Summary
Kingdom Heartshas 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 asThe Little Mermaid,Aladdin, andAlice 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 themusing his Keyblade. Each world inKingdom Heartsfeatures a variety of interesting things, but some are executed much better than others.
Updated July 09, 2025, 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.
14Atlantica
An Underwater World With Unusual Controls
Atlanticais based onThe Little Mermaidand 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 underwaterwas also one of thisKingdom Heartsworld’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 theKingdom Heartsplot, with King Triton being familiar with the Keyblade and scolding Sora for meddling in his affairs.
13Monstro
A Great Idea For A World But Slightly Repetitive During The Early Sections
Though not technically a world,Pinocchio’sMonstrothe 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 friendsmanage 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 aKingdom Heartsworld, 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.
12100 Acre Wood
A Charming Safe Space That Features Many Unique Mini-Games
Worlds inKingdom Heartsreally 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 theWinnie the Poohmovies.
While exploring the100 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.
11Dive To The Heart
A Haunting Location That Provides A Great Tutorial
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 toKingdom Hearts.
During the first few minutes of the game, players will also be required to makea few difficult decisionsthat 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.
10Neverland
A Small World That Grants Sora The Ability To Fly
Based onPeter 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 onlygo to Captain Hook’s shipand Big Ben; they are not able to explore the entire setting of the movie. That said, the claustrophobic feeling provided by thisKingdom Heartsworld works exceptionally well for how the story here unfolds, especially during the early stages.
9Deep Jungle
A Mostly Enjoyable World That Requires A Lot Of Backtracking
Deep Jungleis based onTarzanandonly appears oncein theKingdom Heartsseries. 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 fromTarzan, 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.
8Halloween Town
A Dark World That’s Easy To Get Lost In
Halloween Town is fromThe 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.
7Destiny Island
A Charming Beach That Features Beautiful Scenery
Destiny Islandis 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 firstKingdom Heartsgame 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 severalFinal Fantasycharacters, includingTidus, 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 inKingdom 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.
6Wonderland
A Cartoon-Esque World Full Of Quirky Design Choices
As indicated by its name,Wonderlandis taken directly fromAlice in Wonderlandand 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.
5End Of The World
A Harrowing World Full Of Challenging Foes
End of the World is, as the name might suggest, the last world that players get to explore inKingdom 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 mostKingdom Heartsworlds 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.
