When Kingdom Hearts launched in 2002, Square Enix was attempting to do something that sounded inconceivable: merging the properties of Disney and Final Fantasy. Sure, Disney and Final Fantasy were two of the biggest brands in their respective spaces, but how could these two work as one?
Shockingly, Square Enix succeeded, and the resulting game was launched to such high levels of praise and glory that so many Kingdom Hearts games have been developed in total. Throughout Sora's journey in saving the various Disney worlds from the Heartless, he encounters quite the Final Fantasy ensemble.
Updated on March 21, 2023, by Avery Feyrer: Several Final Fantasy characters have appeared in the Kingdom Hearts series and we've updated this post to add a few lesser-known Final Fantasy cameos. Here's the definitive list of every Final Fantasy character that has appeared in Kingdom Hearts in at least one game in the series.
Selphie
Selphie appeared as one of Sora's friends on Destiny Islands at the beginning of Kingdom Hearts. In Final Fantasy 8, she pilots the Ragnarok airship.
Selphie is depicted as nearly the same character, except being noticeably younger. Selphie returned in Kingdom Hearts 2 as Kairi's classmate and lost all memory of Sora and the island.
Tidus
The protagonist of Final Fantasy 10, Tidus lives on Destiny Islands. A skilled Blitzball player for the Zanarkand Abes, he gets swept in a temporal wave and sent 1,000 years into the future. He's a goofy hero with a unique laugh.
Unlike Selphie, Tidus does not make an appearance in Kingdom Hearts 2, even though Selphie mentions him by name. However, Tidus does pop up again in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts Coded.
Wakka
Captain of the Besaid Aurochs in Final Fantasy 10, Wakka is a Blitzball player and one of Yuna's guardians on her journey to defeat Sin. Wakka's weapon of choice is his Blitzball which he can throw at blistering speeds with intense power.
Wakka is one of Sora's friends on Destiny Islands. He reappears throughout the series in the same capacity as Tidus in Chain of Memories and Coded.
Wantz
Wantz is a shopkeeper in Twilight Town who sells all manner of goods to Sora. He's depicted wearing green shorts and a yellow shirt with red sleeves.
The young boy appeared in Final Fantasy 10, also as a shopkeeper. Wantz took over the shop after his brother was taken into custody by Yevon. Wantz also appeared in the sequel as another shopkeeper.
Biggs/Wedge/Jessie
Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie made their first Final Fantasy appearance in Final Fantasy 6 but are arguably more recognizable for their appearances in Final Fantasy 7 as members of Avalanche. They worked closely with Barret and Tifa in Sector 7 before Cloud showed up to offer his assistance.
All three of them are minor characters in the Kingdom Hearts series. Wedge and Jessie are shopkeepers in Radiant Garden and the Simulated Twilight Town, while Biggs is both one of the announcers of the Struggle Tournament in the Simulated Twilight Town and a shopkeeper in the real one.
Zack Fair
The previous owner of the legendary Buster Sword, Zack Fair was a member of SOLDIER in Final Fantasy 7. Much of his story in Final Fantasy lore was shrouded in mystery until he became a major focus in Crisis Core. In that spin-off, it's learned that Zack turned against Shinra alongside Cloud Strife and gifted him the Buster Sword when he fell in battle.
Zack's only appearance in the Kingdom Hearts universe occurs in Birth by Sleep. He's the only Final Fantasy character to appear in the game, as he tries convincing Philoctetes at the Olympus Coliseum to train him to become a hero.
Setzer
One of the main protagonists of Final Fantasy 6, Setzer makes his lone Kingdom Hearts appearance in Kingdom Hearts 2. Setzer's role in Final Fantasy 6 is a major one, as he has the only airship in the entire world, called the Blackjack.
Though a good guy in Final Fantasy, the gambler is more of an antagonist who fights Roxas and Sora in Twilight Town in the Struggle challenge.
Seifer/Raijin/Fujin
Seifer, Raijin, and Fujin are the polar opposites of Hayner, Pence, and Olette. The nefarious trio appeared in Final Fantasy 8 as classmates to Squall Leonhart. In Final Fantasy 8, Seifer commanded the Balamb Garden Disciplinary Committee, but later becomes corrupted by the Sorceress villain Ultimecia.
Residing in Twilight Town, the gang is the town's disciplinary committee, similar to their roles in Final Fantasy 8. Seifer pops up in both the digitalized, "fake" Twilight Town with Roxas and also in the "real" Twilight Town with Sora.
Vivi
Although Vivi is a member of Seifer's disciplinary committee, he acts friendly toward Sora and Roxas. This, in itself, is strange because Vivi admires Seifer and wishes to be as strong as him. It might be due to him struggling with self-confidence and always thinking he isn't good enough.
The Black Mage was a protagonist in Final Fantasy 9 and only pops up in Kingdom Hearts 2.
Lightning
Lightning is the only main protagonist in the Final Fantasy series to have a trilogy, appearing in Final Fantasy 13, Final Fantasy 13-2, and Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13.
