is a character from Square Enix's video game franchise Kingdom Hearts, who first appears in Another Side, Another Story, a bonus trailer found in Kingdom Hearts, and later as a cameo during the final scenes of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, before making his first full appearance in Kingdom Hearts II. He is a Nobody, born from series protagonist Sora after he briefly lost his heart during the events of the first game. Kingdom Hearts II reveals that Roxas is a member of Organization XIII, a group of Nobodies who recruit him for his ability to wield the Keyblade, a weapon that allows him to capture hearts. As a member of Organization XIII, Roxas bears the title . He is also the protagonist of the video game Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, which focuses on his time in Organization XIII. Roxas is voiced by Koki Uchiyama in Japanese and Jesse McCartney in English.
Director Tetsuya Nomura has stated that Roxas is an important character in the series, and that Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days was created to expand on his backstory. Since his introduction in Kingdom Hearts II, Roxas has received positive critical response from video game publications, who praised his development in 358/2 Days, commended the dilemma of being the Nobody of Sora, and having to come to terms with his fate of giving up his life to end Sora's year-long slumber during the beginning of Kingdom Hearts II.
Creation and development After his cameo at the end of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, the series' director Tetsuya Nomura was questioned learn more about the character, but he refrained from revealing too much, stating that he would become an important, playable character for the franchise. The developers wrote Roxas' story in Kingdom Hearts II to add mixed feelings to the game in a short time frame; after receiving a positive fan response to Roxas' scenario, Nomura concluded that it was well-executed. He also stated that Roxas' merging with Sora in the game was one of the most memorable scenes in the series for him. Nomura later commented that Roxas was one of the first characters created for Organization XIII and was always intended to be its thirteenth member. The meaning of Roxas' name was meant to be revealed in a scene in Kingdom Hearts II that shows the letters in the word "Sora" rearranged with the "X" added to expand the connection between the characters. However, this scene was omitted as Nomura found it difficult to implement time-wise. Since his debut in Kingdom Hearts II, Roxas has been voiced by Koki Uchiyama in Japanese and Jesse McCartney in English.
After the release of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, Nomura wanted to expand Roxas' role in the series to explain the events between his birth and his disappearance from Organization XIII. For Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, the staff thought that Roxas' role as a member of the group would be a suitable theme for the plot. Moreover, Roxas was chosen as the game's protagonist since the staff felt that having a protagonist other than Sora would help to introduce gamers to the series' first Nintendo DS title. Co-director Tomohiro Hasegawa explained that Roxas was originally shorter, and the staff decided he should grow taller as the game continued to develop. Nomura wanted to portray Roxas' activities differently from Sora's, as Sora is on a journey around the world while Roxas always returns to Organization XIII after each mission. The staff constructed Roxas' interactions with the Disney characters differently from Sora's, as Organization XIII was meant to be secret in the game's story. Nomura told the writers that he wanted Roxas to learn something or have something to think about from each of his missions. Nomura later clarified that Roxas' personality was different from how he was portrayed in Kingdom Hearts II, as he does not actively attempt to come into contact with other characters. With 358/2 Days, Nomura wanted to reveal why Roxas left Organization XIII, and although he found it to be a sad story, he considered Zack Fair's fate in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII to be more tragic. Nomura felt that Roxas' last words in the game marked its most significant plot point, as he wanted them to connect to Kingdom Hearts IIs first scene that is almost identical. Uchiyama expressed sadness when the game's development ended, as he would not play the character for a long time.
Kingdom Hearts II Final Mixs secret ending features the character Ventus, who resembles Roxas; Nomura commented that, despite their similarities, Roxas and Ventus are not the same character. He also said that when playing Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, players would be able to distinguish Roxas from Ventus. In another interview, Nomura implied that the characters were related, specifically to Sora, but wanted fans to imagine reasons for such a connection. Additionally, he stated that in Kingdom Hearts III there was a possibility of Roxas's revival despite Sora being alive at the same time, which would be explained by the fact that Xehanort's Heartless and Nobody, Ansem and Xemnas, exist at the same time as he does. Originally, Roxas was not meant to return, but positive response to his character led to his inclusion.
Characteristics Physically, Roxas resembles Ventus due to his presence in Sora's heart during Roxas's birth.Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania Due to his nature as a Nobody, he is an "empty shell" of Sora, created after he sacrifices his heart and becomes a Heartless during the events of Kingdom Hearts. As a result, despite his teenage appearance, Roxas is one day short of a year old when he rejoins Sora in Kingdom Hearts II. As a civilian, he wears a white jacket over a black jacket as well as white trousers. As a member of Organization XIII, he wears a hooded black coat that covers most of his body. His weapon is the , a Keyblade that resembles a skeleton key with a silver keychain extending from the hilt and a Mickey Mouse token on the end of it. In 358/2 Days, the player can modify Roxas' Keyblade using the game's panel system. Roxas gains the ability to dual wield Keyblades after leaving Organization XIII, and exclusively uses the weapon's and forms for each hand.
