Okami
Games Like Kingdom Hearts
Set in a version of Nippon where folk lore and legends spring to life, Okami places players in the role of Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun. Long ago, she defeated the eight headed demon, Orochi, with the help of a warrior named Nagi, sealing the demon in a cave with the promise to return if he should ever escape. Generations later, one of Nagi’s descendants accidentally frees Orochi, who sets out to suck the life out of the land wherever he goes. As a result, Amaterasu is resurrected in the form of a white wolf and teams up with the artist Issun, armed with a celestial brush that can bring color back to the drained world. Together, they travel the land to return order to the world, facing down mythical threats and adversaries at every turn.
A title that has only grown in popularity since its release in 2006, Okami drips with originality and a creativity few other series could hope to match. Its combat is equal parts energetic and strategic, juggling basic hack and slash combat mechanics with special celestial brush attacks that can boost the player’s defense and smack down enemies in equal measure. If you loved Kingdom Hearts’ blend of action and drama, as well as its charming aesthetic, this game won’t disappoint.
Devil May Cry
Games Like Kingdom Hearts
While it may not be as kid-friendly as Kingdom Hearts, the Devil May Cry series has more in common with the cross-over franchise than most realize. Set in a world where humans and demons live in a fragile co-existence, the loud-mouthed son of Sparta, Dante, maintains balance by hunting down any demons which try to invade the human realm, for a nominal fee. This could mean him cleaning the clocks of several shambling corpses in the street, uncovering hidden plots by ancient demon-worshipping cults, or traveling to a hidden island to prevent the resurrection of an all-powerful demon lord.
How he does this, though, is where the fun begins. In each entry, Dante is armed with a wide array of weapons that each have their own combos and special abilities to unlock. This allows players to use everything from his trademark long sword and dual pistols to weaponry as insane as a lightning spewing guitar scythe, and Pandora’s Box itself.
It’s endlessly entertaining to try out each weapon’s combos and learn the best way to string their attacks together. It should more than satisfy anyone who loved the theatrical combat and over the top set pieces of Kingdom Hearts’ later entries.
Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
Games Like Kingdom Hearts
The third entry in the Star Ocean franchise, Till the End of Time follows the young Fayt Leingod, a resident of a space colony on Hyda IV. After the planet is attacked and he is separated from his family and friends, Fayt must adapt to the harsh environments of the new planets he visits, face down monsters and bandits alike, and enlist the help of a variety of warriors from across the galaxy. With any luck, he may find his way back to his loved ones in time to take on a greater threat, one which could put the fate of the entire universe in peril.
Host to a variety of different environments, story twists and characters that bring the drama to life, Till the End of Time is an excellent action JRPG with enough meat to entice even the most stalwart of fans.
Likewise, there’s a surprising amount of depth in the combat, which allows for plenty of experimentation, both in who players enlist to their parties and how they engage in combat with the many different enemies the game presents. If you missed this title back when it first came out, consider taking the time to revisit it.
Tales of Vesperia
Games Like Kingdom Hearts
Among the wealth of JRPG franchises available today, the Tales series is one which embraces fast-paced combat and engaging character-driven stories just as much, if not more than Kingdom Hearts. Of its entries though, Tales of Vesperia may be the best.
Set in the world of Terca Lumireis, players take the role of Yuri, a former Imperial Knight who wanders the land and helps those in need when he can. While aiding one such person, he discovers Estelle, a noble woman with strange abilities to manipulate the magics of the world. This sparks an adventure that will span the globe, bring together unlikely allies, and decide the fate of the land’s people in an instant.
Host to one of the series’ best combat systems, as well as one of its most popular casts, Tales of Vesperia is an entry with plenty of replayability. Uncovering how to pull off different combo attacks between Yuri and his allies, and how to maximize the number of hits one can land in a combo, is addictive in the best possible way. Plus, with the variety of different consoles and platforms the game has been ported to, it’s one of the most easily obtainable entries in the series to get your hands on.
Fable
Games Like Kingdom Hearts
A sorely missed European RPG franchise, Fable was one of a kind when it came to blending action with a witty and imaginative world. Set in a fantastical version of England called Albion, the series places players in the role of a youth with untapped potential and abilities. What these abilities are though, and how they manifested themselves, was up to the player to decide. They could be a mighty strong man, saving anyone and everyone in need, or, if they’re not in the mood to play goody-goody, they can become a ruthless thief who’s willing to break into any home and steal from even the most feeble old woman.
Many of the player’s choices would have consequences both immediate and delayed as well. Evil players would find their characters adopting a devilish aura and horned appendages, while the more heroic sort would notice their visage became pristine and angelic. NPCs would likewise respond in turn to their deeds with rewards or punishments, and entire towns could grow or crumble based on how the player chose to deal with their dilemmas.
Though it may be gone now, the series is hardly worth being forgotten. It will prove more than good enough for any fans of action RPGs, and its choice driven mechanics will help keep each new game and play through feeling fresh and unique.
Ni no Kuni II: The Revenant Kingdom
Games Like Kingdom Hearts
The sequel to Level-5 and Studio Ghibli’s charming fantasy JRPG, Ni no Kuni II is a refreshingly imaginative and energetic JRPG. offering among the current generation’s harder, more realistically rendered fare. Set in the kingdom of Ding Dong Dell, the game places players in the role of the former prince Evan. One of the few survivors of a coup for the kingdom’s throne, he embarks on a journey to amass allies and take back control of the country before more sinister forces can enact their plot for domination. To do this though, he’ll have to journey across a land ripe with danger and conflict, delve into ancient dungeons and ruins, and bring together people from across the world to prove himself a fit and proper ruler.
Still just as charming as its predecessor, Ni no Kuni II takes many of the first game’s problem areas and polishes them to perfection. Whereas the first title limited players to a traditional turn-based combat system, Ni no Kuni II gives players much more flexibility in when they attack, from where and how often. It also fully realizes the aesthetic of Studio Ghibli’s animation, with worlds and characters that drip with energy and passion every step of the way.
There are still some issues to work past, but it remains a solid choice for anyone who wants a fun and breezy JRPG experience to take them away from their troubles for a while.
Final Fantasy XV
Games Like Kingdom Hearts
The latest entry in the acclaimed Final Fantasy series, Final Fantasy XV tells the tale of Noctis and his friends as they take on the evil empire of Niflheim. The Empire is strong though, and to take them on the party must make their way across the world of Eos and collect the Royal Arms, ancient weapons granted only to a worthy ruler and capable of awakening an untold power within them. To this end, they’ll journey to bustling cities, across sprawling plains and through treacherous dungeons, utilizing their special abilities to dispatch enemies both human and monstrous.
Fast-paced, fluid, and a blast to see in motion, Final Fantasy XV has gameplay and a cinematic flair that will scratch the itch of anyone who was hooked by Kingdom Hearts’ action-packed gameplay. Hours can be spent taking on monsters with blades and magic, the player zipping across the battlefield with Noctis’ teleportation abilities all the while.
It’s also worth noting that the game’s developers have continued to build upon the title since its release. Along with DLC episodes focused on the main cast of characters, the game has received other additional features, ranging from a multiplayer mode to more traversal friendly vehicles. There’s even more content planned for the game too, making it an experience that’ll have plenty to give to players well into the future.
What games do you think provide the same experience as Kingdom Hearts? Let us know in the comments section below, and check out some of our other recommendation lists for titles like Until Dawn and The Witcher III: Wild Hunt.
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