Computer Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece on Steam Review

As a Kingdom Hearts superfan since the PS2 era, I was thrilled to hear that the entire series would be available on Steam, and even more excited to play it on the Steam Deck. Having platinumed every title on PSN and spent countless hours immersed in its magical blend of Disney and Square Enix worlds, this review covers my experience of playing the Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece collection on the Steam Deck.


I should state from the start that technically this could be read as a "Kingdom Hearts on PC" review, but it's more accurate to describe it as a "Kingdom Hearts on Steam Deck" review, since this collection has already been available on PC through the Epic Games Store. I think that the biggest takeaway from this version is the fact that it can be played on the Steam Deck without any hassle. I would also like to begin by stating the obvious, this isn't technically the first time that we are able to play the Kingdom Hearts series portably, as this collection has been available on the Nintendo Switch and on Epic Game Store for quite a while now. While I admit that I haven't tried the Switch version, I've been made painfully aware at this point of the issues that arise from streaming games to the Switch from the cloud. And yes, technically there are ways to get the Epic Games launcher on Steam Deck which could have allowed me to play these titles portably, but now that the games are officially out on Steam, we don't have to worry about that workaround anymore. You could even say that the process is simple and, dare I say it, clean.

And I have to say, playing the Kingdom Hearts series portably for the first time without relying on cloud streaming was a game-changer. Having platinumed every one of these games on PSN over the years, I must admit that I found that playing on the Steam Deck provided a superior experience compared to any PlayStation console. The convenience of portable play, combined with the quality and performance of the Steam Deck, created a perfect setup for diving back into these beloved games.



The Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece collection includes every game in the 1.5, 2.5, 2.8, and 3 collection, providing a comprehensive and immersive experience for both long-time fans and newcomers. Notably, this excludes Melody of Memory. The collection features:

1. Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX:
   • Kingdom Hearts Final Mix
   • Kingdom Hearts Re Chain of Memories
   • Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (HD remastered cinematics)
   • Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix
   • Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix
   • Kingdom Hearts Re Coded (HD remastered cinematics)
2. Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue:
   • Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance HD
   • Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage
   • Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover (movie)
3. Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind (DLC)

Having all these games available in one collection, playable on the go, was a dream come true for a fan like me. The ability to revisit the entire series, from the very beginning to the latest installment, provided a nostalgic and rewarding experience.


The answer to that question is obvious, Kingdom Hearts is light... Except when it isn't. For those who don't know, the story of Kingdom Hearts is an intricate (and often outrageous) mix of Disney and Final Fantasy, following Sora, Donald, and Goofy as they journey through different Disney worlds battling the heartless and other enemies. What starts off as a simple "main character needs to find his friends" adventure quickly spirals into one of my personal favorite epics in gaming.

I truly recommend newcomers going into this series relatively blind and experiencing this series in release order. People intending to 100% the series will need to deviate and watch the Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days cutscenes prior to playing Chain of Memories, but other than that it's wise to play in release order.

While the themes and very general gameplay are similar across all titles, each one plays differently from the last. Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, for example, is a more traditional action/RPG where combat is relatively straightforward, focusing on real-time battles with a mix of physical attacks, magic, summons, and items. The focus is on upgrading Sora's stats (and to a lesser extent your companions' stats) effectively and the strategy revolves around mastering the timing of attacks and, quite frankly, breaking the magic system. On the other hand, you also have the insanely fast paced Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance where combat is extremely fast as you zip around stages destroying everything in your path. I love each and every one of these games, and the differences between them are great enough to keep the games from becoming stale.




The performance on the Steam Deck was impressive. Unlike cloud-based gaming, downloading the games directly eliminated any input lag, making the gameplay smooth and responsive. The configuration menu offers extensive settings to tailor the experience, including screen modes (fullscreen, borderless, windowed), resolutions ranging from 800×600 to 4K, multiple frame rate options (30, 60, 120, and uncapped), v-sync (called refresh rate in-game), display brightness, and colorblind settings.

