- This article is about the game series. For the tournament, check The King of Fighters (tournament).
The King of Fighters (ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズ Za・Kingu・Obu・Faitāzu )), officially abbreviated as KOF (ケーオーエフ), is the most famous and prominent series of fighting games by SNK then SNK (current company). Its claim to fame is the large cast of characters and the innovative "team" system, with both original designs and characters from other SNK games.
The series was originally developed for SNK's Neo Geo video game systems, which would continue until SNK retired the Neo Geo completely in 2004. For the next few games, the arcade platform Atomiswave would be used, and later the Taito Type X2. Aside from this, ports of the arcade games and original The King of Fighters games have been released for the various consoles of then and now, such as SNK's own Neo Geo Pocket, the Game Boy and Game Boy Advance, the Sega Saturn and the Dreamcast, the PlayStation and Xbox series of consoles, and even the N-Gage, among others. The latest main game in the series, The King of Fighters XV, was announced in the finals of EVO 2019, and was released on February 17, 2022, for PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows 10, Steam and Epic Games (PC).
Overview
The first game in the series, The King of Fighters '94, was released by SNK in August 25, 1994 for the arcades. The game was designed to be a dream match of characters from the company's various arcade titles, particularly Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, Ikari Warriors and Psycho Soldier. The success of the game lead to SNK to release yearly installments of the series and numbered the games for the year they were released. With yearly sports games, each new version is meant to be an "update"; SNK did differently, making each year unique with new rules and different character rosters as an incentive to encourage fans in playing the various installments within the series itself. By the year of 2004, SNK abandoned yearly releases of the series and usually numbered future games in a more traditional manner: the first main series game released as such was The King of Fighters XI.
In 2004, SNK produced the first 3D installment of the series, KOF: Maximum Impact. The game and its two sequels use an alternate story for characters and settings from previous games of the series, leaning more towards the South Town-based series like FF and AOF. The producer of the Maximum Impact series, Falcoon, stated that the Maximum Impact games are in a different canon from the original series of games.
The King of Fighters tournament, the namesake of this series, actually originated in Fatal Fury, a classic SNK fighting game that predated the KOF series. The later Art of Fighting was centered around an earlier iteration, featuring typical sponsor Geese Howard in a younger self.
The King of Fighters games have had a number of villains as their individual end bosses. The first of these was Rugal Bernstein in '94 who had a tendency to submerge his defeated foes in liquid metal, turning them into grisly trophies commemorating his victories. During the Orochi saga, Orochi is introduced as an ominous force from ancient times bent on revenge on those who imprisoned it and was aided by his heralds. In later games, a mysterious cartel called NESTS attempts to kidnap and succeeds in cloning Kyo Kusanagi in hopes of using his power to take over the world. The leader of NESTS, who called himself Igniz, hoped to amass enough power to become a god. Other villains in later games include Mukai and "Those from the Past" that he affiliates himself with, including Magaki, as well as the Mephistopheles group (Maximum Impact series), and even the supernatural gods such as Verse, Re Verse and Otoma=Raga.
In order to preserve their characters' images, SNK ceased to age their characters since The King of Fighters '95 and they have remained the same ages since then. This means that characters introduced in The King of Fighters '94 have only aged one year in the series. To stay true to this theme, newer characters following this year also keep the same age they have when introduced. Some concessions to age and the passing of time exist, though, such as Terry's switch to his Garou outfit, Kyo no longer being in high school since 1998, or Rock Howard suddenly becoming an adult when he was seen as a child. Character ages have also stopped being officially listed as of The King of Fighters XI, likely to avoid confusion amongst fans.
