Kingdom Hearts: All Worlds From The Original Game, Ranked

Highlights

• Kingdom Hearts features memorable Disney worlds worth exploring, each with unique storylines and challenges for players to uncover.
• Dive to The Heart serves as an excellent tutorial, with the iconic Darkside boss battles setting the tone for the game.
• Hollow Bastion offers pivotal story moments and challenging bosses, making it one of the most important worlds in the series.

Kingdom Hearts has changed a lot over the years, but if there is one thing that has continuously happened throughout the series, it’s that the main characters have visited different worlds. In the first installment of the series, players were able to explore worlds based on classic Disney films, such as The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Alice in Wonderland, as well as a few locations that were made specifically for the title itself.

In this first game, Sora, Donald, and Goofy fight against the Heartless in these worlds while searching for their missing friends. Sora must save the worlds by finding each of their keyholes and then locking them using his Keyblade. Each world in Kingdom Hearts features a variety of interesting things, but some are executed much better than others.

Updated June 15, 2024, by Justin Flynn: Kingdom Hearts is home to a plethora of remarkable Disney and original worlds for players to get lost in, and with the series finally launching on Steam, even more gamers now have the chance to dive in. Newcomers to the franchise will likely play Kingdom Hearts 1 before getting into any other entries, and this would be a wise choice considering how well this title sets the series’ tone. It features likable characters, unforgettable boss fights, and some of the best worlds in the entire franchise. That said, some of the worlds in Kingdom Hearts 1 are arguably better than others for various reasons.

14 Atlantica

An Underwater World With Unusual Controls

• Origin: The Little Mermaid
• Allies: Ariel
• Assistants: Flounder
• Bosses: Ursula

Atlantica is based on The Little Mermaid and is one of the last Disney worlds that players can visit, though they don’t actually need to go there to beat the game. When Sora, Donald, and Goofy arrive there, they transform into sea creatures and befriend Ariel, Flounder, and Sebastian. After she gets into a fight with her father, Ariel is manipulated by Ursula, who the heroes then have to defeat in battle.

Unfortunately, many players didn’t enjoy the world due to how easy it can be to get lost in it. The way combat functions underwater was also one of this Kingdom Hearts world’s biggest problems. Perhaps if the fighting mechanics were better implemented, long-time fans of the series would have fonder memories of this portion of the game. Still, this world attempted to do something different, and though the execution wasn’t perfect, it offers a fun experience for those patient enough to really familiarize themselves with the controls. In terms of story, Atlantica also does a great job at incorporating Disney characters into the Kingdom Hearts plot, with King Triton being familiar with the Keyblade and scolding Sora for meddling in his affairs.

13 Monstro

A Great Idea For A World But Slightly Repetitive During The Early Sections

• Origin: Pinocchio (1940)
• Allies: N/A
• Assistants: Riku
• Bosses: Parasite Cage

Though not technically a world, Pinocchio‘s Monstro the whale is generally considered to be one when Sora, Donald, and Goofy are swallowed up by him and forced to explore his insides. There, Jiminy Cricket, who had been traveling with the main trio, can find both Pinocchio and Geppetto.

Their happy reunion is cut short, however, as Riku also finds them and kidnaps the puppet. Luckily, Sora and his friends manage to save Pinocchio and escape the whale. Like Atlantica, Monstro’s level design can make it feel like a bit of a maze, frustrating players as they explore each individual area. Though it’s a very interesting concept for a Kingdom Hearts world, the layout is just a tad too confusing to warrant many return visits. That said, some great story beats involving Sora and Riku occur here, so fans of the narrative are sure to enjoy at least some aspects of this world.

12 100 Acre Wood

A Charming Safe Space That Features Many Unique Mini-Games

• Origin: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977)
• Allies: N/A
• Assistants: Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Roo, & Eeyore
• Bosses: N/A

Worlds in Kingdom Hearts really can be found anywhere, from the inside of animals to the pages of children’s books. When Sora, Donald, and Goofy meet Merlin in Traverse Town, players can go inside his book, which just happens to be based on the Winnie the Pooh movies.

While exploring the 100 Acre Wood, Sora meets Pooh and offers to help him find his friends by completing several optional mini-games. When players want to take a break from fighting enemies and progressing through the main story, this can be an enjoyable and relaxing place to come to.

11 Dive To The Heart

A Haunting Location That Provides A Great Tutorial

• Origin: Original Creation
• Allies: N/A
• Assistants: N/A
• Bosses: Darkside

Dive to the Heart is the first area that players get to explore and serves as a short tutorial level. There’s nothing overly elaborate on offer, but what’s there does an excellent job of guiding players through the game’s key mechanics and thus serves as the perfect introduction to Kingdom Hearts.