While I have yet to play each and every game to completion in this version, I played enough of each title to see that each game worked flawlessly right out of the box, but playing around with the configuration menu and seeing what worked and what didn't was a fun experience on its own. I opted for a consistent 60 FPS for each game and found that for most of the titles, I could hit that goal easily at max settings. However, for Kingdom Hearts III, I had to set the graphics to medium to ensure a stable 60 FPS, though max settings was an option if I was willing to play at 30 FPS. This level of customization was a significant improvement over previous console versions, allowing for a more tailored and optimized gaming experience.

The audio quality was consistent with previous versions, delivering the iconic music and voice acting that fans have come to love. However, the option to switch between Japanese and English audio was only available in Kingdom Hearts III, which was a slight disappointment. Having this option across all games would have enhanced the overall experience.



The Steam Deck's controls felt intuitive and responsive. The in-game options menu allowed for a variety of button prompts, including Xbox, PlayStation, Generic, or auto-detect, making it easy to adapt to the Steam Deck's controls. Although keyboard input support is available, it's not particularly useful for the Steam Deck. The real highlight to me was the mappable back buttons, which offered a high degree of customization. Granted, that's a pro to the Steam Deck in general and less to the collection itself, but it's still a factor to consider when deciding which version of these games to purchase. For instance, I could map multiple button presses to a single button, making it easier to open the item menu and pop a potion with the press of a single back button when Donald refuses to heal me.


Okay, maybe that pun sounded better in my head. At any rate, the portability of the Steam Deck added immense value to the Kingdom Hearts collection. Being able to play these beloved games on the go, without compromising on performance or quality, was a fantastic experience. The Steam Deck's robust hardware and customizable settings allowed for a seamless transition from home gaming to portable play, making it easy to enjoy the Kingdom Hearts series wherever I went.

Whether I was commuting, traveling, or simply lounging at home, the Steam Deck provided the flexibility to dive into the immersive worlds of Kingdom Hearts at any time. This level of portability was a game-changer, allowing me to experience the magic of the series in a whole new way.


At the time of this review, the Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece collection is on sale for $69, down from the standard $100. This sale price offers excellent value for money, considering the extensive content and enhanced experience provided by the Steam Deck version. However, the full price of $100 may be a bit steep, especially for those who are not die-hard fans of the series.

For long-time fans like myself, the investment is well worth it, given the convenience of portable play and the customization options available. For newcomers or casual fans, the sale price offers a more attractive entry point to the series.


As someone who has been a fan since the PS2 era and has platinumed every title on PSN, playing the Kingdom Hearts collection on the Steam Deck was a nostalgic and enjoyable journey. While I didn't play each game to completion this time, I played enough of each title to get a solid sense of their performance on the Steam Deck.
The Steam Deck's portability and performance enhancements added a new dimension to the Kingdom Hearts experience, making it more accessible and enjoyable. The ability to customize graphics settings and controls provided a tailored and optimized gaming experience, allowing me to relive the magic of the series in a whole new way.
However, as stated above, one drawback was that only Kingdom Hearts III offered the option to switch between Japanese and English audio. It would have been nice to have this feature available across all the games in the collection, as most of the English speaking audience have only had the opportunity to play these games with the English dub. It would have been a nice change of pace to let us experience these games in different light.
In conclusion, the Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece on Steam Deck is an exceptional collection that offers a nostalgic and rewarding experience for long-time fans and an accessible entry point for newcomers. The Steam Deck's portability and performance enhancements add immense value, making it the ideal platform to relive the magic of the Kingdom Hearts series.



The Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece collection for Steam offers an outstanding portable experience, combining the beloved series' magic with modern hardware's flexibility and performance. The collection's performance is impressive, with smooth gameplay and extensive customization options that enhance the overall experience. I highly recommend playing on the Steam Deck and feel that it is the ideal platform to enjoy the series, whether you're a long-time fan or a newcomer.