When we first heard that a game was going to blend Final Fantasy and Disney, we were flabbergasted. Well over a decade later, we see Kingdom Hearts III continue to play on players' sense of nostalgia. How a game can have such beautiful animation from so many different Disney intellectual properties is humbling.
There is reportedly a Kingdom Hearts television series in the works for Disney+. The game already plays like a motion picture, which is why the game's transition to television should be smooth. For those who are lost in Kingdom Hearts' plot, a television series could shed light while expanding on the story. We love the series for its stupendous worlds, among other reasons. Square Enix made some bold choices with what worlds to include and not. Let's take a look at what worked and what didn't. This is ranking the nine best Kingdom Hearts III worlds.
9 Arendelle
Disney's Frozen was an ideal setting for one of Kingdom Hearts III's worlds. There was a ton of potential that was squandered for a world featuring one of Disney's most famous and popular franchises. The plot does little to contribute to the overarching story of Kingdom Hearts, and the gameplay can be repetitive.
Doing search quests like rebuilding Olaf is not as fun as we would've hoped. The world's labyrinth of ice is confusing and needlessly tiring. For these reasons, Arendelle ranks low on this list.
8 100 Acre Wood
The 100 Acre Wood was never meant to be an expansive world, even with a name like 100 Acre Wood. It is an optional world that unlocks after completing Arendelle. The nuance of helping the farm quickly wears off and you must visit Twilight Town and go to the Bistro to open it from a book.
Kingdom Hearts III doesn't have any horrible levels, yet we wish some were better. The 100 Acre Wood world is fun for mini-games and visiting the Winnie the Pooh family. If you go in with low expectations, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Compared to other Kingdom Hearts versions of the 100 Acred Wood, this one might be the best, though.
7 San Fransokyo
San Fransokyo is a blend of the cities San Francisco and Tokyo, which is where the Disney film Big Hero 6 takes place. We were impressed by the amount of detail contained in the city, yet its liveliness underwhelmed us.
Kingdom Hearts III would have benefited from a city that included pedestrians and movie vehicles. Something akin to New Donk City from Super Mario Odyssey would have surpassed our expectations.
6 Twilight Town
Twilight Town has appeared in nearly every game since Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. This vibrant town contains a train station and a booming market. It's known as a place where Roxas and friends eat sea salt ice cream on the clock tower. Sora, Donald, and Goofy visit Twilight Town in Kingdom Hearts III.
Kingdom Hearts III contains the most detailed version of Twilight Town. Interestingly enough, Ratatouille appears in this Twilight Town. Remy, the movie's protagonist, is an anthropomorphic rat that makes a cameo appearance at a bistro.
5 Kingdom Of Corona
The lush green Kingdom of Corona is where Sora, Goofy, and Donald meet Tangled's Princess Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, also known as Eugene Fitzherbert. The forest area is quite expansive, which adds to the immersion of the game.
In the beginning, our favorite Kingdom Hearts trio is confused about why they are in such a tranquil world. They soon encounter Flynn Rider, who appears to be in a hurry. As the Heartless approach, it becomes clear why Flynn is running in the opposite direction. Other notable characters who appear in the world are Maximus, Mother Gothel, Marluxia, Maleficent, and Pete.
4 Olympus
Kingdom Hearts III kicks off with stylishness and originality as it delves into Olympus as if it were for the first time. Olympus is a recurring world throughout the Kingdom Hearts series, yet this appearance is quite different from earlier versions.
It would have been a bonus if Square Enix decided to add the Colosseum from previous Kingdom Hearts games. However, we were not disappointed by Olympus as it contains a spectacular boss fight and a detailed world that we'll love to play again.
3 Toy Box
It begins as an entertaining, jovial world in Andy's Room. The sense of realism is outstanding. However, the Galaxy Toys become frustrating because of unclear paths and repetitive enemy encounters.
For its beginning moments, Toy Box is considered one of the best Kingdom Hearts III worlds. Toy Story is a fan-favorite Disney film, which is a reason why this deserves a high placement on this list. Andy's Room and the front of the house has a masterful design. Kingdom Hearts III would not be the same without the Toy Box world.
2 Monstropolis
Since Pixar is a part of Disney, it opens up many possibilities for the Kingdom Hearts III worlds, as we have already seen with Toy Story. Monsters Inc. is one of the latest franchises to join the game. The feeling like you are inside the movie makes Monstropolis one of our favorite worlds.
As Disney's animation becomes more sophisticated, it's going to be harder for developer Square Enix to create worlds like these. They did a wondrous job with Kingdom Hearts III, and Monstropolis is so satisfying.
1 The Caribbean
Putting bias aside, the Caribbean is hands down the best Kingdom Hearts III world. Depending on your choices in the game, the Caribbean might be the last place you visit. Easily the best of the bunch, it contains an eye-opening blend of animation and realism. Ship combat, boss battles, and hunting for treasure is why this world stands out.
Based on Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, rescuing Jack Sparrow from Davy Jones's Locker proves to be a daunting task. Although some of Kingdom Hearts III's worlds were lackluster, the game is worth a playthrough for worlds like the Caribbean.