As anticipation builds for Kingdom Hearts IV, Kotaku has announced "Guiding Key," a new editorial series designed to guide players through the entire Kingdom Hearts saga. The project, which begins with the launch of the Kingdom Hearts Collection [I~III] on Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on October 8, 2026, invites readers and industry peers to embark on a communal replay of the series.
This "book club-style" initiative will feature regular posts from Kotaku writers and guest contributors, each chronicling their journey through the games' narratives. The goal is to foster discussion and provide an anchor for those undertaking their own playthroughs, culminating in playing Kingdom Hearts IV together upon its late 2027 release. The series aims to make the extensive backlog more accessible, with plans to cover the story through cutscene compilations for titles like Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days and Re:Coded, which are included in modern collections.
The planned schedule allocates a significant portion of 2026 and 2027 to this extensive replay. The original Kingdom Hearts and Chain of Memories are slated for late 2026 and early 2027, respectively. Kingdom Hearts II will span February through April 2027, followed by 358/2 Days and Re:Coded in May. The series continues with Birth by Sleep in June, Dream Drop Distance and A Fragmentary Passage in July, and mobile titles Union χ Dark Road in August. Kingdom Hearts III and its Re:Mind DLC will be covered from August to October 2027, with Melody of Memory concluding the retrospective in November, all leading up to Kingdom Hearts IV.
"Guiding Key" intends to be a collaborative experience, with plans to highlight reader comments and solicit questions to deepen engagement. The first official post detailing the initial sections of the playthrough is scheduled for Thursday, October 8, 2026.