Games
Main Titles
Prologue
Orochi Saga
NESTS Chronicles
Tales of Ash
New Age Saga
Official Dream Matches
Orochi Saga
NESTS Chronicles
Tales of Ash
- The King of Fighters XII (KOF XIII's Beta Version)
Remakes, Spin-Offs & Another Dream Matches
Game Boy Versions
- The King of Fighters '95 (Game Boy)
- The King of Fighters '96 (Game Boy)
- The King of Fighters EX: Neo Blood (Game Boy Advance)
- The King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood (Game Boy Advance)
Neo Geo Pocket/Color Versions
Dreamcast Versions
- The King of Fighters: Dream Match 1999 (KOF '98 Dreamcast Version)
- The King of Fighters '99 Evolution (KOF '99 Dreamcast Version)
Atomiswave Version
- The King of Fighters Neowave (Version Based on KOF 2002)
Maximum Impact Series (KOF Spin-Off Series)
- KOF: Maximum Impact (A.K.A. KOF Maniax)
- KOF: Maximum Impact 2
- KOF: Maximum Impact Regulation "A"
Remakes & Ultimate Editions
Remakes
- The King of Fighters '94 Re-Bout (KOF '94 Remake)
- The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match (KOF '98 Remake)
- The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match (KOF 2002 Remake)
Ultimate Versions
- The King of Fighters '97: Global Match (KOF '97 Version for PS4 & Steam)
- The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match Final Edition (KOF '98 Version for Arcade & Steam)
- The King of Fighters XIII Climax (KOF XIII's Updated Arcade Version)
- The King of Fighters XIII: GALAXY EDITION (KOF XIII's GOG Version)
- The King of Fighters XIV: GALAXY EDITION (KOF XIV's GOG Version)
- The King of Fighters XIV: ULTIMATE EDITION (KOF XIV's PS4 Ultimate Version)
Other Media
- Quiz King of Fighters
- The King of Fighters '96: NEO-GEO Collection
- The King of Fighters: Kyo
- The King of Fighters: Battle de Paradise
- KOF Sky Stage
- The King of Fighters Online (DragonFly)
- The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match Web
- SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy - A canonical tie-in sequel to The King of Fighters XIV
Mobile Games
- The King of Fighters: Extreme
- The King of Fighters Mobile
- The King of Fighters: Volleyball
- KOF: Gals Mahjong
- The King of Millionaire
- The King of Reversi
- The King of Fighters Mobile R-2
- The King of Fighters: Mahjong
- KOF: Kentei ~Mezase Cult Quiz Ou!~
- Moeyo! KOF: Daiundokai
- The King of Fighters: Chapter of NESTS ~SNK Slot Panic~
- KOF x Garou Densetsu
- The King of Fighters: Battle Festa
- The King of Fighters-i
- The King of Fighters Android
- The King of Fighters: Encounter
- The King of Fighters-i 2012
- The King of Fighters-A 2012
- The Rhythm of Fighters: SNK Original Sound Collection
- The King of Fighters M for Kakao
- BEAST BUSTERS featuring KOF
- The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match Online
- BEAST BUSTERS featuring KOF: DELUXE
- The King of Fighters '97 OL
- The King of Fighters '97: HD ver.
- The King of Fighters D ~DyDo Smile STAND~
- The King of Fighters: World
- The King of Fighters: Destiny (Game)
- The King of Fighters All Star
- The King of Fighters: Orochi Go
- The King of Fighters M: Fighting Stars Assembly
- KOF: Chronicle
- The King of Fighters for Girls
- The King of Fighters Arena
- The King of Fighters Survival City
- The King of Fighters AFK
Cancelled Games
- The King of Fighters Online (UnoTechnology)
- The King of Fighters Online (Cancelled)
- KOF: Maximum Impact 3
- KOF: Maximum Impact 360
- KOF Maximum Impact Regulation "A2"
- The King of Fighters' World
Pachinko Games
- The King of Fighters (Pachinko) - It follows the Orochi Saga
- The King of Fighters: Chapter of NESTS - It follows the NESTS Saga
- The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact (Pachinko) - It follows the Maximum Impact Saga
- The King of Fighters III - It follows the Ash Saga
- CR The King of Fighters
Compilations
- The King of Fighters Orochi Collection - includes all canonical games of the Orochi Saga (except KOF '94 & KOF '98)
- The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga - includes all games of the Orochi Saga (incluiding KOF '94 & KOF '98)
- The King of Fighters NESTS Collection - includes all canonical games of the NESTS Chronicles (except KOF 2002)
Mangas, Comics & Novels
Mangas
- The King of Fighters '94 (4-koma Ketteihan)
- The King of Fighters '94 - Made by Tatsuya Shinkyoji
- The King of Fighters '94: Gaiden - Made by Ryo Takamisaki
- The King of Fighters '94 (4-koma Gag Battle)
- The King of Fighters '95 (4-koma Ketteihan)
- The King of Fighters '95: Amusement Anthology Series 18
- The King of Fighters '95 (Comic Anthology)
- The King of Fighters '95: Side-2 (4-koma Ketteihan)
- The King of Fighters '95 (4-koma Gag Battle)
- The King of Fighters '96 (4-koma Ketteihan)
- The King of Fighters '96 (Comic Anthology)
- The King of Fighters '96: Orochi no Senrei
- The King of Fighters: Kyo - Made by Masato Natsumoto
- The King of Fighters '96
- The King of Fighters: Kyo vs. Iori ~Honō no Taiketsu~ (4-koma Ketteihan)
- The King of Fighters '96: Anthology Comic ~Kyo vs. Iori Fight!~
- The King of Fighters '96 (4-koma Gag Battle)
- The King of Fighters: Giga - Made by Ryo Takamisaki
- The King of Fighters '96: Comic Anthology ~The Complete~
- The King of Fighters Chō: '96-'97 Kikaku Hon!!
