Kingdom Hearts III has officially released in Japan! First reviews for the most anticipated Kingdom Hearts III have been published worldwide following the release!
Check out the list below to see different opinions and thoughts on the masterpiece. We will keep this list updated. KH13.com will also be posting our own review of Kingdom Hearts III, along with a video review coming very soon!
| Critic | Excerpt | Score |
| Gamereactor | "Simply put, Kingdom Hearts III is a masterpiece." | 100 |
| PlayStation LifeStyle |
(Editor's Choice) "I never once thought there was a way Square Enix could live up to the hype the company has built up for this game. But bravo, it has done it and then some." |
100 |
| Impulsegamer | "It’s a great use of the Disney characters and imagining of the locations that should entertain young and old… it does in our house." | 98 |
| XGN | "Magical from start to finish." | 98 |
| Famitsu | - | 97.5 (39/40) |
| Hobby Consolas | "Its greatest achievement is that, despite the passage of time, it is still an experience that can only be described with one word: magic." | 95 |
| The Games Machine | "Kingdom Hearts 3 succeeds in the difficult task of being up to expectations, not distorting anything but raising to the nth degree the strengths of the previous chapters." | 95 |
| Game Informer |
(Game of the Month) "A main attraction worth waiting for." |
95 |
| Easy Allies | "It may have a been a long time coming, but Kingdom Hearts III delivers on its promises, and it’s easily the best game in the series. " | 95 |
| Meristation | "An outstanding adventure that has come to remind us why Sora, Riku and Kairi ... and Donald, Goofy and Mickey Mouse, of course, are living videogame history." | 91 |
| 3DJuegos | "Its extraordinary fusion of creative worlds reaches a new peak in the history of the franchise, giving rise to playable concepts that surprise from start to finish in a durable video game loaded with content." | 90 |
| US Gamer | "Kingdom Hearts 3 ushers a beloved series into a new generation, while wholeheartedly embracing its roots." | 90 |
| Atomix | "The wait for KH3 was very long, but believe me when I tell you that it was really worth it." | 90 |
| GamesBeat | "Excessive, yet satisfying." | 90 |
| IGN Italia | "A game that focuses on spectacularity, coming out head-on. Kingdom Hearts III is the worthy conclusion of a journey begun seventeen years ago." | 90 |
| IGN Germany | "Kingdom Hearts 3 is by far the best Disney game, a fun action RPG and the successful completion of the Xehanort saga. Those interested in just one of these three aspects will have fun with the third part of the crossover series." | 90 |
| IGN Spain | "It's magic." | 90 |
| Multiplayer.it | "It would have been absurd to drastically change a structure that, for better or for worse, has become iconic. So Tetsuya Nomura did not do it." | 90 |
| Press Start Australia | "With exhilarating combat, fantastic Disney worlds and a smart approach to an unavoidably convoluted story, it does everything it needs to not only please hardcore fans but anyone up for a solid action JRPG. Against all odds, this might be the perfect Kingdom Hearts game." | 90 |
| Vandal | "Kingdom Hearts ends an era with a fantastic game, spectacular, varied and, above all, very fun." | 90 |
| GamePro Germany | "A colorful firework of childhood memories, motivating role-playing mechanics, and spectacular boss fights." | 90 |
| Gameblog.fr | "A true homage to the fans of the saga, to whom it addresses itself above all, Kingdoms Hearts III retraces the end of Sora's journey through the exploration of new worlds, more beautiful and vast than in the past, with a strong respect for the Disney worlds from which it is inspired. " | 90 |
| Trusted Reviews | "Whether you’re a hardcore fan or a hesitant newcomer, there is an undeniable charm to Kingdom Hearts 3 that’s easy to fall in love with." | 90 |
| PushSquare | "The fact that Kingdom Hearts III even managed to release could be considered a miracle in of itself, but what’s perhaps even more surprising is that the finished product defies all expectations." | 90 |
| Twinfinite | "It’s an unerring tribute to everything Disney and what the Kingdom Hearts series has become, and despite its few flaws creates an interesting blueprint for where the series could go next with gameplay and story." | 90 |
| Shacknews | "Kingdom Hearts III is an absolute triumph, conquering the darkness that plagued the series' past and standing firmly in the light." | 90 |
| Worth Playing | "Kingdom Hearts III is exactly the sequel it should be." | 90 |
| Hardcore Gamer | "From combat to story to graphics, Kingdom Hearts III delivers the magic, gut-punches and grandeur the series is known for." | 90 |
| Game Revolution | "When the credits finish rolling, you’ll be safe in the knowledge that you’ve played a game like no other." | 90 |
| Digital Trends | "Kingdom Hearts III plays similarly to its PS2 predecessors while bringing new elements to the gameplay that make it feel incredibly modern." | 90 |
| Power Unlimited | "If you have warm feelings for Disney characters and worlds, this is perhaps the best game ever, but even if you do not feel anything for Disney, it is actually mandatory." | 90 |
| LevelUp | "Undoubtedly, Kingdom Hearts III is a satisfying chapter in one of the most beloved sagas by fans of the action JRPGs." | 88 |
| 4Players.de | "Kingdom Hearts 3 is more than the sum of its items, more than a franchise mix of Disney and Square characters. Despite small weaknesses, it is an experience that leads me through a wide range of emotions and will establish itself as one of the most outstanding action-adventure of the year." | 88 |
| IGN | "Kingdom Hearts 3 is a fulfilling evolution and resolution of the franchise that shows it’s still full of heart." | 87 |
