Kingdom Hearts 3 has an ending that may leave newcomers feeling a little confused. The series has a winding, bizarre story that includes everything from mysterious doppelgangers through to dangerous underworlds and ancient prophecies. So, reaching its conclusion and making sense of it may be beyond those who haven't been keeping up with releases.
In the eyes of many, the story of Kingdom Hearts makes no sense, although that doesn't necessarily take away from the quality of the series as a whole. Kingdom Hearts 3 is a brilliant addition to the franchise, as explained in our Kingdom Hearts 3 review, but to get the most out of its ending players may want a little help. That's because the game's ending is hidden behind an epilogue and a secret final video.
Related: Kingdom Hearts 3 Beginners Guide: Gameplay Tips & Hints To Get Started
Accessing the secret video is straightforward, but players may still want a helping hand in how to do so. So, read on to find out how to reach that bonus ending and exactly what it means. Of course, there are spoilers aplenty for Kingdom Hearts 3, so be warned about reading ahead.
- This Page: How to Get Kingdom Hearts 3's Secret Ending & What The Main Ending Means
- Next Page: What Kingdom Hearts 3's Epilogue & Secret Ending Mean
How To Get Kingdom Hearts 3's Secret Ending
Many players will likely unlock the secret ending to Kingdom Hearts 3 without even thinking about it. That said, there are a few things that players will need to do in order to reach it. For starters, players need to make sure that they have at least downloaded update 1.03 of Kingdom Hearts 3, which includes the secret video.
Unlocking the video requires more than just an update, though. Across the game, users will have needed to photograph Lucky Emblems across the worlds of Kingdom Hearts 3 using the Gummi Phone. This varies depending on difficulty level, with 90 Lucky Emblems needed for Beginner, 60 needed for Standard, and 30 needed for Proud. A tracker for the number of Lucky Emblems photographed can be found in the Gummi Phone, if players need to check in on how many they have discovered.
After that, it's just a matter of completing the game. Once Kingdom Hearts 3 has been completed, and the main ending has been seen, go into the title's Theater mode. The ending video will then be available there to watch. The Kingdom Hearts 3 ending might not be easy to follow, aside from lots of mentions of hearts and darkness. Here's a quick rundown of the events of Kingdom Hearts 3's ending, from the core ending to the secret video.
What The Main Kingdom Hearts 3 Ending Means
At the end of Kingdom Hearts 3, Sora and the gang eventually defeat Xehanort. It's not easy, though, as the team have had to literally die in order to reach this point. After a climactic fight Xehanort is all-but defeated, although not before the villain promises to finish off his plan. Just in time, Terra turns up and reveals that he has been holding Eraqus' heart within him the entire time. How was Eraqus kept within Terra? Who knows, but what's important is that the Keyblade Master is able to get through to Xehanort, who agrees to stop his plot once and for all. The pair pass through to the other side, paving the way for a new set of Keyblade Masters.
From there, Sora and the remaining heroes purify Kingdom Hearts. There's still a little unfinished business to attend to, though, as Sora is missing Kairi after she was apparently killed by Xehanort earlier in the game, and never one to leave a friend behind he decides to go off in search of her. After a brief discussion with Mickey, Sora is let go, heading into another world. The core game doesn't end with Sora, though. Mickey, Donald, and Goofy return home to Minnie, Daisy, and Pluto, while Ventus, Aqua, and Terra mourn at a built grave for Eraqus. There's also ice cream abound in Twilight Town as Roxas, Xion, Lea, Isa, Hayner, Olette, and Pence all hang out.
Finally, there are a couple of major talking points that will be the subject of much discussion among Kingdom Hearts fans. First up, Namine wakes up in Radiant Guardian, and the Nobody is picked up by Riku in the Gummi Ship to go off and adventure somewhere. Then, the entire gang is seen reunited on Destiny Island, including Sora and Kairi - before Sora disappears as Kairi starts to cry. What does this mean? Well, don't expect to get any kind of answer from the other endings of Kingdom Hearts 3. It may well be that fans of the series might need to wait until the next release to find out the true fate of Kairi and Sora, whatever that may be.
Page 2 of 2: What Kingdom Hearts 3's Epilogue & Secret Ending Mean
What The Kingdom Hearts 3 Epilogue Means
After the main ending to the game, players are then treated to an epilogue that delves into the backstory of Kingdom Hearts. A Keyblade crashes down into the Keyblade Graveyard, where a hooded figure grabs hold of it, stating that the weapon is "back where it belongs." Joined by four figures wearing animal masks, it soon becomes apparent that the hooded man is Luxu, otherwise known as Xigbar. Luxu is one of the Foretellers, one of the six students of the so-called Master of Masters, the most powerful and mysterious Keyblade user in Kingdom Hearts lore. The other four characters present are the other Foretellers, with the final one, Ava, absent on her own mission.
At part of the epilogue, Maleficent and Pete can also be seen. It may seem an odd addition to this scene that is so rooted in the history of the world of Kingdom Hearts, but there is an important tie. Luxu is tasked with guarding a secret black box, which just so happens to be an item that the pair have been looking for throughout Kingdom Hearts 3. Finally, players are given another look at a young Xehanort and Eraqus, who are just about to start playing another game that consists of seven black pieces and one white. It's all very opaque, which certainly fits with the overall Kingdom Hearts storytelling style. Luxu says "I hope you like long stories," during the epilogue, which definitely matches how it feels to be keeping track of Kingdom Hearts. This one might be a bit too long for those that were hoping for a full conclusion and explanation in Kingdom Hearts 3, though.
What The Kingdom Hearts 3 Secret Ending Means
Finally, there's the secret ending to Kingdom Hearts 3. This ending focuses on Sora and Riku, and it turns out that neither of them seems to be in a place that either they or players might expect. Rather than another Disney or Pixar-themed world, Sora and Riku seem to have ended up in worlds that feel much more similar to those of the current day, as they are both in large metropolitan areas. Rather than entirely unknown places, both of these locations are actually ones fans might recognise. One is from another Square Enix work, while the other has hints that suggest strong connections to Kingdom Hearts 3.
Starting with Sora's location, the hero seems to be standing in Shibuya from The World Ends With You, a game released by Square Enix back in 2007 and based on Tokyo's own Shibuya Scramble. Given that Tetsuya Nomora worked on The World Ends With You, it seems likely that this is where Sora has ended up. Riku, meanwhile, is in another city-based location. This looks to be the city from Verum Rex, the pseudo Final Fantasy spin-off that appears within Kingdom Hearts 3. Although there aren't many clues within the location itself, a big give-away is that main character Yozora is there, looking over Riku as he walks through the world.
Exactly what this means for the future remains to be seen, but don't be surprised to see The World Ends With You and Verum Rex referenced in whatever comes next for Kingdom Hearts. Hopefully it won't be too long a wait to piece together these new strands of the story.