Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 Switch 2 Review - Magic On The Go

Published Oct 5, 2026, 7:00 AM EDT Outside of some minor issues with Kingdom Hearts 3, the Kingdom Hearts Collection on Switch 2 is exactly what we’ve all been wanting. Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 On Switch 2 Is A Near-Perfect Way To Experience My Favourite Series Kingdom Hearts is, bar none, my favourite gaming series of all time, and one that’s been a core part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve played through every game in the series more times than I can count, from the original releases on PS2 and whatever handhelds I had to buy specifically for a spin-off, to the HD remixes on PS3, PS4, and most recently, PC. You’d think those several hundred hours would be more than enough, but like every Kingdom Hearts fan, I’ve been begging to see the series get a proper port for the Switch 2. As someone who never got on with the Steam Deck, being able to play through the whole collection wherever and whenever I wanted has been a dream for a long time. That dream is finally here with Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3, which brings together every game in the series (except for Melody of Memory, which was already on Switch) for one definitive package. Of course, we’ve already had that on other consoles with All In One and Integrum Masterpiece on Steam, but it’s the first chance Switch 2 players have had to experience these wonderful games without resorting to the awful cloud version. Over the past few days, I’ve spent some time with every single game in the collection to see how they stack up. Beyond some small differences (and minor issues with specific games, which we’ll get into), it’s pretty much exactly what you’d expect and mostly on par with the more recent PC port. With that in mind, I thought I’d take this unique chance to finally give you my ranking of the whole Kingdom Hearts series, as well as detail how they play on Switch 2. Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded A few games in the Kingdom Hearts Collection aren’t really games at all, and are instead remade and expanded cutscene compilations that let you experience the story. Perhaps unsurprisingly, that means they work pretty well on Switch 2, although the cutscenes do have the same jagged edges they've always had. Although it’s become more important over time, Re:coded is easily the low point of these cutscene games, since its plot is mostly a bunch of filler revisits with some interesting stuff sprinkled in. Some scenes, like Data Sora going up against Roxas and Riku getting bugs put in him, do make Re:coded more memorable, but don’t stop it from being the worst of the collection. Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days The next example of not really being a game is 358/2 Days, which tells the story of Roxas’ time in Organisation 13 before the events of Kingdom Hearts 2. Once again, it runs exactly as you’d hope on Switch 2, so there’s not much to say about that side of it aside from the same jagged edges as Re:Coded. 358/2 Days’ story is actually one of the best in the whole franchise, as Roxas, Xion, and Axel have always been an incredibly interesting and tragic trio. The only reason that it’s so low down on the list is because 358/2 Days absolutely deserved a proper remake, and I’m still sea salty that we got a compilation instead. Kingdom Hearts X Back Cover The final cutscene-only game in the Kingdom Hearts Collection is X Back Cover, which covers some of the most important context from Union X. Unlike 358 and Re:coded, X Back Cover’s cutscenes are entirely new, which makes them a bit more impressive and less like you’ve been robbed of a remaster. X Back Cover’s story is also well-told and surprisingly engaging (the Master of Masters being a notable standout), especially since it’s incredibly important for the future of Kingdom Hearts. If there’s one compilation you absolutely shouldn’t skip in the collection, it’s this one. Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain Of Memories This one absolutely comes down to personal taste, but Re:Chain of Memories’ card-focused combat just never clicked with me. I love the story and force myself through just for that, but it’s always been my least favourite in the whole series. As the first proper game in the collection, I’m happy to report that it runs perfectly on Switch 2, with no framerate or graphical issues and impressively speedy load times. Get used to hearing that for most of this review. It’s a little bit of a missed opportunity that the Game Boy Advance version wasn’t included in the Switch 2 collection. Kingdom Hearts 0.2: A Fragmentary Passage A Fragmentary Passage may be a bit of an awkward side game with less substance than what it was clearly a demo for, but I’ve still got a big soft spot for it. It came at a time when things were finally getting exciting for Kingdom Hearts again, and was basically a lifeline for everyone who spent so long waiting for the series to return. Sadly, Aqua’s side game is one of two games that prevent me from calling the Switch 2 collection perfect. The uncapped frame rate is sadly pretty choppy and consistently dips and dives, which can get a little nauseating in long bursts of handheld mode. