The King of Fighters '98 / 2002

Assemble a team of three fighters, choose from more than forty characters, and throw yourself into battles that for many connoisseurs represent the peak of SNK fighting games — The King of Fighters '98 and 2002 are the so-called „Dream Match“ installments, freed from story constraints and built purely on the best possible roster. No narrative, just the purest form of team-versus-team tournament brawling.

The 3v3 format is the heart of the experience. You send three fighters into battle one after another, managing energy and building super attacks, with every exchange of blows a game of positioning, timing, and reading your opponent. SNK honed its combat system into a form that rewards precision and depth — and that's exactly why '98 still holds up as a respected competitive standard, played at tournaments even after many years.

The enormous roster is another asset. Characters from various SNK franchises meet here in one melting pot, each with their own style, moves, and personality. For fans it's a gallery of icons; for newcomers a varied offering in which they'll easily find their favorite. Visually the series benefits from characteristic SNK detail and fluid 2D animation.

The 2002 variant built on the proven concept with another „dream match“ lineup and a tuned system, thereby strengthening KOF's position as one of the pillars of the competitive fighting scene. Together these two installments form the roots from which the modern shape of the series and the community around it grow.

Anyone who enjoys technical 2D fighters with an emphasis on the battle of minds and precise execution will find here one of the genre's most honest representatives.

Why play: Top-tier SNK fighting games with the 3v3 team format and an enormous roster — '98 is still a respected competitive standard and the heart of the KOF scene.