- The King of Fighters '95-'96 (4-koma Gag Battle)
- The King of Fighters '97 (4-koma Ketteihan)
- The King of Fighters '97: Comic Anthology ~Orochi no Kakusei~
- The King of Fighters '97: Side-2 (4-koma Ketteihan)
- The King of Fighters '97: Comic Anthology ~Kakutō no Ōsama~
- The King of Fighters '97 (4-koma Gag Battle)
- The King of Fighters: 4COMA COMIC ~Mezase! King of Fighters~
- The King of Fighters '97: Comic Anthology ~Orochi Shūen~
- The King of Fighters '97: Anthology Comic ~97 Kyo vs. Iori Fight!~
- The King of Fighters '97: 4-koma Gag Battle ~Sanshu no Jingi-hen~
- The King of Fighters: Best Selection
- The King of Fighters Chō-2: '97-'98 Kikaku Hon!!
- The King of Fighters '98: Dream Match Never Ends (4-koma Ketteihan)
- The King of Fighters '98: Dream Match Never Ends (Comic Anthology) ~Gun'yūkakkyo~
- The King of Fighters '98: Dream Match Never Ends (4-koma Gag Battle)
- The King of Fighters '98: Dream Match Never Ends (Comic Anthology)
- The King of Fighters '98: Dream Match Never Ends (4-koma Kings)
- The King of Fighters '98: Dream Match Never Ends (Short Comic Kings)
- King of Fighters R-1: Gag Paradise
- King of Fighters R-2: Gag Paradise
- King of Fighters R-2: 4-koma Gag Battle ~Perfect~
- The King of Fighters Chō-3: '98-'99 Kikaku Hon
- The King of Fighters '99 (4-koma Gag Battle)
- The King of Fighters '99 (4-koma Kings)
- The King of Fighters '99 (Comic Anthology)
- The King of Fighters '99: Evolution (4-koma Gag Battle)
- The King of Fighters 2000: Short! ~Comedy Show Stadium~
- The King of Fighters 2000 (4-koma Gag Battle)
- The King of Fighters 2000: 4-koma Manga ~Comedy Show Stadium~
- The King of Fighters 2000: Comic Anthology ~K' no Yukue~
- The King of Fighters 2000 (4-koma Kings)
- The King of Fighters: Moe ×2 Fighters+ (Anthology Comic)
- The King of Fighters 2001 (Anthology Comic)
- The King of Fighters 2001 (4-koma Kings)
- The King of Fighters 2000 (Comic Anthology)
- Nettō! The King of Fighters 2000
- The King of Fighters: A New Beginning - Made by Kyoutarou Azuma about KOF XIV's Story
- The King of Fantasy: Yagami Iori no Isekai Musō ~Tsukio Miru Tabi Omoidase!~
- The King of Fighters Side Story: The Origin of Flame - Shingo Travels Through Time! Let's Go! - Made by Kyoutarou Azuma about Shingo Yabuki
Manhuas
- The King of Fighters '95 - Made by Zhuo Zhuohua
- The King of Fighters '96 - Made by Yan Shijie, Deng Yaorong & Zheng Jianhe
- The King of Fighters '97 - Made by Yan Shijie, Deng Yaorong & Zheng Jianhe
- The King of Fighters '98: Dream Match Never Ends - Made by Yan Shijie, Deng Yaorong & Zheng Jianhe
- The King of Fighters: Special - Made by Yan Shijie
- King of Fighters R-2 - Made by Lucky
- The King of Fighters '99: Millennium Battle - Made by Xu Jingwei
- The King of Fighters: Evolution - Made by Li Gao & Shan Hanxun
- The King of Fighters RemiX: The Beginning of NESTS EPISODE - Made by Lucky
- The King of Fighters: Zillion - Made by Andy Seto