Roxas' personality changes significantly across the series because, when he is first introduced, he has fake memories that make him believe he is a normal teenager and spends most of his time with his friends. After learning that he is Sora's Nobody and remembering his past, Roxas gives up his existence so that Sora can continue to exist, but expresses happiness for his fate. Unlike other Nobodies, Roxas lacks the memories of his human counterpart, causing his personality to develop separately from Sora.
Appearances Roxas first appears in Another Side, Another Story, a bonus trailer found in Kingdom Hearts, and makes a cameo in the ending of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. In Kingdom Hearts II, Roxas is introduced as a boy living in a computer simulation of Twilight Town. Unaware of the virtual nature of the city, Roxas begins to dream about the adventures of Sora. He later encounters Axel, a member of Organization XIII under orders to extract him from the simulation, and Naminé, a Nobody, informs him that he is Sora's Nobody. Shortly after meeting DiZ, the creator of the virtual world, Roxas learns the true nature of Twilight Town, and that DiZ altered his memory and personality to mislead his pursuers from Organization XIII until he can merge with Sora. DiZ leads Roxas to an old mansion where he rejoins with a sleeping Sora, allowing him to awaken. Sora later learns that Roxas is his Nobody, born during the events of the first game after Sora briefly became a Heartless, and was inducted into Organization XIII for his ability to capture hearts with the Keyblade. However, Roxas later betrayed Organization XIII and encountered Riku, who captured him to restore Sora. Roxas makes two appearances near the end of the game, first in a mental battle with Sora in a cutscene, and second alongside Naminé, who has merged with Kairi. In the re-released version, Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, Roxas' fight against Sora is expanded, making him a boss character. The battle was meant to be interactive in Kingdom Hearts II, but time constraints imposed by creating fights for the other Organization XIII members prevented its inclusion. With the opportunity to include the fight, Nomura's team worked hard to make it entertaining for players. Additional scenes about Roxas' past were included in the game to add to the mystery surrounding him.
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, a prequel to Kingdom Hearts II, reveals Roxas' life with Organization XIII. Unlike the other Organization members, he lacks memories of his previous life. Roxas is placed under Axel's watch and the two become friends. After Axel is sent to Castle Oblivion, Roxas is partnered with Xion, Organization XIII's fourteenth member and another Keyblade wielder, whom he befriends. Roxas reacts to the restoration of Sora's memories and starts questioning why he uses the Keyblade, causing him to doubt Organization XIII's motives. Upon discovering that Xion is a replica created by Xemnas from Sora's memories, Roxas is compelled to defect from Organization XIII to find answers and meet Sora. He is confronted by Xion, who Xemnas repurposed to absorb him so that she can become a complete replica; after she sacrifices herself by allowing Roxas to kill her so that Sora can regain his memories, she entrusts Roxas with freeing the hearts the Organization has captured and then return to Sora's heart. While heading to confront Xemnas, Roxas is approached by Riku who knocks him unconscious to help DiZ and Naminé wake Sora.
A virtual representation of Roxas appears as a boss in the mobile game Kingdom Hearts Coded, in which he confronts a virtual representation of Sora. He later appears in the ending as one of the people connected to Sora's heart who may return one day. Roxas makes a cameo appearance at the end of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, where he is shown with Xion and Axel eating sea-salt ice cream in Twilight Town, as well as in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, where he contacts Axel and Sora through dreams. Roxas also appears in Shiro Amano's manga and Tomoko Kanemaki's novels, where he reprises his role from the video games. The book Kingdom Hearts: Another Report includes the novel Roxas–Somewhere in Time, which retells Roxas' days in Organization XIII, with the exception of him befriending Xion.
In Kingdom Hearts III, Roxas, Xion, and Naminé are resurrected after Ienzo, Vexen, and Demyx transfer their hearts into replica bodies, with Roxas joining the Guardians of Light in defeating Xehanort and closing Kingdom Hearts. Roxas and Xion join Lea on Twilight Town's clock tower—along with Isa, Hayner, Pence, and Olette—and eat ice cream together. They are then brought to Destiny Islands to celebrate their victory, where Roxas races with Riku and Terra on the beach.
Roxas also appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a spirit. He also appears as an outfit in Fortnite, as part of the game's Kingdom Hearts collaboration.
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