Parents' Guide to Kingdom Hearts 2

Game PlayStation 2 2006
Kingdom Hearts 2 Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

By Jeremy Gieske , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 11+

Great graphics, great story, great sequel. Tweens.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 11+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 11+

Based on 9 parent reviews

age 8+

Based on 42 kid reviews

Kids say this game is a captivating blend of Disney and Final Fantasy elements, featuring an engaging storyline that touches on themes of friendship, courage, and overcoming darkness. Many reviewers commend the gameplay for its fun mechanics and immersive worlds, while noting that the violence is mild and suitable for younger audiences, despite some references to alcohol in specific contexts.

  • fun gameplay
  • engaging story
  • suitable for kids
  • mild violence
  • character depth
Summarized with AI

What's It About?

Players familiar with the first Kingdom Hearts installment and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories for the Game Boy Advance will recognize the characters and plot style in KINGDOM HEARTS 2. Once again, memories, the parting and uniting of close friendships, love, and mystery are all intertwined in the complex plot. Sora returns as the protagonist (here a teen), and characters are either from Disney movies or the Final Fantasy series of games. Chosen by the "keyblade" (a magical key/sword), Sora and his friends Donald Duck and Goofy are tasked with a number of missions, some set in Disney backdrops such as Aladdin's Agrabah or Beast's Castle (from Beauty and the Beast), as they fight to defeat an evil, mummy-wrapped king. Players defeat the enemies in action-packed fighting sequences, which continue to be bloodless and gore-free.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 9 ):
Kids say ( 42 ):

A deep, involving storyline and outstanding graphics make Kingdom Hearts 2 a worthy sequel. From flying to missions in a fully customizable "gummi ship" (co-piloted by no less than Chip and Dale!) to talking to Minnie Mouse or traveling through the 100-acre woods, this game has a lot of fun surprises tucked up its sleeve -- including great mini-missions. Overall, with a playing time of easily over 30 hours, Kingdom Hearts 2 offers a lot of value and a lot of entertainment.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about this game's unique mixture of Final Fantasy and Disney characters. Does the use of existing and familiar characters diminish or increase the game's appeal? If you were creating a video game, would you make up your own character, or use one that you already liked?

Game Details

  • Platform : PlayStation 2
  • Pricing structure :
  • Available online? : Not available online
  • Publisher : Square Enix
  • Release date : April 28, 2006
  • Genre : Role-Playing
  • ESRB rating : E10+ for Mild Blood, Use of Acohol, Violence
  • Last updated : October 9, 2025

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Kingdom Hearts 2 Poster Image

What to Play Next

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