- The King of Fighters 2000 - Made by Andy Seto
- The King of Fighters RemiX: NESTS EPISODE PROJECT '00 - Made by Lucky
- The King of Fighters: Return - Made by Andy Seto
- The King of Fighters 2000: Omega-X Series - Made by Andy Seto
- The King of Fighters 2001 - Made by Wing Yan & King Tung
- The King of Fighters RemiX: The End of NESTS EPISODE - Made by Lucky
- The King of Fighters 2002: Challenge to Ultimate Battle - Made by Wing Yan & King Tung
- The King of Fighters 2003 - Made by Wing Yan & King Tung
- The King of Fighters '03: Xenon Zero - Made by Wing Yan & King Tung
- KOF: Maximum Impact New Legend - Made by Wing Yan & King Tung
- The King of Fighters XII: Manhua Series - Made by Qiu Fulong & K.O.King
- The King of Fighters XIV: Original Comic - Made by Zhuo Zhuohua
Manhwas
Novels
- The King of Fighters '95 (Novel)
- The King of Fighters '96 ~Rumbling on the City~
- The King of Fighters '97: Jōkan ~Owarinaki Natsu no Saigoni~
- The King of Fighters '97: Gekan ~660-nen-me no Futari~
- The King of Fighters '98: Dream Match Never Ends ~Nokosa Reta Mono-tachi~
- The King of Fighters '98: Dream Match Never Ends ~Saidai Tasū no Saidai Kōfuku~
- The King of Fighters '99 ~Beyond the "K"~
- The King of Fighters 2000: Icicle Doll
- The King of Fighters 2000: Strikers Strike Back
- The King of Fighters 2001: Jō ~More Than Human~
- The King of Fighters 2001: Ge ~The Gods Themselves~
- The King of Fantasy: Yagami Iori no Isekai Musō ~Tsukio Miru Tabi Omoidase!~
Drama CDs
- The King of Fighters '94: Dengeki CD Bunko ~Best Game Selection ⑬~
- The King of Fighters '96 (Drama CD)
- The King of Fighters '97: Drama CD ~Collision Chapter~
- The King of Fighters '97: Drama CD ~Destiny Chapter~
- The King of Fighters '98: Dream Match Never Ends (Drama CD)
- The King of Fighters '99 (Drama CD)
- The King of Fighters 2000 (Drama CD)
- The Sun and The Moon ~Prologue~
- The King of Fighters: The Best ~Selected by Characters~
- KOF: Mid Summer Struggle
Films & Animations
- The King of Fighters (Movie)
- The King of Fighters: Another Day
- The King of Fighters: Destiny
- The King of Fighters: Awaken
Card Games
- The King of Fighters 2006: Collectible Card Game - It is a collectible card game that was released in December, 2006, originally designed by Sabertooth Games as part of the Universal Fighting System (UFS). Other games like Samurai Shodown V, Street Fighter and Soul Calibur III are also included into the series. Character started packs were released for Terry Bogard, Mai Shiranui, and eventually Rock Howard.
- The King of Fighters: Trading Card Game - It is a collectible card game that was released on June 28, 2009, by the company Weiβ Schwarz as part of a campaign that allowed collectors to exchange premium points for CDs and other collectibles.
Characters Introduced
To see the characters and teams' participation of each character on the series, check the pages of each saga.
