Cid, a postcard to collect - there’s always a part of the town that makes you go “Oh, that’s neat! I never thought there was an area here!” It’s that level of surprise mixed with the cozy music that has made Traverse Town resonate with us.

From a gameplay standpoint, Hollow Bastion might make for a frustrating level with its maze-like structure. However, we gotta give love to Hollow Bastion for its overall visual design. This is one of the most beautiful locations in the franchise. Between the grand hallways and a more sinister motif compared to Disney Castle, it’s a place that feels like a perfect blend of both Disney and “Final Fantasy’s” aesthetics. Plus, seeing its transformation into becoming the Radiant Garden in KH2 and “Birth By Sleep” really evokes the magic this series has become known for.

Halloween Town

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Call it a bias for “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, but Halloween Town truly is the best world in the entire “Kingdom Hearts” franchise! One complaint many fans have with some worlds (and understandably so) is that they tend to repeat the same plots of the movies, sometimes beat for beat. But Halloween Town gets its own unique story with every game. Jack trying to recruit the Heartless for a scare fest and attempting to create a fake heart? Then, he decides to create a ghoulish Christmas a second time? You can tell Nomura and his team had a ton of fun when designing Halloween Town, and it’s why we’re hoping it returns in whatever “Kingdom Hearts” game we get next! What’s your favorite world in “Kingdom Hearts”? Did it make our list? Let us know down in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe to MojoPlays for more great videos everyday!