During the first few minutes of the game, players will also be required to make a few difficult decisions that will impact their experience as they learn how to fight against the Heartless. It really is a great introduction to the title, perfectly setting players up for the journey that lies ahead of them. Since its first appearance, the Dive to the Heart has become a major staple of the series. It marks the beginning of each of Sora’s grandest adventures while also alluding to the series’ darker themes.

10 Neverland

A Small World That Grants Sora The Ability To Fly

• Origin: Peter Pan (1953)
• Allies: Peter Pan
• Assistants: Tinkerbell
• Bosses: Anti-Sora & Captain Hook

Based on Peter Pan, Sora, Donald, and Goofy meet the boy who wouldn’t grow up and his fairy companion Tinkerbell inside of Captain Hook’s pirate ship. Naturally, the bloodthirsty pirate turns out to be working with Riku, with the pair teaming up in an attempt to capture their enemies.

However, when Sora learns how to fly, he and his friends are able to defeat Hook and emerge from the world unscathed. It’s an excellent level, but unfortunately, players can only go to Captain Hook’s ship and Big Ben; they are not able to explore the entire setting of the movie. That said, the claustrophobic feeling provided by this Kingdom Hearts world works exceptionally well for how the story here unfolds, especially during the early stages.

9 Deep Jungle

A Mostly Enjoyable World That Requires A Lot Of Backtracking

• Origin: Tarzan (1999)
• Allies: Tarzan
• Assistants: N/A
• Bosses: Sabor & Clayton

Deep Jungle is based on Tarzan and only appears once in the Kingdom Hearts series. It’s a bright and vibrant world with an awful lot of character, although the need to repeatedly travel from one side of it to the other can make it feel a little bland at times.

After Sora and Donald get into a huge argument, they consider going their separate ways. Upon meeting some of the characters from Tarzan, however, they decide to put their difference aside to save the gorillas from Clayton. The payoff is arguably worth all of the back and forth, with the storyline being punctuated by some truly excellent moments. For fans of mini-games, Jungle Slider can also provide hours of chaotic entertainment.

8 Halloween Town

A Dark World That’s Easy To Get Lost In

• Origin: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
• Allies: Jack Skellington
• Assistants: Zero
• Bosses: Lock, Shock, Barrel, & Oogie Boogie

Halloween Town is from The Nightmare Before Christmas. However, Sora, Donald, and Goofy only get to experience the Halloween side of this world, as Santa and Christmas Town aren’t shown. Though a little disappointing, the spooky side should be more than enough to satisfy most players.

Instead of taking over a holiday that isn’t his, Jack, the Pumpkin King, wants to create a heart in order to make the Heartless in the town dance. However, after Sora, Donald, and Goofy help him find what he needs to make the heart, Lock, Shock, and Barrel take it, causing the heroes to fight against them and Oogie Boogie. The final boss fight in this world is nothing short of a spectacle, but it can quickly become frustrating due to the awkward platforming that’s involved. Even though it has some flaws, this world is very aesthetically pleasing and, from a visual standpoint, is certain to impress those who visit it.

7 Destiny Island

A Charming Beach That Features Beautiful Scenery

• Origin: Original Creation
• Allies: N/A
• Assistants: N/A
• Bosses: Darkside

Destiny Island is an original, simple, and clean world that serves as the home of Sora, Riku, and Kairi. Players are only able to see one of the world’s islands in the first Kingdom Hearts game and don’t really get to do all that much on it. Even so, what’s shown is beautifully designed and feels like a true tropical paradise.

Sora races and fights against Riku, as well as several Final Fantasy characters, including Tidus, Wakka, and Selphie. He also finds the food and supplies that he needs for the raft that he intends to travel on with his friends. Destiny Island is invaded by the Heartless at the beginning of the game, however, causing Sora to be separated from his friends. As Sora’s home, Destiny Island remains one of the most iconic worlds in Kingdom Hearts, and though it can seem a little bland when compared to other worlds, it still provides a very charming experience for those just getting into the series.

6 Wonderland

A Cartoon-Esque World Full Of Quirky Design Choices

• Origin: Alice in Wonderland (1951)
• Allies: N/A
• Assistants: N/A
• Bosses: The Queen of Hearts & Trick Master

As indicated by its name, Wonderland is taken directly from Alice in Wonderland and is one of the very first worlds that Sora, Donald, and Goofy can visit. Here, they try to save Alice from the Queen of Hearts by searching for evidence to prove that she is not responsible for the Heartless’ actions.

However, Alice disappears, and the trio has to leave the world empty-handed, so to speak. Though the events that take place there may be disappointing, the world itself is full of wonders and offers one of the more interesting settings that players can explore. It’s perhaps a little smaller than some would have liked, but it’s very much a case of quality over quantity here.

5 End Of The World

A Harrowing World Full Of Challenging Foes

• Origin: Original Creation
• Allies: N/A
• Assistants: N/A
• Bosses: Chernabog, Darkside, & Ansem

End of the World is, as the name might suggest, the last world that players get to explore in Kingdom Hearts. They’ll need to fight a huge variety of difficult enemies and bosses here as they gradually make their way toward Ansem, the game’s final boss.