Prologue
KOF '94
Original Characters
Brought from other games
From Fatal Fury:
From Art of Fighting:
From Ikari Warriors:
From Psycho Soldier:
Orochi Saga
KOF '95
Original Characters
Brought from other games
From Fatal Fury:
From Art of Fighting:
From Samurai Shodown:
KOF '96
Original Characters
Brought from other games
From Fatal Fury:
From Art of Fighting:
KOF '97
Original Characters
Brought from other games
From Fatal Fury
NESTS Chronicles
KOF '99
Original Characters
Brought from other games
From Fatal Fury
KOF '99 EVO
Original Characters
Brought from other games
From Fatal Fury
From Buriki One
From Metal Slug
KOF 2000
- Foxy - Striker
- Candy Diamond - Striker
- Another K' - Striker
- Another Iori - Striker
- Another Benimaru - Striker
- Another Robert - Striker
- Cosplayer Kyoko - Striker
- Kang Bae Dal - Striker
- Smart Chang - Striker
- Cool Choi - Striker
- Kaoru Watabe - Striker
- Baitang - Striker
Brought from other games
- From Fatal Fury:
- Duck King - Striker
- Lilly Kane - Striker
- From Garou: Mark of the Wolves:
- Kim Jae Hoon - Striker
- Kim Dong Hwan - Striker
- From Art of Fighting:
- Unknown (Ryuhaku Todoh shaded) - Striker
- From Savage Reign/Kizuna Encounter:
- King Lion - Striker
- Kim Sue Il - Striker
- From The Last Blade:
- Kaede - Striker
- From Burning Fight:
- Duke Edwards - Striker
- From Robo Army:
- Rocky - Striker
- From Athena:
- Athena - Striker
- From Quiz Dai Sousa-sen:
- Neo & Geo - Strikers
- G-Mantle - Striker
KOF 2001
Original Characters
KOF 2002
Original Character
KOF 2002 UM
Original Character
Tales of Ash
KOF 2003
Original Characters
Brought from other games
From Garou: Mark of the Wolves
KOF XI
Original Characters
Brought from other games
From Fatal Fury
From Garou: Mark of the Wolves
From Savage Reign/Kizuna Encounter
From Buriki One
KOF XII
Brought from other games
From Fatal Fury
KOF XIII
Original Characters
Brought from other games
From Fatal Fury
From SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos
New Age Saga
KOF XIV
Original Characters
Brought from other games
From Garou Densetsu The Legend of Wild Wolf
From Dragon Gal
From Sky Love
KOF XV
Original Characters
From Samurai Shodown series
KOF Maximum Impact series
KOF MI
Original Characters
Brought from other games
KOF MI2
Original Characters
Brought from other games
- From Fatal Fury:
- From Garou: Mark of the Wolves:
- From Samurai Shodown:
- From Buriki One:
MIRA
Original Character
Brought from other games
- From Fighter's History:
Spin-Off Games
KOF Kyo
Original Characters
KOF EX
Original Character
KOF EX2
Original Characters
NPC Characters
- Yuki (KoF)
- Rose Bernstein
- Botan
- Jan
- Gaidel
- Gustav Munchausen
- Diana
- Misty
- Nests
- Cool Guy
- Ron
- Glugan
- Luan, Chat and Sai
- Lillien Knights
- Sally and Elizabeth
- Aya and Hermione
- Asuka and Maria
- Fate
- Judeim
- Dr. Makishima
- Shizuka Kusanagi
- Aoi Kusanagi
- Jokyojo
- Kogoro Daimon
- Ling
- Sandra and Clara Heidern
- Keisuke Sendo
- Antonio
- P-chan
- Yakov
- Clemence Bellamy
- Anastasia
Anniversary Logos
Anniversary Special Illustrations
Trivia
- Until The King of Fighters 2000, the main titles of the series were produced and released by former SNK (before the company's bankrupcty). Starting from The King of Fighters 2003 until The King of Fighters XIII, the games were produced and released by Playmore, and the two games of the actual saga, by the current company.
- The two last chapters of the NESTS Chronicles were produced and released by former Playmore and Eolith.
- The remakes of KOF '98 and KOF 2002, along with the three titles of the Maximum Impact were produced and released by SNK Playmore.
External links
- 15th anniversary site hub, Official Facebook
- 10th Anniversary Special - Saisyu and Shingo corner
- The King of Fighters Wikia
- Spanish The King of Fighters Wikia
- KOF LINE Stickers, NESTS-style, Ash
- The King of Fighters Portal
- KOF 30th Anniversary Official Site
- Official X Account
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