- Kingdom Hearts Final Mix secret ending requirements depend on your selected difficulty.
- Final Mix difficulty requires story completion and all 99 Dalmatian Puppies for the shorter ending.
- Proud Mode makes the shorter ending available automatically after clearing the story.
- Deep Dive requires Jiminy's Journal on Final Mix difficulty or additional milestones on Proud.
- Theater Mode lets you rewatch unlocked secret endings from the main menu.
Kingdom Hearts Final Mix Secret Ending Requirements
The Kingdom Hearts Final Mix secret ending is an optional post-game cutscene that appears after the credits and epilogue. The game has two related versions: “Another Side, Another Story…” and the longer “Another Side, Another Story [deep dive]” sequence.
Your difficulty setting determines how much extra completion work is required. Beginner Mode does not provide access to either secret ending, while Final Mix and Proud Mode use different unlock conditions. Because the requirements are tied to the save file’s difficulty, choose your route before beginning a completion-focused playthrough.
| Difficulty | Short Secret Ending | Deep Dive Secret Ending |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | Not available | Not available |
| Final Mix | Complete all story episodes and rescue all 99 Dalmatian Puppies | Complete Jiminy’s Journal |
| Proud | Automatically available after clearing the story | Complete all story episodes and clear the Hades Cup with the full party |
The shorter ending and Deep Dive are not identical scenes. Each version includes material that is unique to that unlock path, making both worth pursuing if you want to see the full set of post-game footage.
Final Mix Difficulty
Best for completionists. Finish every story episode and return all 99 Dalmatian Puppies before clearing the final sequence.
Proud Mode
Fastest short-ending route. Clear the main story to unlock the shorter secret ending without the puppy requirement.
Deep Dive Route
Highest completion focus. Complete Jiminy’s Journal on Final Mix difficulty, or meet the Proud Mode endgame requirements.
If your main goal is to view the shorter secret ending with fewer collection tasks, Proud Mode has the most direct requirement. Final Mix difficulty is better suited to players already pursuing full completion.
How to Unlock the Short Secret Ending
The short version, “Another Side, Another Story…”, is the more accessible of the two secret endings on supported difficulties. The exact checklist changes between Final Mix difficulty and Proud Mode.
On Final Mix difficulty, you must complete every story episode and return all 99 Dalmatian Puppies to Pongo and Perdita in Traverse Town. The puppy requirement covers every trio hidden throughout the worlds, so checking your journal and revisiting earlier locations is essential.
On Proud Mode, the short secret ending becomes available after clearing the story. You do not need to finish the Dalmatian collection for this specific unlock condition. Beginner Mode does not qualify.
| Requirement | Final Mix Difficulty | Proud Mode | Beginner Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear all story episodes | Required | Required | Does not unlock |
| Rescue all 99 Puppies | Required | Not required for the short ending | Does not unlock |
| Clear the final story sequence | Required | Required | Secret ending unavailable |
| View the ending after credits | Yes | Yes | No |
Story Completion Checklist
“Complete all story episodes” means more than defeating the final boss. Confirm that every major world storyline has been resolved, including optional story content that contributes to the game’s journal and completion record.
Recommended areas to verify include:
- Destiny Islands
- Traverse Town
- Wonderland
- Deep Jungle
- Olympus Coliseum
- Agrabah
- Monstro
- Atlantica
- Halloween Town
- Neverland
- Hollow Bastion
- End of the World
- Hundred Acre Wood story pages
Choose a Qualifying Difficulty
Start or continue a save file on Final Mix or Proud Mode. Beginner Mode cannot unlock the secret endings, so confirm the difficulty before investing in completion tasks.
Clear Every Story Episode
Finish the main story in each required world, then complete the final sequence at End of the World. Revisit locations if an episode or optional story objective remains incomplete.
Finish the Dalmatian Collection
On Final Mix difficulty, locate all 99 Dalmatian Puppies in their hidden trios and return them to Pongo and Perdita in Traverse Town.
Complete the Final Sequence
Defeat the final encounters and watch the credits and epilogue. The secret ending plays before the final “The End” screen when the requirements are met.
Do not assume a Final Mix difficulty save follows the same shortcut as Proud Mode. The 99-Puppy requirement applies to the shorter ending on Final Mix difficulty.
How to Unlock Deep Dive
The extended version, “Another Side, Another Story [deep dive]”, requires a stronger completion record. On Final Mix difficulty, the key condition is completing Jiminy’s Journal. On Proud Mode, the required milestones are different.
Jiminy’s Journal tracks multiple categories, including story entries, characters, enemies, treasures, abilities, magic, summons, Trinities, Dalmatians, postcards, synthesis information, and other discoveries. A section marked as complete is represented by a Mickey symbol beside that journal category.
The practical goal is not simply to defeat the final boss. You must build a save file with broad progress across the game’s optional systems.
| Journal Area | Typical Completion Focus |
|---|---|
| Story | Resolve world episodes and major plot events |
| Characters | Record available character and organization entries |
| Enemies | Encounter and document the game’s enemy roster |
| Treasures | Open chests and locate hidden items |
| Trinities | Activate color-coded Trinity marks |
| Dalmatians | Find and return all 99 puppies |
| Postcards | Collect and mail postcards from Traverse Town |
| Synthesis | Discover and record available synthesis items |
| Abilities and Magic | Obtain the entries available through progression |
| Summons | Acquire and use the available summon entries |
Proud Mode Deep Dive Route
Proud Mode offers a different path to the extended ending. You must complete all story episodes and clear the Hades Cup with the entire party at Olympus Coliseum. This requirement makes the Proud route more combat-focused than the Final Mix Journal route.
