List of Kingdom Hearts references in other media

This is a list of assorted media references to the Kingdom Hearts games shown outside of the series.

Video Games

CrossCode

In CrossCode, the "Salty Ice Cream" is a reference to Sea-salt ice cream. The item's description reads "Best enjoyed at sunset on top of a clocktower."^[1]

At the D23 Expo 2015, all attending fans were given a power disc which unlocked Mickey's Kingdom Hearts outfit in the game. The Keyblade appears in the game as the Ultimate Unlock, requiring players to purchase and scan every figure available for that version of the game.

The power disc unlocking Mickey's Kingdom Hearts outfit.
Screenshot of Mickey in his Kingdom Hearts outfit in-game.
Screenshot of the Keyblade being used in-game.

Disney Emoji Blitz

A few Kingdom Hearts characters appear as emojis for the player to collect, namely Sora, Aqua, and Donald and Goofy in their attire from the series. A Shadow was later added as a free collectible in honor of the Kingdom Hearts series' 20th anniversary, though it is unusable in the game itself.

Disney Tsum Tsum

Several Kingdom Hearts characters are available as Tsums, including: Sora (Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts III, Halloween, and Pirate versions), Riku, Kairi, Terra, Ventus, Aqua, King Mickey (in a black coat), Chirithy, Ansem, Xemnas, Young Xehanort, and a Shadow. Donald and Goofy in their Halloweentown appearances are also available.

In 2019, an event themed around Kingdom Hearts was held. During this event, players cleared stages in order to seal the keyholes in seven worlds: Traverse Town, Wonderland, Agrabah, Atlantica, 100 Acre Wood, Never Land, and Hollow Bastion.

Echoes of Mana

The victory music of Echoes of Mana, a game released in 2022, is very similar to the one featured in Kingdom Hearts Union χ.^[2]

Final Fantasy series

In Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, DLC costumes are available for Cloud Strife, Squall Leonheart, and Sephiroth based on their appearance in Kingdom Hearts.
In Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, when Tifa Lockhart is in EX Mode, she equips the Premium Heart gloves, which have the heart symbol from the Kingdom Hearts series on them.
In Final Fantasy XIII-2, a scene appears, involving Lightning and Serah, emulating the iconic scene in Kingdom Hearts where Riku reaches for Sora to follow him into the darkness, later echoed by Vanitas and Young Xehanort.
In the iOS port of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy and Theathrythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call, Auron is available as a DLC character in his Kingdom Hearts II appearance.
In World of Final Fantasy, Sora in his Dream Drop Distance attire appears as a limited-time free DLC Champion Summon.
In Final Fantasy XV, Prompto refers to the Keyblade by mentioning “a magical key that can unlock any door—like from the video games!”
In Final Fantasy Brave Exvius:
- In 2018, an event was held to commemorate the launch of Kingdom Hearts III. Sora, Riku, Cloud, and Sephiroth in their Kingdom Hearts attire appear as playable characters, while Darkside and Guard Armor appear as bosses for players to fight.
- In 2020, an event taking place in Scala ad Caelum was held. Sora, Riku, and Kairi in their Kingdom Hearts III appearances, as well as Young Xehanort in his Dark Road appearance, are available as playable characters.

Cloud Strife's Dissidia 012 DLC costume based on his appearance in Kingdom Hearts.
Squall Leonheart's Dissidia 012 DLC costume based on his appearance in Kingdom Hearts.
Sephiroth's Dissidia 012 DLC costume based on his appearance in Kingdom Hearts.
Tifa Lockhart's Premium Heart Gloves in Dissidia 012.
Lightning and Serah emulating the iconic scene in Final Fantasy XIII-2.
Auron's Kingdom Hearts II appearance in Theathyrthm Final Fantasy.
Sora's appearance in World of Final Fantasy.
Prompto referencing the Keyblade in Final Fantasy XV.

Marvel Heroes

In Marvel Heroes, Deadpool can wield a series of weapons named "Keyblades". However, they do not physically resemble the Keyblades from the Kingdom Hearts series. The in-game description of the Keyblades, "A heart, a heart, my kingdom for a heart", is a reference to William Shakespeare's Richard III, as well as a pun on the Kingdom Hearts series.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

A Wrench and Hammer Swap for the player characters called "Key" is unlockable. This weapon heavily resembles a Keyblade.