| App Trigger | "Though the plot is a little too reliant on side entries and remembering almost everything in the series, Kingdom Hearts III is a welcome return of the Disney action-RPG epic and the best game in the series to date, making you really want to see the next chapter in the series as soon as possible." | 85 |
| Gamer.ni | "Kingdom Hearts 3 is far from perfect, but it is everything the fans hoped for." | 85 |
| GameCrate | "Kingdom Hearts III is too much game for its own good." | 85 |
| SpazioGames | "Kingdom Hearts III is technically excellent, aesthetically bewitching and in some moments manages to shine and sweep away any limitations it might have." | 80 |
| GamesRadar+ | "I'm not sure how I lived without its Mickey Mouse shaped madness in my life." | 80 |
| GameSpot | "In 2002, as Sora, I left Destiny Islands to travel across the universe and make new friends. In 2019 I brought old ones home, and I had so much fun doing it." | 80 |
| Eurogamer Italy | "Congestions aside, the combat system is one of the best in the saga for variety and dynamics, and there is no shortage of battles that will challenge the most experienced players." | 80 |
| FANDOM | "This magical finale overcomes its storytelling flaws." | 80 |
| Game Rant | "You may find yourself googling character names and plot details from 15 years ago, but all of that confusion fades away when you get lost in the moment summoning tea cups or a giant rollercoaster to help attack a big boss with your best friends." | 80 |
| ScreenRant | "A sprawling, varied game that is all the better for its wild, confusing moments." | 80 |
| Destructoid | "Despite all of the absurd twists and turns, the character missteps and the complete lack of some series-defining cast members, there are very few creations out there that make me smile this often." | 80 |
| PlayStation Universe | "Kingdom Hearts 3 has everything a title could want: iconic characters, enthralling and accessible gameplay, and a story that just won’t quit." | 80 |
| CGMagazine | "Kingdom Hearts III is the biggest, boldest, flashiest entry in the saga—one that builds upon the gameplay systems of its forebears in a kaleidoscopic carnival of action RPG jubilance." | 80 |
| JeuxActu | "Backed up by a enjoyable battle system and a genuine love for the animation films it has adapted, Tetsuya Nomura’s work takes on the big boys and we cannot not suggest it to you." | 80 |
| GameSpace | "If you embrace that it’s all nonsense to serve you up a delightful nostalgic romp through some of the greatest and most beloved family films, you’re not going to be disappointed." | 80 |
| The Digital Fix | "Kingdom Hearts 3 is a great game that parades itself around in a plethora of showy and colourful clothing and just asks you to watch." | 80 |
| Cultured Vultures | "While the game does come with some problems with its plot and big empty worlds, I wouldn’t call them deal breakers, as whatever they lacked for they made up for with energy and, no pun intended, heart." | 80 |
| Jeuxvideos.com | "Despite its shortcomings, Kingdom Hearts III remains a very good experience which distils its world brilliantly." | 80 |
| Gamers Heroes | "Newcomers to the series will be baffled by the complexity and bizarre nature of Kingdom Hearts III’s story. Despite this, if you like good combat and want to visit Disney World, you can do far worse than this title." | 80 |
| EGM | "Is it a game that lives up to a decade of hype, though? Perhaps not. But maybe no game could." | 75 |
| God is a Geek | "It may have been challenging at times, and the final flourish of boss fights nearly killed me, but I did enjoy playing the concluding game in Sora’s journey to vanquish evil once and for all." | 75 |
| The Guardian | "Kingdom Hearts III plays it extremely safe, ultimately banking on nostalgia and delivering more of the same. Its charm is only skin-deep." | 60 |
| VideoGamer | "Kingdom Hearts III is a beautiful hunk of sugary writing, convoluted plotting, and repetitive combat with a reliance on beloved IP that exposes its shallow core." | 40 |
| Game Watch | - | N/A |
| Eurogamer | "A grand finale that's both torturous and sublime." | N/A |
| Kotaku | "Wow, they filled this game with stuff." | N/A |
| The Verge | "Maybe this is actually the ideal way to play: you’re going to be confused no matter what, so you might as well embrace it." | N/A |
| Mashable | "I love the idea of this game being able to float me back into a time where I could cheer for Mickey Mouse without feeling silly and cry because Naminé was lonely. That feeling alone is worth the box price on Kingdom Hearts III." | N/A |
| Waypoint | "Kingdom Hearts III is an absolute disaster. I loved every minute of it." | N/A |
| The A.V. Club | "Kingdom Hearts III is a cheerful celebration of Disney’s inescapable cultural monopoly." | N/A |
| Jimquisition | "Yes, it’s more total nonsense from a story perspective. As a game? Well, it’s a ton of bloody fun, because it’s a very good game!" | N/A |
| Polygon | "After years of buildup, the story’s conclusion fails to do it justice." | N/A |
You can also keep updated on the latest review on Metacritic by clicking here. Currently, the aggregated critic score on Metacritic is 85/100.
UPDATE [Jan 25, 2019]: The Japanese publications Famitsu and Game Watch have been added to the table with their reviews of the game. The official Kingdom Hearts Facebook page has also posted an image showing the top 5 reviews for the game, you can view the image below!
Kingdom Hearts III will be available on January 29 worldwide. Be sure to follow our coverage of the release of Kingdom Hearts III!
UPDATE [Jan 31, 2019]: Even more reviews for Kingdom Hearts III have been released! We have updated the list in the table above, as well as updated Metacritic's aggregated score for the game.
UPDATE [February 7, 2019]: Famitsu have published their review of Kingdom Hearts III, giving it a score of 39/40!
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