Lightning's featured in Kingdom Hearts Union X, modeled after her design in World of Final Fantasy. Her power in Union X is derived from the Book of Prophecies.
Yuna/Rikku/Paine
Known as the Gullwings, Yuna, Rikku, and Paine banded together in Final Fantasy 10-2, the first direct sequel of a Final Fantasy game. In Final Fantasy 10, Yuna is tasked with defeating Sin. Before Rikku joined Yuna, she was an Al-Bhed who specialized in Machina. Paine did not appear in Final Fantasy 10 but does share painful memories of Sin.
The trio plays a minor role in Kingdom Hearts 2. The fairies try to pry information out of Sora for Maleficient, but after Sora defeats her, the Gullwings switch to the good side. Before going their separate ways, the Gullwings gift Sora the Gull Wing Keyblade, one of the many variations of the weapon.
Auron
In Final Fantasy 10, Auron acts as a guardian to Yuna on her Pilgrimage and as a mentor to Tidus. His backstory is arguably one of the most unique in Final Fantasy lore, as the monk first served Yuna's father, Braska, on his journey to defeat Sin.
In Kingdom Hearts 2, Hades enlists Auron's skills in trying to kill Hercules. However, Auron disobeys Hades and teams up with Sora to undermine the dark lord. Hades creates a voodoo-like doll of Auron to control the monk but is eventually saved by Sora.
Cid
Besides the Moogles and Chocobos, the name "Cid" appears in nearly every Final Fantasy entry. Cid Highwind from Final Fantasy 7 helps Sora build and modify his Gummi Ship, the vehicle used by Sora to travel to other Disney worlds.
Cid resides in Traverse Town and is one of the first characters Sora meets in Kingdom Hearts. Once Sora liberates Hollow Bastion, Cid becomes a member of the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee.
Moogles
One of the few constants across Final Fantasy games, Moogles are magical creatures that vary in importance. Some act as comedic relief, and others offer significant rewards as a summon.
Moogles are included with Chocobos and Cactuars as potential mascots of the Final Fantasy series. Moogles appear in every Kingdom Hearts game, mostly as shop owners.
Yuffie Kisaragi
The Materia-hunting ninja, Yuffie Kisaragi made her debut in Final Fantasy 7. On a mission to acquire Materia for her home country of Wutai, Yuffie tries to steal with Cloud and his party. After recovering the stolen Materia, Yuffie can join Cloud's party on their mission to stop Sephiroth.
Sora meets Yuffie in Traverse Town and helps him fight back the Heartless with Leon. Before the Heartless began consuming worlds, Yuffie lived in Radiant Garden, or Hollow Bastion.
Squall Leonhart
The main protagonist of Final Fantasy 8, Squall Leonhart is the leader of the resistance group in Traverse Town. Known simply as Leon, the Gunblade wielder personally takes the destruction of his homeworld, Radiant Garden, and is ashamed that he couldn't protect his world.
Leon offers guidance for Sora when he arrives in Traverse Town after Destiny Islands is consumed by the Heartless. Once Hollow Bastion is freed of Maleficent's hold, Leon takes command of restoring the world to its former glory.
Tifa Lockhart
In Kingdom Hearts 2, Sora meets Tifa Lockhart in Asnem's study in Hollow Bastion. Tifa is trying to find Cloud's location. She eventually finds him battling Sephiroth and tells Cloud to use his inner light to defeat him.
The pair continue fighting and disappear, leaving Tifa behind to find him once more. Tifa gifts Sora the Fenrir Keychain, which possesses devastating attack power.
Aerith Gainsborough
A beloved character from Final Fantasy 7, Aerith Gainsborough makes her first Kingdom Hearts appearance in Traverse Town. She explains the Ansem Reports to Sora and also gives him the healing ability, Curaga.
Aerith pops up in Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts 2, trying to help the healing process of Hollow Bastion. Although Aerith and Cloud shared a near-intimate relationship in Final Fantasy 7, the two only interact briefly, as she's shown in the end credits greeting Cloud when he returned to Hollow Bastion.
Sephiroth
Arguably the greatest Final Fantasy villain, Sephiroth tried to become a god by absorbing the planet's life force. Cloud ultimately defeats him, but even still, he holds a psychological hold on the ex-SOLDIER.
Sephiroth's first appearance was in Kingdom Hearts as a secret boss fight at the Olympus Coliseum. In Kingdom Hearts 2, the swordsman interferes with Sora on Hollow Bastion trying to find Cloud. Sephiroth represents the physical embodiment of the darkness in Cloud's heart.
Cloud Strife
Whether it's his spikey, yellow hair or his gigantic sword, Cloud Strife doesn't go unnoticed. The protagonist of Final Fantasy 7 meets with Sora at the Olympus Coliseum. Sora discovers Cloud made a deal with Hades in his search for Sephiroth and surrendered himself to darkness.
Sora's able to free Cloud, and he eventually battles Sephiroth in Kingdom Hearts Final Mix. In Kingdom Hearts 2, Tifa finds Cloud and helps him find his light when he fights Sephiroth once again.