Kingdom Hearts III is finally here. Fans have endured spin-off games and tie-ins for quite some time, but they finally have a direct sequel to Kingdom Hearts II in their hands nearly 15 years later. Many players have been eagerly awaiting the sequel while some have just been introduced the vast, dense mythology of the series. Regardless of where you fall, we’re here to help old and new keyblade wielders alike with some clever tips and tricks.
For this list, we'll be discussing the game's hidden content that only Kingdom Hearts experts know about, as well as some recommended strategies to help new players get the best experience. While some of these are secrets and Easter eggs, know that not all of the tips below are obscure. You can learn some of them just by playing the game, but since Kingdom Hearts III is dense with content, a lot of these features can get lost in the shuffle.
If you really want to be a Kingdom Hearts III expert, you'd have to sit through every single tutorial (and there are many), but nobody has time for that nonsense. The game stops players every few minutes with walls of text to explain its features, and you'll likely skip through most of them. After all, you probably want to get back to hanging out with Buzz Lightyear or Jack Sparrow.
In any case, write these down and pick up your keyblade. Here are 21 Things Only Experts Know You Can Do In Kingdom Hearts III.
Unlock The Starlight Keyblade
There are tons of unlockable keyblades in Kingdom Hearts III, but some of them require extra effort to earn. The Starlight is one of them, and it requires playing a totally different game just to get it. If you want the keyblade, start up the Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross] mobile game.
It's free and the unlock process doesn't even require that you play core game. Simply get high scores on the five Classic Kingdom mini-games in Union χ[Cross]. After doing so, the game rewards players with a redeemable code for the console of their choice.
Enter this code on your Kingdom Hearts III console and the Starlight Keyblade will . It's mostly just a palette swap of the standard Kingdom Key, but it's always nice to earn new toys.
Skip Gummi Ship Battles
The Gummi Ship missions have always been the worst part about Kingdom Hearts. These awkward Star Fox knockoffs used to act as brief mini-games between worlds. Now they have evolved into a three open-world levels.
If space flight is your thing, then go crazy. Most of us want to get back to the Disney stuff. Thankfully, while travelling by Gummi Ship is mandatory, space combat is optional. These combat stages only activate when the Gummi ship approaches an enemy.
Since space enemies only patrol small designated areas, players must simply avoid them to skip an encounter. Getting too close to an enemy will trigger combat, so keep your distance! The only mandatory Gummi ship mission occurs before reaching the last level, and you won't need expert skills to beat it.
Unlock Battlegates
Although there is no "New Game +" feature or bonus game mode after completion, Kingdom Hearts III does have endgame content: the Battlegates. Battlegates are interactive orbs found in each level that allow the player to tackle new and difficult boss battles.
These scenarios come with high-end rewards for Sora in the form of special gear and Secret Report pages. These text entries deepen the lore of the Kingdom Hearts universe. While some of these Battlegates feel like fun challenges, experts know that some of these can really test the player's skill.
Turn up the difficulty and give them a try if you're bored after the ending. It's not much for post-game content, but it should add an extra few hours to an already lengthy experience.
Cycle Through Reaction Prompts
An extremely useful new feature can get lost in the flurry of text-heavy tutorial screens. See all of those special attacks stacking up on the left side of the screen? Pressing L2 (or the left trigger for Xbox owners) will cycle through the different moves to select the one you want. You don't have to trigger them in order, so if you want to save a form change for last or break out a favorite in a tough situation, press L2.
Seeing as this button doesn't have an assigned function in previous games, returning players may not even realize this is possible. Nobody wants to sit through those tutorials (props to them, the real experts), but hopefully you learn this trick before, let's say, you complete a third of the game — hypothetically speaking, obviously.
Skip Special Moves
Here's an expert tip. Are you tired of watching those lengthy animations every time you use a special attack? Scroll through the options menu and you'll find a toggle that automatically skips them. You're welcome.
The game looks gorgeous and Sora's flashy special moves are quite the spectacle. However, watching the same time-consuming cut scenes over and over can get old quickly. Using this option will save a lot of time in the long run.
This is especially helpful when combat starts to feel repetitive later in the game, as players will have seen Sora's moves a hundred times over. It also makes combat feel faster and more fluid, as special moves fire off rapidly without short interruptions.
Ramp Up The Difficulty
We aren't trying to offend anyone who finds Kingdom Hearts III difficult. However, any series veteran will tell you that the game is surprisingly easy compared to previous installments. Beginner Mode is a total breeze and even Standard Mode can begin to feel safe as new moves unlock.
Even if you're new to Kingdom Hearts itself, fans of action games may want try Proud Mode from the start for an actual challenge.
While the hack-and-slash gameplay is simple to begin with, Proud Mode does require a bit more strategy. Proud Mode encourages that players block, dodge, and manage their inventories more carefully. It's still a breezy experience overall, but anyone look for a real challenge should consider this difficulty from the beginning or risk disappointment.
Skip The Recaps
Kingdom Hearts III is the finale to a very convoluted story. It's not very accessible to newcomers, despite the fact that the game offers recap videos to catch everyone up. Players can start the series with Kingdom Hearts III if they wish, but anyone determined to dive in should avoid those recaps at all costs.
New players might have already made the mistake of watching them. The recaps explain Kingdom Hearts so vaguely that the plot will still seem nonsensical.
Players should consider reading about the story elsewhere or watching a recap video online. Don't waste your time with those in-game recaps unless you're already familiar with the Kingdom Hearts universe. The basics are simple: anime characters hit each other with big keys while interrupting Disney movies. If you're new, you'll catch on.
Cook Often (Or Never)
Kingdom Hearts III is brimming with mini-games. The game introduces so many different mechanics that sometimes it feels like another genre all together. Sometimes it's a cooking game, inspired by Pixar's very underrated film, Ratatouille.
Ingredients can be brought to the Bistro in Twilight Town where Remy and Sora can cook them into meals. These dishes offer decent stat boosts for Sora, which can help in tough combat situations. Completing the cooking challenges even unlocks a unique keyblade.
However, any Kingdom Hearts expert knows that this game is incredibly easy — much easier than most of the other games. If the cooking segments aren't your thing, you'll make out just fine without the boosts from meals. Feel free to dive into the kitchen or avoid it completely. Sora and company will survive.
Swap Between Keyblades During Combat
While the older games only allow Sora to wield one keyblade at a time, Kingdom Hearts III lets him switch between three during combat. This is a new feature that even some experts might overlook, since most returning players having only one weapon.
Utilizing the three keyblade slots helps tackle different kinds of combat encounters. Keep an eye on the keyblades' varying stats, as some are built for strength, some are built for magic, and some are balanced.
The expert strategy here is to designate the first two slots for strength and magic but use the third slot for long range fights. Keyblades like the Shooting Star transform into gun-based weapons that make it easier to fight at a distance.
Play Hidden Mini-games
Video game completionists will want to keep their eyes out for these. Hidden in various chests throughout the game are Classic Kingdom mini-games, which also appear in Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross]. These heavily stylized mini-games are reminiscent of early Disney animation, albeit with the addition of a retro-looking Sora.
They aren't necessary for completing the game, but they are a nice break from the hack-and-slash gameplay without being as frustrating as the Gummi Ship. While the mini-games are collectables themselves, playing each one will unlock the Classic Tone keyblade if you want to add another treasure to your collection. It's a decent weapon when fully upgraded, so it acts as a nice incentive to find those mini-games.
