The King of Fighters '98

If someone forced you to pick a single installment of The King of Fighters that you simply must have, most connoisseurs would point without hesitation to the ninety-eighth. KOF '98 carries the subtitle Dream Match, and that is exactly what it is: a celebration of the entire series without the weight of a story, where practically every fighter you had come to love up to then gathered.

Because the game detached itself from a continuous storyline, SNK could cram an enormous number of characters into the roster, including those who had died or were unavailable in previous installments. The result is one of the richest fighter lists of its time. The gameplay builds on the proven three-on-three team format and offers two styles similar to the previous edition, Advanced and Extra, so everyone finds the pace that suits them.

What makes the eighth installment so prized is its balance and smoothness. The combat system feels polished, the controls are precise, and the game forgives fewer mistakes than many a competitor without being inaccessible. That is precisely why KOF '98 became a long-standing evergreen of the tournament scene, and the community still plays it today, often in the Ultimate Match version, which expanded the roster and options even further.

Visually, it is the peak of what the Neo Geo managed in the field of 2D fighting games. Striking sprite animations, carefully drawn arenas, and energetic sound give every match its juice. The game runs briskly and clearly, which is absolutely crucial in a fighting game where a fraction of a second decides everything.

For retro players, KOF '98 has one huge advantage: it is ubiquitous. It received countless ports and reissues on modern platforms, so you can easily get to it and see why fans call it the peak of the series' classic era.

Why play: A carefree celebration of the entire series with a giant roster and a perfectly tuned combat system that the tournament scene still loves today.