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.

Disney media

Amphibia

"True Colors" promo.

A number of promotional images for the episode "True Colors" parody various pieces of pop culture. One such promo by series color designer Andy Garner-Flexner mimics the "Heart" Key Art from Kingdom Hearts II.

Chang Can Dunk

In Chang Can Dunk, the Olympus level from Kingdom Hearts III is being played on a PS5 in the background when Chang gets locked in the basement during a party.

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.

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 Infinity 3.0

At the D23 Expo 2015, all attending fans were given a power disc which unlocked Mickey's Kingdom Hearts outfit in the game.

The Kingdom Key appears in the game as the Ultimate Unlock, requiring players to purchase and scan figures of 39 different characters - the amount of figures initially planned for the game (7 additional characters were released afterwards). The Kingdom Key is able to perform 5 spells depending on the player's inputs: Fire, Blizzard, Ars Arcanum, Stun Impact, and Ragnarok. Outside of combat, the weapon is stored in a heart-shaped backpack resembling the logo of the original Kingdom Hearts.

• 

  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 Tsum Tsum

Two main Kingdom Hearts events were available for a limited time in 2019 and 2023, featuring stages based on worlds from the series. Over 20 collectable Tsum Tsum based on Kingdom Hearts characters have been created, both as part of the special collaboration events and separately.

DuckTales

In the episode "The Shadow War!", Mrs. Beakley creates a dessert which includes sea-salt ice cream and mentions it being Scrooge's favorite dessert, a homage to the Kingdom Hearts series.

Marvel Heroes

Deadpool can wield a series of weapons named "Keyblades". However, they do not physically resemble the Keyblade 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.

Star vs. the Forces of Evil

In the episode "St. Olga's Reform School for Wayward Princesses", Rat Princess wears a crown shaped exactly like the reoccuring crown motif in the Kingdom Hearts series.

The Ghost and Molly McGee

In the episode "Game On", the Kingdom Key appears on the weapons selection menu for a video game.

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.

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.

The Wonderful Spring of Mickey Mouse

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

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.

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.

Video Games

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."

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

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

Saints Row (2022)

A skin for the pickaxe called the "Saintsblade" can be unlocked. This weapon strongly resembles a Keyblade, including a keychain, and will generate star-shaped particle effects upon hitting an enemy.

Skullgirls

A skin for the character Eliza recolors her to be based on Sora, specifically on his appearance in Kingdom Hearts III; her lackeys, Horace and Albus, are additionally respectively recolored to be based on Donald and Goofy, and her Parasite, Sekhmet, is recolored to be based on a Shadow. Additionally, the character Marie, who is the game's final boss and was later made playable via DLC, has a recolor based on Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, with her skeletal partner, Hilgard, being recolored to be based on the Dark Figure, and her vacuum being recolored to be based on Soul Eater.

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 and the Dive to the Heart are featured as a stage, several characters are available as Spirits, and numerous songs from the Kingdom Hearts series are featured as music tracks.

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

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.""

Film and television

The Big Bang Theory

In the episode "The Excelsior Acquisition", on the back of a comic that Raj is reading, there is a ad for Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days.

Dragon Ball Heroes

The Key Sword (キーソード, Kī Sōdo) is a weapon that appears in the manga, anime, and game adaptions of Dragon Ball Heroes. Originally created to seal the Demon Realm, Xeno Trunks uses it to combat the Dark Empire. Its name, design, and function are references to the Keyblade.

My Adventures with Superman

In the episode "Kiss Kiss Fall in Portal", a holographic image of an alternate version of Lois Lane from Earth-24 is shown dressed in clothing similar to Sora's and holding a key that resembles a Keyblade.

Rick and Morty

In Rick and Morty issue 50 of the tie-in comic, the character of Morty is seen playing a videogame called Imagine Balls, featuring a key-wielding hero of appearance similar to Sora battling alongside a cartoon character, being a clear parody of Kingdom Hearts. Rick criticizes Morty for playing the game because of its premise, but later gets hooked into it, enough to buy a cosplay and changing his hairdo to be close to Sora's.

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.

Hazbin Hotel

In the final episode of the first season, Keekee, Charlie's pet and key to the hotel, gets transformed by Lucifer into a sword reminiscent of a Keyblade to help repair the broken building. Multiple scenes within the show and its spinoff Helluva Boss also feature curved hearts reminiscent of the one used in the Kingdom Hearts logo.

Miscellaneous

2020 Summer Olympics

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

D23 Expo 2022

At the 2022 D3 Expo, a poster celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company was available to Gold Members. Said poster contains fifty-eight different references to Disney media, including a silhouette of the Kingdom Key on the left side of Sleeping Beauty's castle, near a TRON Identity Disc.