Heartless

Within the Kingdom Hearts franchise, these creatures are drawn to the Keyblade, a weapon capable of releasing the hearts they have stolen. Defeating them in Kingdom Hearts (2002) and Kingdom Hearts 2 (2006) yields experience points, Munny, and synthesis items used for crafting. The lore behind their proliferation is tied to the experiments of Ansem the Wise and his apprentice Xehanort, who sought to understand the darkness.

The promotional demo Kingdom Hearts 2 [Not For Resale] (2000) offered early players a hands-on preview of battling these adversaries prior to the main sequel's release. Throughout the series, iconic designs like the basic Shadow, the imposing Darkside, and various themed bosses have defined the visual identity of the franchise's antagonists. Their defeat is central to the journey of the protagonist, Sora, as freeing captive hearts ultimately prevents the collapse of the various Disney-themed worlds.