As this world is also connected to others, players get to see all the worlds that they visited one last time, ending with a corrupted version of Destiny Islands. After Sora, Donald, and Goofy defeat Ansem, they close the Door to Darkness with Riku and Mickey, bringing all of the other worlds back to the Realm of Light. While most Kingdom Hearts worlds are designed to look inviting, End of the World dismisses this idea and embraces its terrifying aesthetic. That said, those capable of dealing with the enemies that reside in this world will likely find End of the World’s visuals to be more beautiful than frightening. It’s also a very fun area to explore, harboring treasure chests in areas that seem almost impossible to reach and permitting Sora to fly in certain rooms.

4 Agrabah

Features A Charming Town And A Labyrinthian-Esque Cave For Players To Explore

• Origin: Aladdin (1992)
• Allies: Aladdin
• Assistants: Carpet & Abu
• Bosses: Genie & Genie Jafar

Based on the classic Disney movie Aladdin, Sora, Donald, and Goofy team up with Genie and Aladdin almost immediately after they arrive in Agrabah. They hope to save Jasmine from Jafar, but doing so is far from easy and requires plenty of skill as well as a healthy serving of teamwork. Though they are eventually able to defeat the world’s villain, Jasmine ends up getting kidnapped, which may leave a sour taste in the mouths of some gamers.

Agrabah is one of the most beloved worlds in the game, appearing in other installments throughout the franchise far more frequently than most others. Agrabah itself doesn’t offer overly much in terms of exploration, but the Cave of Wonders is very easy to get lost in for those unfamiliar with its layout. The cave is also full of fun details that reference the movie, too, so fans of both Kingdom Hearts and Aladdin are certain to enjoy exploring it.

3 Traverse Town

An Adorable Hub World Full Of Endearing Characters And Fun Puzzles

• Origin: Original Creation
• Allies: N/A
• Assistants: N/A
• Bosses: Leon, Guard Armor, & Opposite Armor

Traverse Town is the world that Sora, Donald, and Goofy visit the most throughout Kingdom Hearts, at least in terms of the main story, anyway. This is also where the trio first meet one another, as well as some of their comrades who are originally from the Final Fantasy games.

When Sora first arrives there from Destiny Islands, he meets Leon, Yuffie, and Cid, while Aerith finds Donald and Goofy. They then introduce the three main protagonists to each other and help them throughout the game by giving them Munny and servicing the Gummi Ship. In terms of exploration, Traverse Town is quite small, but the world offers players a lot to interact with. There are puzzles in almost every room, and some of them can only be solved once Sora unlocks a specific ability. It also features a few hidden areas that become available as the story progresses, making the world feel much bigger than it actually is.

2 Olympus Coliseum

A Small World That Features Some Ruthless Enemy Gauntlets

• Origin: Hercules (1997)
• Allies: N/A
• Assistants: N/A
• Bosses: Cloud, Cerberus, Hades, & Sephiroth

While Traverse Town is the world that players return to the most throughout the main story, Olympus Coliseum gives players a lot of great optional boss battles to fight. Players are even able to fight two of the titans at the coliseum if they partake in the optional content. Hades and Sephiroth can also be faced here, both of whom can be incredibly challenging for those who come unprepared.

When Sora, Donald, and Goofy first get there, they enter the games, where they fight against Cloud from Final Fantasy 7 and Cerberus from Hercules. After they leave and progress through the story a little more, other tournaments become available, allowing players to level up their party and unlock new weapons. Olympus Coliseum may not offer much in terms of exploration, but it isn’t really required to. The main selling point is the tournaments, all of which can provide hours of fun for those brave enough to enter them.

1 Hollow Bastion

A Massive World Full Of Strong Bosses And Pivotal Story Moments

• Origin: Original Creation
• Allies: Beast
• Assistants: N/A
• Bosses: Riku, Maleficent, Riku-Ansem, & Behemoth

Hollow Bastion is one of the most important worlds in the entire Kingdom Hearts series, serving as the original home to many of the original and Final Fantasy characters present in the game. However, in the first game, it serves as Maleficent and the other Disney villains’ main headquarters.

Players can fight Riku here a couple of times, as well as Maleficent herself. As they explore the world, players uncover a lot of important information, such as Kairi being a princess and Ansem being a villain. This can completely change one’s perspective on a lot of the game’s events and therefore leaves a greater impression than any of the other worlds. Though Hollow Bastion is introduced as a nightmarish labyrinth, it remains one of the most beloved Kingdom Hearts worlds in the series. Having to backtrack through the world during the second visit can be a little daunting, but by that point, most players will likely have a pretty good idea of the castle’s layout. On top of being a great place to explore, it’s also one of the most aesthetically pleasing worlds in all of Kingdom Hearts 1.