The Simpsons Game

Comic Book Guy quotes Ansem's "Every light must fade, all hearts return to darkness" in the Big Super Happy Fun Fun level of the game.
The Statues of Santa's Little Helper in the Super Happy Fun Fun level of the game have a Keyblade in their mouths.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Sora is available as a DLC fighter, based on his appearance in Kingdom Hearts. He comes with alternate outfits of his appearances in Kingdom Hearts II, Dream Drop Distance, and Kingdom Hearts III, as well as his appearance in Timeless River, Valor Form, Wisdom Form, and Ultimate Form.
Hollow Bastion as it appears in Kingdom Hearts, as well as Dive to the Heart, are available as a combined, transforming stage.
Night of Fate, Destiny's Force, Shrouding Dark Cloud, Hand in Hand, Blast Away! -Gummi Ship II-, Hollow Bastion, Scherzo Di Notte, Fragments of Sorrow, Destati, and Dearly Beloved -Swing Version- are available as music tracks.
Spirits representing Kairi, Riku, Roxas, Axel, Xion, Terra, Ventus, and Aqua are available.

Gallery

Sora's P1 costume, based on his appearance in Kingdom Hearts.
Sora's P2 costume, based on his appearance in Kingdom Hearts II.
Sora's P3 costume, based on his appearance in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance.
Sora's P4 costume, based on his appearance in Kingdom Hearts III.
Sora's P5 costume, based on his appearance in Timeless River in Kingdom Hearts II.
Sora's P6 costume, based on Valor Form.
Sora's P7 costume, based on Wisdom Form.
Sora's P8 costume, based on Ultimate Form.

Video

Battling with Sora	The Last Key

Terraria

In Terraria, a melee weapon called the "Keybrand" can drop from certain enemies. The item bears a strong resemblance to the Kingdom Key and is swung in a similar fashion, hitting enemies with the blunt end of the weapon rather than with the key's teeth.

Undermine

In Undermine, an item called the "Key Blade" can be obtained. The item's description reads "A sword in the shape of a dull key. Not practical as a key or blade.""^[3]

Miscellaneous

2020 Summer Olympics

During the 2020 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, "Olympus Coliseum" and "Hero's Fanfare" played during the Parade of Nations.^[4]

Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers

The Kingdom Key and Sora's Hair are both featured amongst the items that have been stolen from the bootlegged characters, implying Sora was bootlegged in the film.

DuckTales

In the first season's finale of the DuckTales reboot "The Shadow War!", Mrs. Beakley creates a dessert which includes sea-salt ice cream, and her mentioning of it being Scrooge's favorite dessert is a homage to the Kingdom Hearts series.

Robot Chicken

In the episode "May Cause Numb Butthole", Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Master Xehanort were featured in the skit "Kingdom Hearts' Key Party", alongside other Disney characters.

Starbomb

Music group Starbomb wrote a song for their third album, The TryForce, called "The Simple Plot of Kingdom Hearts", with Sora recounting the events of Kingdom Hearts.^[5]

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder

In the episode "Home School", the character KG can be seen playing a game that looks similar to Kingdom Hearts, with him playing through a section that looks near identical to Dive to the Heart, and the side panels bearing resemblance to Destiny Islands. Production coordinator Breana Williams later confirmed that the game KG was playing was, in fact, Kingdom Hearts, and noted that the episode airing during the Kingdom Hearts series' 20th anniversary was coincidental.^[6]

Tokyo Disney Resort

In November 2010, a statue inspired by Kingdom Hearts Re:coded was shown at the Ikspiari complex in Tokyo Disney Resort to promote the release of the game.

The Kingdom Hearts Re:coded statue at Tokyo Disney Resort.

The Wonderful Spring of Mickey Mouse

The Kingdom Key D appears amongst the objects in Mickey's house.

Notes and references

[1] Kingdom Hearts Reference in CrossCode

[2] Kingdom Hearts Reference in Echoes of Mana

[3] Kingdom Hearts Reference in Undermine

[4] Nikkei Asia "Japan rounds off entrance of teams to ceremony"

[5] The Simple Plot of Kingdom Hearts

[6] Breana Williams on Twitter: "It's really wild cuz I didn't realize the KH 20th anniversary would be happening as our to episode would air."

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