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it is an issue holding the Switch 2 version back from the rest. Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance Dream Drop Distance is easily one of the most divisive Kingdom Hearts games, and I can’t disagree with most of the criticisms about its convoluted story, complete lack of balance, and annoying central mechanic. Even with all of that, though, it’s still a good time with some highlights, particularly playing as Riku and the standout world selection. Unlike A Fragmentary Passage, Dream Drop Distance runs and looks like a dream on Switch 2, and is arguably the best way to play a game that was clearly designed for handhelds. Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep Birth By Sleep might be the worst example of floatiness in Kingdom Hearts, but its dark and devastating plot more than makes up for it. Ventus, Aqua, and Terra’s tragic tale is the best in the whole series and, if you can get past feeling weightless, the combat and D-Links have a lot to offer too. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but Birth By Sleep also has no issues on the Switch 2 and boasts the same fast loading times I’ve mentioned above. Like with DDD, it's a perfect way to get the handheld experience it was meant for. I’m sure this placement might be a little controversial, as the one that started it all is the other obvious number one pick for a lot of fans. As much as I absolutely adore nearly everything about the first Kingdom Hearts and its specific vibe that the series never returned to, it’s simply outclassed by the next two picks. The original Kingdom Hearts is also where the collection first really impressed me, as it looks absolutely stunning, runs smooth as butter, and has noticeably speedy loading times on Switch 2. Considering it’s one of the most important games in the collection, that’s a big win. Kingdom Hearts 3 I know Kingdom Hearts 3 is considered disappointing by some fans, but I will die on the hill that it’s a fantastic game with tons going for it. Amazing Disney worlds, stellar combat thanks to Keyblade Transformations, and a story that hit harder than anything I’ve ever experienced. I am absolutely a bit biased considering KH3 is the game that got me where I am today, but I still think it’s greater than people give it credit for. Unfortunately, just like with A Fragmentary Passage, Kingdom Hearts 3 is one of the more troubled games of the bunch. The same issues from that game are present here, with the unsteady framerate and sometimes lengthy load times being noticeable annoyances in my hours with it. Again, it’s not unplayable by any means, but it does stop me from saying the Switch 2 is the new best place to play the whole series. It wouldn’t be so bad if the framerate was capped at 30fps, but gunning for 60 and constantly fluctuating makes it a little hard to play at times. Kingdom Hearts 2 Yes, I’m the incredibly basic kind of fan that prefers Kingdom Hearts 2 over the rest. On a personal level, KH2’s ads were what introduced me to the series and got me hooked, but it’s simply very deserving of the top spot with its incredible and still unmatched combat mechanics. Kingdom Hearts 2 feels so good to play that you don’t even need to care about the series to get a lot out of it. Just like the first Kingdom Hearts, KH2 is flawless, no notes on the Switch 2, and might even be my new favourite way to play since I can take it anywhere. It’s the only game in the collection that I spent far longer than I needed to for this review, because a Critical run is just that damn good. Overall, Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 on Switch 2 is a fantastic package that is so close to being completely on par with the Integrum Masterpiece release. Kingdom Hearts 3 and A Fragmentary Passage’s framerate issues are the only things stopping it from definitively being my new favourite way to play, but the ability to go portable is worth those minor issues. Whether you’re a complete newcomer preparing for Kingdom Hearts 4 or a diehard fan like me looking for an excuse to replay, Kingdom Hearts Collection 1-3 on Switch 2 is a fantastic way to do it. Released October 8, 2026 ESRB Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol Developer(s) Square Enix Publisher(s) Square Enix Franchise Kingdom Hearts Number of Players Single-player Xbox Series X|S Release Date October 8, 2026 PS5 Release Date October 8, 2026 Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date October 8, 2026 Genre(s) Action, Adventure, RPG, JRPG Platform(s) Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S X|S Optimized Yes File Size Xbox Series 118.53 GB Pros & Cons Most games run perfectly Load times are impressively quick Kingdom Hearts on the go is a dream Kingdom Hearts 3 has some uncapped framerate issues Longer loading times for KH3