Kingdom Hearts Final Mix

Story and setting

Sora lives on the peaceful Destiny Islands with his friends Riku and Kairi. When sinister creatures known as the Heartless invade, the islands are destroyed and the three friends are separated. Sora is chosen to wield the Keyblade and sets out to find Riku and Kairi, restore the worlds consumed by darkness and uncover the truth behind the attack.

His journey takes him through a mixture of original locations and worlds based on Disney films. Donald Duck and Goofy join him as travelling companions, while familiar Disney characters and Final Fantasy figures form part of the wider cast. The story is the starting point for the series' Dark Seeker Saga, although Kingdom Hearts' terminology and later revelations can make the plot denser than its colourful presentation suggests.

How it plays

Kingdom Hearts Final Mix uses real-time, third-person combat rather than traditional turn-based battles. Sora attacks with the Keyblade, casts magic, uses items and unlocks abilities as he gains experience. Donald and Goofy fight alongside him under computer control, and their behaviour can be adjusted through the game's customisation options.

Exploration links combat with light role-playing systems. Sora can equip weapons and abilities, collect materials, synthesise items and use summons, while each Disney world introduces its own characters, objectives and set pieces. The Final Mix build is the expanded version of the original game, adding scenes, balance changes, extra encounters and optional boss content. Square Enix has not announced a further gameplay overhaul specifically for the 2026 releases.

Platforms, editions and UK price

For the 2026 UK launch, Kingdom Hearts Final Mix is included in the digital Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX pack on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Microsoft Store on Windows. The Switch version is a native release rather than the older cloud edition. The Switch 2 version is separate and is not compatible with the original Switch hardware. Existing Steam and Epic Games Store versions of HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX are already available.

The UK price for HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX is £32.99 on PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo's UK listings. The larger Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III], which also includes HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue and Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind, costs £64.99. The full collection has physical editions listed for PlayStation and Nintendo Switch 2, but Final Mix itself is not sold as a separate physical product.

The standard UK release date is Thursday, 8 October 2026. PlayStation and Xbox pre-orders placed by 11:59pm on 7 October include 48 hours of early access, meaning eligible buyers should be able to start on Tuesday, 6 October in Britain.

Trailers and showcases

Square Enix announced the collection on 9 June 2026 with the Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] Announce Trailer. It confirmed the three-part structure, the 8 October release date and the move to native versions on Switch 2, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, alongside the separate native Switch release of HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX. The trailer also confirmed a Switch 2 demo for Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind, rather than a demo for Final Mix.

The Nintendo Direct broadcast on 9 June showed the same collection announcement and highlighted the six experiences contained in HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX: Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, Re:Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, the 358/2 Days cinematic compilation, Birth by Sleep Final Mix and the Re:coded cinematic compilation. A 30 September pre-launch livestream was promoted as a collection Q&A featuring Riku voice actor David Gallagher, not as a dedicated Final Mix gameplay presentation. No separate 2026 Final Mix gameplay trailer has been announced.

What we still don't know

Square Enix has confirmed the packages, platforms, prices shown by the UK storefronts and the early-access offer, but it has not published a detailed technical breakdown for Final Mix on each system. Resolution targets, performance modes, loading improvements, trophy and achievement arrangements, and any new visual upgrades beyond the existing HD presentation remain unconfirmed.

There is also no confirmed PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass inclusion, and no UK retail listing or price has been announced for a standalone Final Mix product because the game is currently presented as part of HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX. If you only want the first adventure, the £32.99 HD collection is the relevant purchase; the £64.99 bundle is for the complete I–III package.