Actually, they're not really spin-offs. You probably haven't seen thedoodseven's KH3 plot discussion thread here. And Googling Tetsuya Nomura's comments about those "spin-offs", they're actually NOT spinoffs. They're all part of the storyline, according to Nomura. Prequels, midquels... they're part of the storyline. Heck, they're so part of the storyline, that the compilation Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix (brings KH 1, Re:Chain of Memories and 358/2 Days) and 2.5 HD Remix (which brings Birth by Sleep, KH 2 and re:coded) has them all compiled together. They're not spin-offs because all KH games (except the mobile social games) are PART of the storyline. And don't even say KH3D is a spinoff. That's an actual sequel. For a game to be a spin-off, it has to branch off from the main storyline so you don't have to refer back to the original. Unfortunately, these KH games, "spinoffs" as you call them, REFER back to the original main storyline. You even need to play the main ones to understand what transpires in the handheld KH games. That's why PS3 gamers get a chance to see the Nintendo KH entries so they have a grasp on what went on while the main KH games were going on with the compilations.