Before attempting the Hades Cup, prepare a balanced party and review your equipment. The cup is a long endurance challenge, so item management, defensive abilities, and a reliable healing plan matter more than a single high-damage setup.
| Route | Main Focus | Best Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Final Mix difficulty | Jiminy’s Journal completion | Explore worlds, collect journal entries, finish optional systems |
| Proud Mode | Story completion and Hades Cup | Level the party, improve equipment, stock healing items |
| Beginner Mode | No secret-ending route | Use only for casual story progression |
A Mickey symbol beside a Jiminy’s Journal section indicates that category is complete. Use these markers to identify missing entries before clearing the final story sequence.
Best Preparation for the Final Clear
Secret-ending requirements are easiest to manage when you divide them into collection, journal, and combat goals. Trying to remember every requirement immediately before the final boss can lead to unnecessary backtracking.
For Final Mix difficulty, complete as many journal-related objectives as possible before the final clear. For Proud Mode, prioritize leveling and equipment upgrades before entering the Hades Cup. In both cases, make a backup save before the final sequence so you can continue exploring afterward.
Journal Review
Check each category for missing entries, especially story, enemies, treasures, Trinities, and synthesis records.
World Sweep
Revisit earlier worlds for chests, puppies, postcards, Trinity marks, and optional encounters.
Combat Setup
Equip abilities that support sustained battles, healing access, mobility, and enemy control.
Save Management
Keep a separate pre-final-battle save so you can return to exploration without repeating progress.
Recommended Order
- Finish the remaining story episodes.
- Collect Dalmatians, treasures, postcards, and Trinities.
- Complete synthesis and journal entries.
- Prepare for the Hades Cup if using the Proud Mode route.
- Save before the final sequence.
- Clear the story and check the post-credit scene.
| Goal | Why It Matters | Suggested Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Story episodes | Required for both qualifying routes | Finish before the final clear |
| 99 Dalmatians | Required for the short ending on Final Mix difficulty | Complete during world cleanup |
| Jiminy’s Journal | Required for Deep Dive on Final Mix difficulty | Review before the final boss |
| Hades Cup | Required for Deep Dive on Proud Mode | Attempt after combat preparation |
| Backup save | Protects exploration progress | Create before the final sequence |
Secret Ending Preparation:
- Select Final Mix or Proud Mode
- Complete every story episode
- Return all 99 Dalmatian Puppies on Final Mix difficulty
- Complete Jiminy's Journal or clear the Proud Mode Hades Cup requirement
- Create a backup save before the final sequence
Create a separate save before the final battle. This gives you a reliable point for post-game exploration if you still need journal entries, collectibles, or Olympus Coliseum challenges.
Viewing and Troubleshooting the Secret Ending
When the requirements are satisfied, the secret ending appears after the credits and epilogue, before the final “The End” screen. Allow the post-game sequence to continue rather than exiting immediately after the credits begin.
Once a secret ending has been unlocked, it can be viewed again through Theater Mode from the main menu. This is useful when you have unlocked one version and later want to compare it with the extended scene.
If the cutscene does not appear, check the conditions associated with your difficulty. The most common issue on Final Mix difficulty is missing one or more Dalmatian trios for the shorter ending or leaving an incomplete Jiminy’s Journal category for Deep Dive. On Proud Mode, verify the story completion record and the Hades Cup requirement for the extended version.
| Problem | Likely Cause | What to Check |
|---|---|---|
| No ending on Beginner | Difficulty does not qualify | Start a qualifying Final Mix or Proud save |
| Short ending missing on Final Mix | Story or puppy requirement incomplete | Confirm all episodes and all 99 Dalmatians |
| Deep Dive missing on Final Mix | Journal is incomplete | Look for categories without the completion marker |
| Deep Dive missing on Proud | Hades Cup condition incomplete | Confirm the cup was cleared with the entire party |
| Ending appeared once but cannot be found | Menu location overlooked | Open Theater Mode from the main menu |
FAQ
Q: Can Beginner Mode unlock the Kingdom Hearts Final Mix secret ending?
No. Beginner Mode does not provide access to the secret endings. Use Final Mix or Proud Mode for a qualifying save file.
Q: Do I need all 99 Dalmatian Puppies on Proud Mode?
Not for the shorter secret ending. Proud Mode unlocks that version after the story is cleared, although the puppies remain valuable for overall completion.
Q: What is required for Deep Dive on Final Mix difficulty?
Complete Jiminy’s Journal, including every available entry category marked as complete in the journal.
Q: Where can I rewatch an unlocked secret ending?
Use Theater Mode from the game’s main menu. Each unlocked secret-ending version can be viewed again there.
If the scene is missing, compare your save against the difficulty table first. The correct diagnosis usually comes from one incomplete story, collection, journal, or Hades Cup requirement.